For a document that has been around for over 20 years, the business case is still mostly poorly understood.

The business case is not an ‘approval’ document - required to get funding for the project - it is (or should be seen as) the definition of a two-way contract between the Project Sponsor/Executive and the organization. This ‘contract’ spells out

• I, the Sponsor, will deliver this value proposition
• if you, the organization, provide me with these resources.

The business case, therefore, spells out what the project is going to deliver in business value terms. The project, therefore, exists to deliver the business case.  Therefore, it is critical that the business case 

• captures the value proposition
• is trackable and measurable (to measure its achievement)
• enables effective business decisions to be made on reliable and comparable information
• is easy and worthwhile to complete - ie helps the project
• ensures the resultant ‘case’ is thoroughly thought through

Few business cases meet these criteria - and this Guide explains why.

Understanding business cases

1. Understanding the purpose of a business cases - the document
2. The problems with business cases
3. Understanding the pre-requisites for a successful business case - the process
4. Understanding the role of a business case and process
5. Understanding the value of a ‘value-focused business case’
6. Understanding the design of the ‘value-focused business case’
7. When should you evaluate a business case?
8. Understanding business case roles
9. Understanding the end-to-end business case evaluation, validation and prioritization process

• Governance teams - to understand the true role and nature of business cases, and how they need to take ownership of them 
• PPMOs - to be able to assess their current business case and plan improvements
• Project teams - to learn the true role and nature of business cases
• Project Investment Committee/Board - to understand the true role and nature of the business case and associated process
• Auditors - to understand the true role of business cases and how to audit them

• Clarifies the true role of the business case
• Defines the pre-requisites to a successful and reliable business case
• Refocuses the view of business cases from a focus on cost to a primary focus on value
• Differentiates between the business case document and the business case generation and approval process
• Spells out the different accountabilities for business cases throughout the process
• Ensures everyone is ‘on the same page’ in their understanding of what a business case is and isn’t

Business case training program