- Enterprise application initiatives are complex, expensive, and require a significant amount of planning before initiation.
- A financial business case is sometimes used to justify these initiatives.
- Once the business case (and benefits therein) are approved, the case is forgotten, eliminating a critical check and balance of benefit realization.
Our Advice
Critical Insight
1. Frame the conversation.
Understand the audience and forum for the business case to best frame the conversation.
2. Time-box the process of building the case.
More time should be spent on performing the action rather than building the case.
3. The business case is a living document.
The business case creates the basis for review of the realization of the proposed business benefits once the procurement is complete.
Impact and Result
- Understand the drivers for decision making in your organization, and the way initiatives are evaluated.
- Compile a compelling business case that provides decision makers with sufficient information to make decisions confidently.
- Evaluate proposed enterprise application initiatives “apples-to-apples” using a standardized and repeatable methodology.
- Provide a mechanism for tracking initiative performance during and after implementation.
Reduce Time to Consensus With an Accelerated Business Case Research & Tools
Start here – read the Executive Brief
Read our concise Executive Brief to find out why you should build a business case for enterprise application investments, review Info-Tech’s methodology, and understand how we can support you in completing this project.Besides the small introduction, subscribers and consulting clients within this management domain have access to:
- Reduce Time to Consensus With an Accelerated Business Case – Phases 1-3
1. Gather the required information
Complete the necessary preceding tasks to building the business case. Rationalize the initiative under consideration, determine the organizational decision flow following a stakeholder assessment, and conduct market research to understand the options.
- Reduce Time to Consensus With an Accelerated Business Case – Phase 1: Gather the Required Information
- Business Case Readiness Checklist
- Business Case Workbook
- Request for Information Template
- Request for Quotation Template
2. Conduct the business case analysis
Conduct a thorough assessment of the initiative in question. Define the alternatives under consideration, identify tangible and intangible benefits for each, aggregate the costs, and highlight any risks.
- Reduce Time to Consensus With an Accelerated Business Case – Phase 2: Conduct the Business Case Analysis
3. Make the case
Finalize the recommendation based on the analysis and create a business case presentation to frame the conversation for key stakeholders.
- Reduce Time to Consensus With an Accelerated Business Case – Phase 3: Make the Case
- Full-Form Business Case Presentation Template
- Summary Business Case Presentation Template
- Business Case Change Log
- Business Case Close-Out Form
Workshop: Reduce Time to Consensus With an Accelerated Business Case
Workshops offer an easy way to accelerate your project. If you are unable to do the project yourself, and a Guided Implementation isn't enough, we offer low-cost delivery of our project workshops. We take you through every phase of your project and ensure that you have a roadmap in place to complete your project successfully.
1 Plan for Business Case Development
The Purpose
Complete the necessary preceding tasks to building a strong business case.
Key Benefits Achieved
Alignment with business objectives.
Stakeholder buy-in.
Activities
1.1 Map the decision flow in your organization.
1.2 Define the proposed initiative.
1.3 Define the problem/opportunity statement.
1.4 Clarify goals and objectives expected from the initiative.
Outputs
Decision traceability
Initiative summary
Problem/opportunity statement
Business objectives
2 Build the Business Case Model
The Purpose
Put together the key elements of the business case including alternatives, benefits, and costs.
Key Benefits Achieved
Rationalize the business case.
Activities
2.1 Design viable alternatives.
2.2 Identify the tangible and intangible benefits.
2.3 Assess current and future costs.
2.4 Create the financial business case model.
Outputs
Shortlisted alternatives
Benefits tracking model
Total cost of ownership
Impact analysis
3 Enhance the Business Case
The Purpose
Determine more integral factors in the business case such as ramp-up time for benefits realization as well as risk assessment.
Key Benefits Achieved
Complete a comprehensive case.
Activities
3.1 Determine ramp-up times for costs and benefits.
3.2 Identify performance measures and tracking.
3.3 Assess initiative risk.
Outputs
Benefits realization schedule
Performance tracking framework
Risk register
4 Prepare the Business Case
The Purpose
Finalize the recommendation and formulate the business case summary and presentation.
Key Benefits Achieved
Prepare the business case presentation.
Activities
4.1 Choose the alternative to be recommended.
4.2 Create the detailed and summary business case presentations.
4.3 Present and incorporate feedback.
4.4 Monitor and close out.
Outputs
Final recommendation
Business case presentation
Final sign-off