“The traditional budget is a rigid tool and should therefore be discarded in practice”. Should the traditional budgetary model be abandoned as suggested above? Critically evaluate this claim in the light of recent external pressures from the capital market for timely and accurate information. Please support your answer with theoretical arguments and practical examples from academic journal articles highlighting the extensive use of budgetary system more recently.
Keep to a maximum of 2500 words in total. Please ensure that references are used correctly and in accordance with Royal Holloway School of Management guidelines. Some suggested readings for this question are shown below:
1. Otley, David (2001) Extending the boundaries of management accounting research, British Accounting Review, 33, (2001), pp. 243-261.
2. Van der Stede, Wim (2000) The relationship between two consequences of budgetary control, Accounting, Organizations and Society, 25, (2000), pp. 609-622.
3. Ryan, Bill (2007) Budgeting, the individual and the capital market: a case of fiscal stress. Accounting Forum, 31, (2007), pp. 384-397.
