Summary

In this episode, Colin and Chris explore the traditional budgeting process and its limitations, emphasising the need for a systems thinking approach. They discuss how conventional budgeting practices often yield unrealistic numbers, create silos within organisations, and focus excessively on cost control rather than fostering growth. The conversation highlights the importance of aligning budgeting with organisational health and strategic vision, and suggests innovative solutions such as agile budgeting and decentralised decision-making to enhance effectiveness and adaptability. This conversation explores innovative approaches to budgeting, emphasising agile methodologies, rolling forecasts, and value-driven strategies. The speakers discuss the importance of fostering communication across departments, balancing efficiency with adaptability, and the role of technology and data in modern budgeting practices. They also highlight the significance of aligning budgets with company vision and values, and the potential of predictive modeling to enhance decision-making processes.

Takeaways

• Traditional budgeting methods are often unrealistic and ineffective.
• Budgeting should reflect an organisation's health and priorities.
• The budgeting process creates competitive silos rather than collaboration.
• Budgeting is often viewed as a cost-control exercise rather than a growth enabler.
• Measurement myopia leads to neglect of intangible factors like morale and innovation.
• The annual budgeting cycle is inflexible and outdated.
• Decentralised budgeting can foster collaboration and responsiveness.
• Organisations need to pivot quickly to market changes with agile budgeting.
• Budgeting decisions have far-reaching consequences across departments.
• A systems thinking approach can improve budgeting outcomes. Agile budgeting fosters better communication and understanding across departments.
• Rolling forecasts allow for more responsive budgeting based on current realities.
• Data-driven insights should guide budgeting decisions for better outcomes.
• Value-driven budgeting aligns resources with corporate strategy and priorities.
• Balancing efficiency with adaptability is crucial for resilience in budgeting.
• The 70-20-10 model encourages innovation and flexibility in budget allocation.
• Empowering individuals to make decisions enhances organisational agility.
• Zero-based budgeting helps eliminate unnecessary expenses and promotes accountability.
• Aligning budgets with company vision ensures strategic coherence.
• Predictive modelling can mitigate risks associated with budgeting changes.

Chapters

00:00 Rethinking Budgets: A Systems Approach

11:48 The Challenges of Traditional Budgeting

24:06 The Impact of Budgeting on Organizational Health

33:56 Innovative Budgeting Solutions for Growth

35:37 Fostering Communication Across Departments

36:06 Agile Budgeting: Navigating the Journey

38:01 Rolling Forecasts and Data-Driven Insights

39:52 Value-Driven Budgeting: Aligning Resources with Strategy

40:53 Balancing Efficiency and Adaptability

41:56 Innovation in Budgeting: The 70-20-10 Model

44:06 Empowerment and Holistic Thinking in Budgeting

45:00 The Importance of Flexibility in Budgeting

46:57 Zero-Based Budgeting: A Fresh Perspective

49:10 Strategic Alignment in Budgeting

51:09 R&D and Innovation: Budgeting for the Future

52:06 Best Practices for Agile Budgeting

53:05 Feedback Mechanisms and Transparency

55:57 Technology and Data in Modern Budgeting

58:12 Aligning Budget with Company Vision

01:00:00 Predictive Modeling in Budgeting