Cost Matters: How to Manage without Budgets, and help Lean and Agile Fly

Dr Steve Morlidge

Feb 2023 · Radical Pragmatist Series Book 1 · Beyond Books Press

About this ebook

Over the last few decades businesses have learned to use Lean concepts to make their productive processes more responsive and efficient. And Agile approaches have helped them manage innovation and change more effectively, faced with a climate of uncertainty.

 But while we have new, better ways to manage the practice of work itself the mechanisms used to manage the associated costs using rigid detailed annual budgets have changed very little in a century. 

 This book describes how to manage costs without budgets and all the other bureaucratic paraphernalia of the past. The result is a holistic approach to managing work that helps unleash the power of Lean and Agile.

In a series of short lessons supported by simple illustrations Steve demonstrates how to address the day-to-day challenge of managing costs in a world where change and uncertainty are embraced.

Rikard Olsson, Managing Director, Beyond Budgeting Advisory.

 

In this book, with a good sense of humour, Steve explains the concepts of Lean, Agile and why the “old habits” of cost control don’t fit. And what would.

Peter Coesmans, Chief Agility Officer, Agile Business Consortium.

This is a must-read for any Finance professional, and for anyone interested in Lean and Agile.

Bjarte Bogsnes, Chairman, Beyond Budgeting Roundtable.

About the author

Dr Steve Morlidge has 30 years of practical experience in designing and running performance management systems in Unilever, including three years leading a Beyond Budgeting initiative for the company and is a member of the of the Beyond Budgeting Institute core team.

He has been associated with Beyond Budgeting since its inception and is a former chairman of the European Beyond Budgeting Round Table. He now works as a management thinker, writer and speaker, drawing on his years of experience at the leading edge of performance management thought and practice 

Steve Morlidge has published several books: ‘Future Ready’ (2010), ‘The Little Book of Beyond Budgeting’ (2017), The Little Book of Operational Forecasting’ (2019), Present Sense’ (2019), ‘Zen and the Art of Organising Work’ (2021) and ‘Cost Matters’ (2023). 

He is on the editorial board of Foresight, a forecasting practitioner’s journal published by the International Institute of Forecasting to which he regularly contributes. Also, he cofounded CatchBull, a supplier of forecasting performance management software for the Supply Chain community.

Steve Morlidge is a visiting fellow at Cranfield University in the UK and a visiting Professor at BPP University, London. He has a PhD from Hull Business School on the application of systems concepts to the design of complex organizations. He has a BA from Durham University and is a qualified management accountant (CIMA).