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Zero-Based Budgeting

Technical Finance Buzzword Finance

Building next year's budget from zero, justifying every dollar fresh instead of adjusting last year's. Rigorous in theory; in practice, a quarter of everyone's time re-arguing settled questions.

Heard in the wild

“ZBB this year — every line item needs a fresh business case.”

Tone check: Technical

Announced by new CFOs with missionary zeal. Effective once, exhausting annually.

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