The Point and Pitfalls in Portfolio Management

Introductionthe projects be prioritized to maximize utilization of
Corporate budgeting is an obscure process. Usually itresources? What is the risk of each project and how
involves padding budgets to accommodate forshould it be handled?
across-the-board cuts, and committees of corporateIt is easy for even a corporate budgeting committee
officers finalizing figures for projects executed farto fall into the illusory convenience of arbitrary
below them. Unhappily, the team making fundingmoney and resource allocation, in ignorance of tools
choices tends to lack the information needed toto do the job of allocation more efficiently, based on
accurately analyze what they are actually financing.realistic criteria. Providing only part of the money and
The team must answer questions that directly affectresources that a project needs, on the grounds that
corporate strategy. Which projects are critical toother projects need funding too, will simply result in
corporate goals? Which provide the bestincomplete work and little benefit to the organization.
“bang for the buck”? How should