This is a governance team process (and cannot be delegated to, say, a PPMO (see ‘How to validate a project’)). The Governance Team, and the Project Sponsor/Executive in particular, need to thoroughly understand every aspect of the business case. And we do mean ‘thoroughly’.

So this Guide enables them to understand and, therefore, own the business case. They need to assure themselves

• there is a valid rationale for this project (and it is the right rationale)
• the value proposition is complete and deliverable by the project
• the resources required are no more or less than are required
• the approach and risks are feasible and make the project doable
• those accountable for the project’s delivery can make it happen 
• the controls are sufficient for the nature of the project

Only when the governance team is satisfied that the business case is correct, complete and comprehensive should it be submitted to the approval process.

As few executives really know what to ask, this Guide tells them what to ask and why.

How to assess your project’s business case

• Understanding the project justification dimensions
• Understanding when you need to justify your project
• Understanding the value proposition and the business case
• Understanding the ‘contract’ role of the business case
• Understanding the end-to-end project evaluation process
• Understanding the VDM business case design principles
• How to assess your project’s rationale
• How to assess your project’s value proposition
• How to assess the required resources
• How to assess your project’s workload and risks
• How to assess your project’s accountabilities
• How to assess your project’s controls
• How to validate your project’s potential value to the organization
• Next steps

• Project team - to understand how the business case will be assessed by the governance team
• Governance team - to understand their role and how to thoroughly assess their business case
• PPMO - to understand how the governance team should review the business case and the questions they should ask
• Project Investment Committee - to understand the rigor that should have been applied to any business case
• Audit - to understand how the governance team assesses business cases

• Provides a common basis for discussion between the project and governance teams
• Provides the understanding of the business case and associated evaluation processes - what types of questions will be asked
• Covers in depth the six dimensions of a business case
• Provides the questions to be asked in each section of the business case
• Equips the governance team to discover weaknesses in their business case before it is submitted for approval
• Ensures that any business case going forward is understood, accepted and ‘owned’ by the governance team

The Business Case Book training