Roberto Mendoza

Strategy, budgeting, and crisis in Latin America

Abstract This empirical study investigated the relationship between business strategy and budgetary usage, given perceived crisis in Latin America. Using the strategy typology of Miles and Snow (1978) , it was hypothesized that the Defender and Reactor strategy usage would be positively associated with Crisis while the Prospector and Analyzer strategy usage would be negatively associated. Employing LISREL analytic techniques, study results supported these relationships (although an alternate analysis supports the possibility that Defenders and Prospectors enact their strategy to be consistent with their Crisis perceptions). Further, though relationships between all strategy types should be related to Budgetary Usage, results indicated that the only significant relationship was between Prospector and Budgetary Usage. Though these results are consistent with the literature and have implications for budgeting practice in Latin America, additional research is needed.

Budget games and effort: differences between the United States and Latin America

Abstract While much work has been conducted on different behavioral factors affecting the budgetary process in the U.S., little effort has been made to examine how the budget process may differ in Latin America. The current study gathers data from U.S. and Latin American respondents to examine the implications of locale on budget game repertoires utilized, and in turn, budgetary effort expended. Results indicate significant differences across the locales. Latin American respondents were less likely to use Devious and Economic game repertoires. Across locales, individuals using Devious repertoires exerted less budgetary effort, while those using Economic repertoires exerted more.

Central American budgeting scorecard: Cross cultural insights

Abstract This study surveyed U.S. and Central American business persons to determine the effect of cultural differences and/or environmental factors on budget attitudes and practices. The results suggest that the role of cultural differences may be minor. The stronger Central American views on adjusting for inflation, budgets as reflecting certainty, and as financial limits seem to reflect coping efforts related to concern about international competition, threatening conditions, and overall sense of crisis. Thus, the findings suggest that environmental conditions, not cultural differences, would have the greater impact on budgeting.

Central America: The effect of organizational complexity, competitive fears, budgetary workrole importance and budget criticality on budgetary motivati☆☆☆

Abstract Changing trade relationships have led to concern about new competition and Latin American accounting practices. This study of Central American businessmen investigates the effects of competitive fears and organizational complexity on the importance of ones budgetary work, budget criticality, attitude toward one s budget and budgetary performance. A LISREL analysis found that fear of local competition was significantly related to importance of ones budgetary work and budget criticality, organizational complexity was also related to budgetary work importance, and that as ones budgetary work and budgetary criticality increased in importance, one had a better budgetary attitude and budgetary performance. Surprisingly, fear of international competition was not significantly related to other experimental variables. The results were consistent with other findings in an Anglo-American context and suggest that budgetary practices are similar in both cultures.