Did Our Budget Go Up or Down? Using a Five-Arrows Budget Analysis.

The article discusses the use of a "Five Arrows Budget Analysis" to accurately interpret and compare budget figures. The authors recount a situation where two sets of figures appeared to contradict each other, but were both correct depending on the perspective. The Five Arrows Budget Analysis involves comparing different budget positions using arrows to represent different aspects, such as requested versus programmed amounts, requested versus received amounts, and programmed versus requested amounts. The authors emphasize the importance of considering the audience's frame of reference and the message being conveyed when choosing which arrow to focus on. They also provide an example of how a decrease in budget can actually be a positive outcome. The authors recommend using this analysis technique to track, analyze, and report on budgets in various offices within the Department of Defense. [Extracted from the article]

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