Overview
Think about the budgetary/financial situation at your organization (Agency level) and the nation (Federal level) as a whole. One of the course's goals is to provide you with a strategic understanding of the budgeting process and its implications.
1. – Think of your organization (at the Department level or within your immediate organization) in terms of budget players and processes. What are some of the conflicting areas you see related to the budget in your organization? How do organizations with which you interact "fight" over budgets? What conflicts exist between the CFO and Program Managers in your organization? What conflicts exist between the Executive Branch (White House and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)), Congress, and your agency leaders?
2. – We have seen that Congress and the Executive Branch address conflicts by creating budget laws, regulations, processes, and organizations. If you were selected to advise your organization’s leaders on ways to resolve the budget issues you identified in question 1, what would some of the solutions be? Using history as your guide, what new laws, regulations, processes, or organizations would you recommend? How would they help?
3. - Describe a budget issue of national importance or one that your agency's senior leaders are dealing with today. Be prepared to address this issue throughout the class. It will form the basis of the paper you will be asked to write at the end of the class.