The primary goal of cash management is to...

The primary goal of cash management is indeed to avoid cash shortages and ensure liquidity. This involves strategically planning and controlling cash inflows and outflows to ensure that a business can meet its short-term obligations. Effective cash management ensures that there are enough liquid assets available to cover immediate expenses, such as payroll, supplier invoices, and operational costs. By maintaining adequate cash reserves, a company can also take advantage of investment opportunities or respond quickly to unexpected expenses, thereby reducing financial risk.

The other choices, while they may relate to aspects of financial management, do not capture the essence of cash management. For instance, reducing the workforce during financial crises is a reactionary measure rather than a proactive aspect of managing cash flow. Limiting expenditures on salaries relates to cost-cutting strategies, which do not directly address cash management. Finally, increasing reliance on credit facilities can lead to higher debt levels and financial strain, which runs contrary to the goal of maintaining liquidity and sound cash management.