Imagine if a relative or close friend asked you to plan the entirety of their wedding but then refused to share how much money they wanted to spend on it and what their priorities were. For the reception, would you book a high-end hotel or plan a backyard event? Would you book a photography studio for five figures or find a photography student who is working on their portfolio? The inevitable disaster this situation would create can similarly be experienced by managers who lack guidance and direction. Negative outcomes are more likely to be avoided when managers rely on predictive tools, such as strategic planning, budgeting, and forecasting. For example, a reasonable budget can enable an organization to allocate resources, provide a plan to achieve goals and objectives, and help measure and communicate organizational performance, thereby enabling managers to make effective decisions. In this Discussion, you will consider how strategic planning, budgeting, and forecasting impact an organization and its decision making.

To prepare for this Discussion:

  • Consider the organization where you work or an      organization with which you are familiar. Focus specifically on the      importance of the budgeting process, forecasting, and strategic planning      for informing stakeholders about how the organization operates and how      these tools are used in decision making. (Note: If you are not      in the position to be involved in budgeting processes, either interview      someone in your organization or a professional outside your organization      who can provide you with this information. Be sure to identify the      position held by this person in your post.)

Post an analysis of the role of strategic planning, budgeting, and forecasting for an organization, to include the following:

  • Provide an overview of the organization and your      position within your relationship with the organization.
  • Analyze how strategic planning, budgeting, and      forecasting processes impact this organization’s decision making. Be sure      to include at least one example to support your analysis.
  • Examine how you, as a manager or future manager, could utilize a budget to measure performance and to assist in effective decision making.

Account for Management Decision Making

Week 1: Learning Resources

Understanding Financial Statement

Financial statements are some of the building blocks that organizations need to help them analyze where they have been and where they are heading in the future. Through these resources, you will explore the four basic financial statements that are prepared. Public companies are required to submit them to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although private companies are not required to do so, they still need them for other purposes, such as loans, planning, and reflection on the past year.

· U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. (2007, February 5).  Beginners’ guide to financial statementLinks to an external site. . https://www.sec.gov/reportspubs/investor-publications/investorpubsbegfinstmtguidehtm.html

· Walden University, LLC.  (2024).  Financial statements  [PDF]  Download Financial statements [PDF] . Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com 

· Walden University, LLC. (2021).  The four financial statements [Video]. Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com

Strategic Planning, Budgeting, and Forecasting

Strategic planning, budgeting, and forecasting can each take many different forms, yet they are all part of moving an organization toward achieving its goals for a successful future. In these resources, you will explore what they are, how they are different, how they fit together, and how they contribute to success.

· Makridakis, S., & Spiliotis, E.  (2021).  The M5 competition and the future of human expertise in forecastingLinks to an external site. Foresight: The International Journal of Applied Forecasting , (60), 33–37.

· Shim, J. K., Siegel, J. G., & Shim, A. I. (2012).  Strategic planning and budgeting: Process, preparation, and controlLinks to an external site. . In  Budgeting basics and beyond (4th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.

· Walden University, LLC. (2024).  Strategic planning, budgeting, and forecasting  [PDF]  Download Strategic planning, budgeting, and forecasting [PDF] . Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com

Preparing The Budget

The ability to implement and adhere to a budget is a key factor in any organization’s success. Leaders rely on budgets to help them make critical decisions related to operational and resource-related matters, among other things. Budgeting is also a key aspect of an organization’s strategic planning. Through these resources, you will examine the use of budgets for an organization.

· Franklin, M., Graybeal, P., & Cooper, D. (2019).  Why it mattersLinks to an external site. . In  Principles of accounting, volume 2: Managerial accounting . OpenStax.   https://openstax.org/books/principles-managerial-accounting/pages/7-why-it-matters

· Franklin, M., Graybeal, P., & Cooper, D. (2019).  7.1 describe how and why managers use budgetsLinks to an external site. . In  Principles of accounting, volume 2: Managerial accounting . OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/principles-managerial-accounting/pages/7-1-describe-how-and-why-managers-use-budgets

· Onwuzulike, U. (2015, September 17).  Is budgeting drowning strategic planning in your organisation?Links to an external site.   Vanguard . https://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/is-budgeting-drowning-strategic-planning-in-your-organisation/

· Rivera, J., & Milani, K.  (2020).  Budgeting for international operationsLinks to an external site. Strategic Finance, 102 (6), 46–52.

· Shim, J. K., Siegel, J. G., & Shim, A. I. (2012).  Strategic planning and budgeting: Process, preparation, and controlLinks to an external site. . In  Budgeting basics and beyond (4th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.

Responsibility Centers

Are managers responsible for all activities in an organization or only for their area? Managers should only be held responsible for activities they can control. For example, if a manager is in charge of a production department, that manager should be responsible for what is produced as well as the labor and materials needed for production. However, the manager should  not be responsible for whether the items produced are sold, as that is the responsibility of the sales department. Using these resources, you will examine various types of responsibility centers.

· Franklin, M., Graybeal, P., & Cooper, D. (2019).  Why it mattersLinks to an external site. . In  Principles of accounting, volume 2: Managerial accounting . OpenStax.   https://openstax.org/books/principles-managerial-accounting/pages/9-why-it-matters

· Franklin, M., Graybeal, P., & Cooper, D. (2019).  9.3 describe the types of responsibility centersLinks to an external site. . In  Principles of accounting, volume 2: Managerial accounting . OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/principles-managerial-accounting/pages/9-3-describe-the-types-of-responsibility-centers

· Franklin, M., Graybeal, P., & Cooper, D. (2019).  9.4 describe the effects of various decisions on performance evaluation of responsibility centersLinks to an external site. . In  Principles of accounting, volume 2: Managerial accounting . OpenStax.   https://openstax.org/books/principles-managerial-accounting/pages/9-4-describe-the-effects-of-various-decisions-on-performance-evaluation-of-responsibility-centers

· Walden University, LLC. (2024).  The differences between cost centers, profit centers, and investment centers  [PDF]  Download The differences between cost centers, profit centers, and investment centers [PDF] . Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com

 


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