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

Book excerpt: 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.