Budget adds to productivity?

Budgeting fails in many big companies, say some Harvard Business School profs. “In some instances, the budget process consumes up to six months and 20 percent of management’s time.” (ViaFastCompany’s new blog.)

I don’t know. Budgeting has always taken what seemed to be an inordinate amount of time for our small company — gee, we should be out selling or programming… or drinking beer — but in the end we always learn interesting new things about ourselves and our vision. Interesting, invaluable things we couldn’t have learned through “normal” liberal arts brainstorming. We don’t get overwrought about holding to the budget — sh*t happens — but it’s good to try to periodically corral your dreams behind a fence of numbers.