This document outlines the criteria for Assignment 2 on budget planning and control for a course. It includes 9 criteria for evaluating student responses. The assignment asks students to describe a company and explain why it needs a budget. Students must outline a high-level budget plan, propose techniques for managing budgets over time, and prepare an action plan to resolve budget misalignments. Students are expected to use at least 3 academic sources and follow APA formatting guidelines for a 3-4 page paper. The assignment aims to evaluate students' understanding of management control systems, budgeting tools, financial accounting techniques, and written communication skills.

1. Points: 160
Assignment 2:
Budget Planning and Control
Criteria
Unacceptable
Below 70% F
Fair
70-79% C
Proficient
80-89% B
Exemplary
90-100% A
1. Describe the company that you currently work for, have
previously worked for, or would like to work for in the future.
Determine at least two (2) compelling reasons that this company
should prepare and manage a budget. Predict the two (2) most
likely positive and negative financial outcomes for this
company if it properly or improperly performs effective
budgeting.
Weight: 20%
Did not submit or incompletely described the company that you
currently work for, have previously worked for, or would like to
work for in the future. Did not submit or incompletely
determined at least two (2) compelling reasons that this
company should prepare and manage a budget. Did not submit
or incompletely predicted the two (2) most likely positive and
negative financial outcomes for this company if it properly or
improperly performs effective budgeting.
Partially described the company that you currently work for,
have previously worked for, or would like to work for in the
future. Partially determined at least two (2) compelling reasons
that this company should prepare and manage a budget. Partially
predicted the two (2) most likely positive and negative financial

2. outcomes for this company if it properly or improperly performs
effective budgeting.
Satisfactorily described the company that you currently work
for, have previously worked for, or would like to work for in
the future. Satisfactorily determined at least two (2) compelling
reasons that this company should prepare and manage a budget.
Satisfactorily predicted the two (2) most likely positive and
negative financial outcomes for this company if it properly or
improperly performs effective budgeting.
Thoroughly described the company that you currently work for,
have previously worked for, or would like to work for in the
future. Thoroughly determined at least two (2) compelling
reasons that this company should prepare and manage a budget.
Thoroughly predicted the two (2) most likely positive and
negative financial outcomes for this company if it properly or
improperly performs effective budgeting.
2. Outline a high-level budget plan for the company. In your
high- level budget plan, recommend the most appropriate
budgeting phases for the company.
Weight: 20%
Did not submit or incompletely outlined a high-level budget
plan for the company. Did not submit or incompletely
recommended the most appropriate budgeting phases for the
company in your high-level budget plan.
Partially outlined a high-level budget plan for the company.
Partially recommended the most appropriate budgeting phases
for the company in your high-level budget plan.
Satisfactorily outlined a high-level budget plan for the
company. Satisfactorily recommended the most appropriate
budgeting phases for the company in your high-level budget
plan.
Thoroughly outlined a high-level budget plan for the company.
Thoroughly recommended the most appropriate budgeting
phases for the company in your high-level budget plan.
3. Propose two (2) methods and techniques that the company
should use to manage its budget over time in preparation for the

3. fact that budgets are ever changing. Justify your response.
Weight: 15%
Did not submit or incompletely proposed two (2) methods and
techniques that the company should use to manage its budget
over time in preparation for the fact that budgets are ever
changing. Did not submit or incompletely justified your
response.
Partially proposed two (2) methods and techniques that the
company should use to manage its budget over time in
preparation for the fact that budgets are ever changing. Partially
justified your response.
Satisfactorily proposed two (2) methods and techniques that the
company should use to manage its budget over time in
preparation for the fact that budgets are ever changing.
Satisfactorily justified your response.
Thoroughly proposed two (2) methods and techniques that the
company should use to manage its budget over time in
preparation for the fact that budgets are ever changing.
Thoroughly justified your response.
4. Imagine that the company is facing a financial challenge that
is causing the actual amounts of money that it spends to become
significantly off target from its budgeted amounts. Prepare an
action plan to resolve the budget misalignment. In your action
plan, recommend at least one (1) budgeting technique to resolve
the budget and actual discrepancies. Provide a rationale for your
response.
Weight: 20%
Did not submit or incompletely prepared an action plan to
resolve the budget misalignment. Did not submit or
incompletely recommended at least one (1) budgeting technique
to resolve the budget and actual discrepancies in your action
plan. Did not submit or incompletely provided a rationale for
your response.
Partially prepared an action plan to resolve the budget
misalignment. Partially recommended at least one (1) budgeting
technique to resolve the budget and actual discrepancies in your

4. action plan. Partially provided a rationale for your response.
Satisfactorily prepared an action plan to resolve the budget
misalignment. Satisfactorily recommended at least one (1)
budgeting technique to resolve the budget and actual
discrepancies in your action plan. Satisfactorily provided a
rationale for your response.
Thoroughly prepared an action plan to resolve the budget
misalignment. Thoroughly recommended at least one (1)
budgeting technique to resolve the budget and actual
discrepancies in your action plan. Thoroughly provided a
rationale for your response.
5. 3 references
Weight: 5%
No references provided
Does not meet the required number of references; some or all
references poor quality choices.
Meets number of required references; all references high quality
choices.
Exceeds number of required references; all references high
quality choices.
6.
Writing Mechanics, Grammar, and Formatting
Weight: 5%
Serious and persistent errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation,
or formatting.
Numerous errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Partially free of errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, or
formatting.
Mostly free of errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, or
formatting.
7.
Appropriate use of APA in-text citations and reference section
Weight: 5%
Lack of in-text citations and / or lack of reference section.

5. In-text citations and references are given, but not in APA
format.
In-text citations and references are provided, but they are only
partially formatted correctly in APA style.
Most in-text citations and references are provided, and they are
generally formatted correctly in APA style.
8.
Information Literacy / Integration of Sources
Weight: 5%
Serious errors in the integration of sources, such as intentional
or accidental plagiarism, or failure to use in-text citations.
Sources are rarely integrated using effective techniques of
quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing.
Sources are partially integrated using effective techniques of
quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing.
Sources are mostly integrated using effective techniques of
quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing.
9.
Clarity and Coherence of Writing
Weight: 5%
Information is confusing to the reader and fails to include
reasons and evidence that logically support ideas.
Information is somewhat confusing with not enough reasons and
evidence that logically support ideas.
Information is partially clear with minimal reasons and
evidence that logically support ideas.
Information is mostly clear and generally supported with
reasons and evidence that logically support ideas.
Write a three to four (3-4) page paper in which you:

6. Describe the company that you currently work for, have
previously worked for, or would like to work for in the future.
Determine at least two (2) compelling reasons that this company
should prepare and manage a budget. Predict the two (2) most
likely positive and negative financial outcomes for this
company if it properly or improperly performs effective
budgeting.
Outline a high-level budget plan for the company. In your high-
level budget plan, recommend the most appropriate budgeting
phases for the company.
Propose two (2) methods and techniques that the company
should use to manage its budget over time in preparation for the
fact that budgets are ever changing. Justify your response.
Imagine that the company is facing a financial challenge that is
causing the actual amounts of money that it spends to become
significantly off target from its budgeted amounts. Prepare an
action plan to resolve the budget misalignment. In your action
plan, recommend at least one (1) budgeting technique to resolve
the budget and actual discrepancies. Provide a rationale for your
response.
Use at least three (3) quality academic resources in this
assignment.
Note:
Wikipedia and other Websites do not quality as academic
resources.
Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:
Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size
12), with one-inch margins on all sides; references must follow
APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for
any additional instructions.
Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the
student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the
date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in
the required page length.

7. The specific course learning outcomes associated with this
assignment are:
Evaluate management control systems and examine their
relationship with accounting and planning, including feedback
and non-financial performance measurements.
Evaluate decision making tools for capital investments,
budgeting, and budgeting controls.
Analyze financial accounting tools and techniques that convert
financial accounting data into information for decision making.
Use technology and information resources to research issues in
financial accounting for managers.
Write clearly and concisely about financial accounting using
proper writing mechanics.
Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality,
logic / organization of the paper, and language and writing
skills, using
this rubric.