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What Are The Two Major Uses Of Managerial Accounting Information

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1. Explain the two major uses of managerial accounting information.
Operational planning (being prepared for today)
• to ensure that an organization will have the necessary financial resources to function throughout the year, budgets must be created. In the budgeting process money is allocated to various departments of the organization for a specified time period. In most cases budgets are created on an annual basis, typically just before a new fiscal year begins. To create a budget management must look at past business performance, prior-year sales, revenues, expenses, and other overhead operating costs. These costs are typically carried forward in order to predict the future of the business. Ultimately all of the information and planning results in a budget. In most cases different departments within an organization will have different budgets based upon their needs but they will all be incorporated into an overall corporate budget.
Strategic planning (planning for tomorrow)
• many of the techniques used in strategic planning are quite similar to those used in the budgeting process. These techniques are intended to help make the future more predictable. The purpose for employing these techniques is to determine whether or not a plan for expansion or growth is actually feasible. Organizations must engage in strategic planning every time they grow or expand, acquire a competitor or are acquired by competitor. They will typically use historical trends, industry trends, and

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