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MANAGING GLOBAL RISK IS AT THE CENTER OF BUDGETING FOR OVERSEAS SUBSIDIARIES. BUT TRANSFER PRICING AND INVENTORY POLICY ALSO WEIGH HEAVILY ON INTERNATIONAL BUDGETING.
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Multinational companies contend with an array of external factors, internal considerations, and other forces that influence budget policies, composition, and control. Budgeting in a global business environment calls for an enhanced level of coordination and communication because of the variety of powerful components that impact organization performance. In this article, we examine and describe how international issues influence the budgeting process of multinational companies that are headquartered in the United States and that control foreign affiliates.1
EXTERNAL FACTORS
Foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates, and inflation are the three major external factors that affect multinationals and their markets. Although these variables are interrelated-for example, higher inflation in a specific country tends to drive the value of its currency down, which impacts the exchange rate-changes in currency exchange rates have the most effect on the budgeting process.
Example 1. In June 2001, the value of the U.S. dollar was at a 15-year high when compared to the British pound and other currencies of the major U.S. trading partners. This caused John T. Dillon, CEO of International Paper and head of the Business Roundtable, to complain to U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill that the dollar's strength made it difficult for U.S. companies to compete with imports and penetrate foreign markets.2
Changes in these three external factors stem from several sources, including economic conditions, government policies, monetary systems, and political risks. Each factor is a significant external variable affecting areas such as policy decisions, strategic planning, profit planning, and budget control. To minimize the possible negative impact of these factors, multinational corporate management must establish and implement policies and practices that recognize and respond to them. Other external forces such as political turmoil, competition, labor quality, and cultural or religious orientation of the local populace exist, but they tend to be related specifically to one country or particular region of the world.
For example, the events of September 11, 2001, have been significant to U.S.-based multinational corporations. Since 9/11, many international entities have focused on security measures, employee counseling, and other special training that...