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
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