The Essentials of a Planning-Programming-Budgeting System
ResearchPublished 1969
ResearchPublished 1969
A description of the Planning-Programming-Budgeting System (PPBS), a management tool to provide a better analytical basis for decisionmaking and for putting such decisions into operation. A PPBS is constituted, basically, of five elements: (1) a program structure — a classification of the courses of action open to an organization for attaining its objectives; (2) an approved program document that includes precise, quantitative data on needs, resource inputs, and program outputs extending a number of years into the future; (3) a decisionmaking process that establishes the functions, rules, and timetables for the actions required by the PPBS; (4) an analysis process for measuring effectiveness and for weighing alternatives; and (5) an information system that supplies the data required to implement the system.
This publication is part of the RAND paper series. The paper series was a product of RAND from 1948 to 2003 that captured speeches, memorials, and derivative research, usually prepared on authors' own time and meant to be the scholarly or scientific contribution of individual authors to their professional fields. Papers were less formal than reports and did not require rigorous peer review.
This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited; linking directly to this product page is encouraged. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial purposes. For information on reprint and reuse permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions.
RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.