Effective Business Cases
Effective Business Cases Course Details:
In this 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.
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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 Process
- 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
*Please Note: Course Outline is subject to change without notice. Exact course outline will be provided at time of registration.
- 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
Exercise 1: Be an Executive for a Day
Exercise 2: Completing a Business Case
Exercise 3: Creating Business Objectives and the Business Case Subject Statement
Exercise 4: Developing a Cost Model
Exercise 5: Comparing Alternatives: Benefits
Exercise 6: Creating an Incremental Cash Flow Statement
Exercise 7: Calculating ROI, Cost/Benefit, and Payback Period
Exercise 8: Calculating the Net Present Value
Exercise 9: Calculating the Internal Rate of Return
Exercise 10: Analyzing Risks and Sensitivity
Exercise 11: Identifying the Business Case Team and Reference Group
Exercise 12: Identifying Business Case Presentation Requirements
Student Case Study
Instructor Case Study
Business analysts, project managers, anyone who establishes business cases, and anyone who provides business justification for projects.