PPBS for "Dummies"

"Planning, Programming, and Budgeting System (PPBS) is in effect an integration of a number of techniques in a planning and budgeting process for identifying, costing and assigning a complexity of resources for establishing priorities and strategies in a major program and for forecasting costs, expenditure and achievements within the immediate financial year or over a longer period.

United States Department of Defense leaders use their Planning, Programming, and Budgeting System to link operational requirements with financial obligations. Department of Defense branches typically divide the process into plans, programs and budgets. While planning, programming, and budgeting continues throughout the year, PPBS dictates a sequential and annual process culminating with annual Defense Plan, followed by a Defense Program, then a Defense Budget.

PPBS requires Planners focus on operational requirements, programmers link the plans to a six year financial plan (known as a Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP)), and budgeters prepare a two year Congressional budget. While each step contains more detailed financial data, the two year Congressional budget stems from the six year Future Years Defense Plan, which is based on the even longer term Defense Plan."       WIKI on PPBS

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A number of people have expressed the opinion that the recently released strategy document is a meaningless publicity ploy by the Obama Administration.  Those who think that do not understand the PPBS process.  In that process the later programming and budget phases are driven by agreed upon strategy.  The strategy is the basis for all else.   The future proposed budgets are implied by the strategy.  The recent released budget guidance was the product of previous cycles of the PPBS "machine."  If this recent strategy document remains in force, the "out year" cycles of PPBS will produce smaller and smaller ground forces.  IMO, not a bad thing.  pl

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PPBS

 

Comments

[turcopolier]

Charles I

Yes. He is a trimmer rather than a man with a cleaver. Nevertheless, IMO the financial and economic situation will, over some years drive down the size of the ground forces. There are no "threats" with which to support such end strengths as we have now. pl

[Kelly Ana]

Sound quite useful! This is so true that If you don't have this three Planning, Programming, and Budgeting you can't never reach your goal. I truly appreciate whatever you have written about PPBS which is also related with Obama administration. But it is being proved every day in your life that this three things you need in your life. Thanks mate for making good impression and keep up this.