Abstract

The budget is not a medieval instrument of torture devised by the green eyeshade boys to harass and bedevil the innocent, oppressed master of workmen. The budget is the manager's operation order. It is his announcement to his staff, to his peers, and to his superiors of coming events. Admittedly, the oil man far from home encounters unique problems in developing a budget. Like a commander preparing for battle, the international oil man must assess the environment in which he seeks to accomplish his mission, the strength and disposition of his resources, and the obstacles which he must overcome. He must prepare for contingencies in order to exploit success or recover from failure. Also, like the commander in battle, the oil man finds chaos, conflict, and confusion in preparation and execution of his operation order, the budget. Nevertheless, if carefully and wisely drawn, the budget will serve as a mariner's chart to enable the captain of industry to steer a true course from his point of departure on New Year's Day to his destination of mission accomplished at year's end.