Document Information

The document ID, owner, issue created, last saved date and file name.

Document History

The Version Number, Issue Date and the changes made to that version.

The Role or Job Title, Name and Signature of each approver of the Business Case.

Provide an 'at a glance' summary of the project purpose, goals, cost/benefits, risks and options. It should be concisely, but informative so that a c-level executive can quickly grasp the value of the project. It often easier to write this section last. It should include the following:

• Problem or opportunity
• Alignment to the Business Strategy
• Solution alternatives
• Recommended Solution
• Expected costs and benefits
• Implementation Approach.

Business Problem

This section of the Business Case deals with the description and explanation of the Business Problem that the project is designed to solve.

Environmental Analysis

• Business Vision, Strategy or Objectives
• Business processes or technologies which are not operating efficiently
• New Competitor products or processes which have been identified
• New technology trends (or opportunities resulting from new technologies introduced)
• Commercial or operational trends which are driving changes in the business
• Changes to Statutory, legislative or other environmental requirements.

Problem Analysis

Outline the business problem or opportunity that this project is design to address.

Business Problem

Provide a description of the business problem, including:

• The reasons why the problem exists.
• The impact it is having on the business (e.g. financial, cultural, operational)
• Any time scales within which the problem must be resolved, or key milestones.
• The impact of doing nothing.

Business Opportunity

Outline the business opportunity which has been identified, including:

• Any supporting evidence
• A time frame within which the opportunity will likely exist
• The positive impact that realization of the opportunity will have on the business.

Available Options

This section provides an overview of all solution options, their benefits, costs, feasibility, risks and issues. Options suggested could include doing nothing, in-house solutions, outsourcing options, offshore solution, automated solutions, manual or process based options. Often the number of options available can be reduce by a detailed Feasibility Study.

Option [number]

Provide a number, name and description of the option identified. The description should include the approach that would be taken and the main elements of the solution for example: people, process, organization, and technology.

Benefits, goals & measurement criteria

Describe the tangible and intangible benefits to the company upon implementation of the solution. One of the obvious benefits described will be that the business problem / opportunity outlined above will be addressed.

Complete the following table:

Costs and Funding Plan

Describe the tangible and intangible costs to the company upon implementation of the solution. The costs of the actual project should be included as well as any negative impact to the business resulting from the delivery of the project.

Complete the following table:

Funding Plan

Identify Funding Sources and Amounts

Feasibility

Describe the feasibility of the solution. This section, may summarize the results of a separate Feasibility Study carried about prior to the completion of this Business Case.

Risks

List the known risks associated with the adoption of this solution. Helpful guides for this section: A guide to Risk Management. Example Risk Register. Possible responses to risk. A table similar to the below could be used:

Issues

List the key issues associated with the delivery of this option.

Issues are defined as anything which currently impacts the ability of the solution to produce the required outcomesstakeholdermap.com

. Complete the following table or use this Issue Log Template:
Upon approval of the business case, each issue should be formally recorded and tracked, using an Issue Log.

Assumptions

List the major assumptions that have been taken in assessing this option. Examples include:

• There will be no legislative, business strategy or policy changes during this project as it relates to SaaS software and data security.
• Prices of subscriptions will not increase during the course of this project.
• Additional human resource will be available from the business to support this project.

Description
See above

Benefits
See above

Costs
See above

Feasibility
See above

Risks
See above

Issues
See above

Assumptions
See above

Option Recommended

Note the recommend option and give the primary reasons why this option was chosen.

This section provides an overview of the approach that will be taken to deliver the recommended option and derive the business benefits.

Where a Project Management Methodology will be used this should be noted here.

Project Initiation

Outline the method by which the project will be defined, the project team formulated and the project office established.

Project Planning

Define the overall planning process to ensure that the project phases, activities and tasks are undertaken in a coordinated fashion. See the Project Lifecycle for some examples.

Project Execution

Identify the phases and activities required to complete the 'build' phase of the project.

Project Closure

List the steps necessary to release the deliverables to the business (once complete), close the project office, reallocate staff and perform a Post Implementation Review of the project.

Project Management

Describe in brief how the following aspects of the project will be managed:

• Time Management
• Cost Management
• Quality Management
• Change Management
• Risk Management
• Issue Management
• Procurement Management
• Communications Management
• Acceptance Management
• Other artifacts as appropriate for the business case

Use these management plan templates to help you complete this section.

Appendix - Supporting Documentation

Attach any documentation you believe is relevant to the Business Case. For example:

• Problem / Opportunity research materials
• Feasibility Study research materials
• External quotes or tenders
• Detailed cost / benefit spreadsheets
• System requirements (if known)
• Other relevant information or correspondence.