Top management’s reaction to a difference between budgeted and actual sales often depends on the materiality of the difference. whether management anticipated the difference. the personality of the top managers. whether the difference is favorable or unfavorable.

The company is experiencing an increase in competition, and at the same time they are building more production facilities in southeast asia. in this scenario, the top management team is most likely to multiple choice increase the cost of their products. restructure to reflect a more bureaucratic, stable organization. pull decision-making responsibility from low-level management, taking it on themselves. give lower-level managers the authority to make decisions to benefit the firm. rid themselves of all buffering product.