Final answer:
Budgeting and reporting activities are examples of formal management controls, which include various policies and procedures to efficiently direct and monitor an organization's resources and performance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The budgeting and reporting activities that Bates uses are examples of C) formal management controls. These activities are part of the structures and processes that organizations use to direct, monitor, and measure their resources and performance. They include a variety of reporting mechanisms, policies, and procedures, like the formal reports mentioned, which are commonly used in social sciences, natural sciences, technical fields, and business for various analytical purposes. Such controls are critical for ensuring the responsible management of resources and for achieving organizational objectives efficiently and effectively.