Prompt 1:

A consulting company that provides software and services relating to business intelligence and analytics has a library of customer success stories on its website at http://www.sas.com/success/indexByTopic.html#1000.1001.0000. Select and read one of the success stories relating to Activity-Based Management. Summarize the success story, and relate the ideas of the article to what you have learned this week in this course.

Prompt 2:

The State of Rhode Island publishes its budget and the supporting information at www.omb.ri.gov/budget/index.php. Access the budget and answer the following:

• What are the duties of the budget office? (Hint: Use the Primer link.)
• What are the six governmental functions listed in the budget?
• What are the major sources of Rhode Island’s revenues?
• What is the accounting basis used in the preparation of the budget? (Hint: Use the Primer link and scroll down until you see the Budget Basis section.)
• The budget mentions four categories of program performance measures. List them, and briefly describe how they are used in Rhode Island. (Hint: Use the Primer link and scroll down until you see the Program Performance Measures section.)
• What did you learn from reviewing the most recent budget of the State of Rhode Island?
• What do you think the biggest challenges are when it comes to preparing their budget?