Final answer:
Dave noticed a strategy in his company's budgeting process where mid-level managers ask for high budgets and top management tries to limit expenses. This negotiation mirrors budget management at various government levels, which can change due to policies or unexpected events.
Step-by-step explanation:
The management strategy Dave observed during his company's annual budgeting session is known as budgetary negotiation. This process involves mid-level managers asking for higher budgets than they might realistically need, anticipating pushback and reduction from top management who aim to keep budgets tight, often prioritizing to limit budgets under the previous year's actual expenditures. This approach by the mid-level managers is a strategic buffer to safeguard their departments' interests, while top management exercises fiscal control to prevent overspending.
All levels of government-federal, state, and local-have to manage these kinds of budget negotiations, as they draft budgets based on anticipated taxes and other income and plan how to allocate these funds. However, budgets can drastically change due to policy decisions or unforeseen circumstances, affecting the initial planning and spending strategies.