BUDGET PLANNING AND CONTROL IN IT PROJECTS: COST OPTIMIZATION METHODS

Grin M., Verezubova N.

The purpose of this article is to develop an integrated approach to budget planning and control in IT projects, integrating modern cost optimization methods into a single, practice-oriented model. Unlike existing works that focus on individual aspects of IT budget management, this study offers a holistic view of the budget management process as a continuous cycle that requires close integration of financial and technological competencies. It was found that traditional budgeting methods based on annual planning and strict control of compliance with budget limits are ineffective in the context of rapidly changing technological landscapes and business needs. Based on the results of the conducted research, the author's development is proposed.: "Cognitive cost optimization cycle in AI-based IT projects", which is a closed iterative algorithm where the optimization core is not traditional regulations, but predictive and self-learning models of artificial intelligence. The algorithm transfers cost management from the reactive mode of "plan-based analysis" to the proactive mode of "prediction and prevention". The scientific novelty of the development lies in the transition from control automation to cognitive optimization. The proposed algorithm is not a rigid sequence of steps, but rather a flexible, self-adjusting ecosystem where AI acts not as a tool, but as an active participant in the financial management process, capable of generating hypotheses, verifying them and implementing them, which fundamentally changes the role of a financial manager in an IT project from a controlling one to a strategic one.

Keywords:budget planning, IT projects, cost control, budget optimization, deviation management