Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB)

Advanced 👥 Human Resources

Definition

A budgeting approach where every expense must be justified from zero, which sounds reasonable until you spend three months justifying office supplies.

Example Usage

HR implemented zero-based budgeting, so we now need approval to buy pens, but the executive retreat budget somehow stayed intact.

Origin

Management concept developed by Texas Instruments in the 1960s

Fun Fact

Zero-based budgeting often results in cutting costs that matter while preserving costs that benefit leadership

Source: Financial Management Standards

Related Terms

Translate This Term

See “Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB)” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

Try the Translator