Building an Effective Business Case

Introduction

• Fundamentals of a business case
• Where the business case fits into the project life cycle
• Recognizing decision makers
• Business case as an Organization Process Asset (OPA)

Defining the Business Case

The six-step process model

• Focusing on the required elements
• Examining the role and value of the steps

Identifying the benefits and risks of the process

• Clarifying the business drivers
• Proving that benefits are realized

Scoping the Business Case

The two-step scoping process

• Harvesting stakeholder perceptions
• Collecting the business requirements

Applying the stakeholder perception matrix

• Creating the problem and opportunity statement
• Writing business requirements

Detailing the Initiative

Conducting stakeholder analysis

• Identifying business-level stakeholders
• Eliciting tacit knowledge from stakeholders

Analyzing user scenarios

• Structuring and interpreting the scenarios
• Diagramming as an effective tool

Analyzing Your Options

Developing possible alternatives

• Practical tools for researching alternatives
• Investigating your options to derive alternate solutions

Comparing costs and benefits

• Categorizing tangible and intangible benefits
• Evaluating and selecting financial appraisal methods

Forecasting benefits

• Creating a benefits rationale
• The impact of time and risk

Applying basic cost models

• Four common financial analysis tools
• Creating a cost model

Managing Risk in Your Business Case

Risk assessment methods and tools

• Creating and using a risk register
• Applying the risk assessment matrix

Prioritizing risks

• Framing risk with your stakeholder analysis
• Aligning risk evaluation results with stakeholder point of view

Prioritizing Alternative Solutions

Examining decision processes

• Evaluating three common decision-making models
• Heuristics: rule-based decision making

Delivering and positioning the solution

• Prioritizing and selecting alternatives by key decision criteria
• Aligning the business case with decision processes
• Selecting the business case delivery methodology

Crafting a Persuasive Executive Summary

Preparing the document

• Outlining the format and contents
• Overcoming the business document paradox
• Minimizing content to get maximum results

Polishing the summary

• Avoiding common mistakes
• Applying fundamental tools and techniques

Presenting the Business Case

Organizing the presentation

• Revisiting key decision maker hot buttons
• Preparing the message
• Sequencing the content
• Tailoring your presentation to the audience

Selecting the delivery medium

• Communicating your case with confidence
• Templates to build powerful presentations and wall-walks

Improving the presentation

• Validating your presentation
• Practicing your role
• Generating feedback for improvement