Abstract   Titel: Budget development – a study of multinational industrial companies   Date: 2011-05-27   Authors: Daniel Claesson & Tobias Kronvall   Supervisor: Fredrik Karlsson   Examiner: Lars-Göran Aidemark   Purpose: The main purpose of this study is to follow up and to do a comparison                of a study of Arwidi & Samuelson (1991) where we describe and explain budget change, from the traditional budget to today´s modern business management, in some of the leading listed Swedish industrial companies. We will also examine which objectives of the budget are highlighted in the companies. Further, we examine the relationship between                         organization, strategies and budgeting and how it affects the company            management.   Method: In this study we used a qualitative approach. We used a multiple case                  study to examine corporate approach to budgeting. The empirical data were collected through telephone interviews. Theoretical basis of this study is analytical generalization, where we with the help from empirical evidence rejects or confirms earlier theory.   Conclusions: Industrial companies in our study have abandoned budget and control its            activities today with forecasts and business plans. Global changes have meant that companies act after new conditions which have affected the organization, strategies, and choice of control instruments. Our study shows that the effects of changes in management philosophy are the initiation of changes in control instruments. Forecast and business plans                     are now prominent in our surveyed companies that use these instruments                       primarily for two reasons. Forecast helps companies to quickly identify global changes with the aim of correcting them before they occurred. The business plans clear focus on activities provides a positive financial impact. These activities should therefore be in line with customer satisfaction and organizational growth.