Building a Compelling Business Case

top Overview

The ability to write a compelling business case is a core competency for effective managers. A business case is a critical requirement in many organisations before committing to projects, new products or other investments. Rigorous business case preparation ensures well targeted investment across the organisation, reduces risk, improves strategic alignment and increases the probability of achieving expected returns. However, it the business case is also an argument that needs to convince the recipient to invest in this undertaking rather than others.

This Short Course will look at the process of constructing a business case, with emphasis on how to present it as a compelling argument.

top Topics Covered

This Short Course is structured around group-based workshop sessions. You may have real projects or investments you wish to take through the business case phase of the Short Course. Teams will be formed around these projects. Several case studies, across a range of different project and investment types, will also be available for those who do not have their own examples to use.

This Short Course will be supported by coverage of relevant concepts and frameworks through structured presentations and coverage of practical examples and topical issues through case study, practical exercises and group discussion.

1. Introduction and basic principles

  • Purpose of the business case
  • Elements of a good business case
  • The business case production process
  • Putting together the team

Introducing your project or investment

  • Opportunity or problem analysis
  • Vision and objectives
  • Option analysis
  • Proposed solution

2. The proposed solution

  • Scope definition
  • High level resource requirements
  • Time and cost estimates
  • Dependencies, constraints, assumptions

3. Benefits Argument

  • Collecting data that supports or denies justification
  • Analysing the data
  • Appraisal techniques
  • Constructing your argument

4. Quantitative justification techniques

  • Financial analysis – NPV and cost/benefit
  • Risk analysis

5. Planning the process of producing a business case

6. Effective business case writing skills

  • Knowing your audience
  • Constructing a compelling narrative

7. Effective business case presentation skills

  • Be able to convince face to face
  • Handle objections and questions

8. Assessment of a business case

  • Framework for evaluation
  • Key questions to ask

top Who should attend

  • Any manager or project sponsor seeking to justify a capital investment via a business case
  • Project managers, business analysts or other staff responsible for constructing or authoring business cases or project justifications
  • Finance, Audit or other governance roles responsible for the review or approval of business cases

top Outcomes

At the end of this Short Course you should understand how to:

  • Complete a well structured business case for presentation and approval
  • Present your arguments in a compelling and convincing manner
  • Gather the necessary data to put together a business case
  • Review, evaluate and critique a business case that has been presented to you