Effective Business Cases

In this 4-day course, you’ll learn the most common disciplines and methodologies used to create and present a business case with clear, concise, and fact-based arguments that highlight project benefits, costs, and risks to win approval for projects. You’ll learn the underlying structure and content of a business case as well as the role your audience plays in the development of it. Further, you’ll learn basic techniques for determining financial ROI, non-tangible benefits, and the probability of meeting expectations.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• Key elements of a business case document and presentation
• How to justify the investment to solve a business problem in a clear, concise, fact-based manner
• Basic financial metrics used within a business case, including feasibility studies and ROI analyses
• Ways to improve the odds of project approval
• Steps to prove your recommendation is “best”
• A step-by-step development process to create a business case

COURSE OUTLINE

1. THE CASE FOR A BUSINESS CASE

• The Needs of Decision Makers
• Business Cases

2. BUSINESS CASE FOUNDATIONS

• Business Case Requirements
• Competition for Resources
• Business Case Roles and Responsibilities
• Business Case Content
• The Business Case and Project Portfolio Management
• The Business Case and the Product Life Cycle
• Business Case Process Overview

3. IT STARTS WITH BUSINESS OBJECTIVES

• The Role of Business Objectives
• Types of Business Objectives
• The Business Case Subject Statement

4. COMPARING ALTERNATIVES: COSTS

• Answering Difficult Questions about Costs
• The Cost Model
• Cost Model Categories
• Cost Assumptions

5. COMPARING ALTERNATIVES: BENEFITS

• Answering Difficult Questions about Benefits
• The Benefits Model
• Benefit Types
• Steps for Computing Financial Benefits
• Benefits Assumptions

6. CASH FLOW AND FINANCIAL METRICS

• The Cash Flow Statement
• Common Financial Metrics

7. RISK AND SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

• Risk Definition
• Risk Analysis for the Business Case
• Sensitivity Analysis

8. THE BUSINESS CASE PROCES

• Business Case Process Overview
• Prepare Phase
• Methods Phase
• Analysis Phase
• Report Phase

9. THE BUSINESS CASE DOCUMENT AND PRESENTATION

• Business Case Reporting
• Business Case Content
• Executive Presentation

10. Follow-Up: What Happens After Project Selection

• Business Case Re-Evaluation
• Final Recommendations for Business Cases