The document provides an overview of what a business case is and should contain, including justifying the reasons, costs, benefits, and risks of a proposed project. It explains that a business case captures the knowledge and lessons learned, receives approval and funding to move forward, and provides a consistent message about project priorities. The business case should be written collaboratively by the project team early in the design phase to organize thoughts and identify weaknesses or opportunities before implementation.

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57086
Contract and Project Management
David Sowden, The University of Hull

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57086
Contract and Project Management
Business Case
David Sowden, The University of Hull

3. Overview
• Business Case
– What is a Business Case?
– What should a Business Case contain?
– Developing a Business Case
– Developing path of a Business Case.
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4. What is a Business Case ?
• A description of the reasons for the project and justification for undertaking the
project. Including:
– estimated costs
– the risks and
– expected business benefits and savings.
• It should cover the entire scope of change to the business that will be affected by
the project.
• It is the most important set of information for the project. it should drive the
decision-making processes and is used continually to align the project progress.
• Business Cases should be developed inline with any organisation standards that
might exist within the projects business environment.
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5. What should a Business Case contain?
<Insert Project Name> Created/updated 06/08/12
• Summary 57086
Contract and Project Management Module
Business Case
• Reasons Project Name:
Date: Release: Draft/Final
Author:
• Options Owner:
Client:
• Benefits expected Document Number:
Note: This document is only valid on the day it was printed
– Dis-benefits
• Risks Revision History
Revision Date Previous Summary of Changes
Date of next revision:
Changes
Revision Date Marked
• Costs and timescale
Approvals
• Investment appraisal This document requires the following approvals. A signed copy should be placed in the project files.
Name Signature Title Date of Issue Version
• Evaluation considerations
Distribution
This document has been distributed to:
Name Title Date of Issue Version
• (template available)
5 © University of Hull
page 1 of 4

6. Role of a Business Case
• To capture the knowledge
–lessons learnt (research)
• Receive funding and approval to
move forward
• Focus on priorities within the
proposed project
• Consistent message.
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7. Who should write the Business Case?
• Everyone within the team
should contribute to it’s
development
• Ideally with this information
1/2 people should actually
write the final document
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8. When should the Business Case be written?
Design Phase Implementation Phase
Scope Learn Create Plan Implement
Customers
Boundaries Vision Change mgmt Change mgmt
Associates
Issues Process Systems dev Systems Integration
Benchmarking
Objectives Technology Training dev Training
Technology
Schedule Org design Org changes Org design
Best practices
Budget Business Case Pilot programs Measurement
Change mgmt
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9. Keep in mind when the Business Case is written?
• Make it interesting, though not personal
• Keep it clear and concise
• Minimise jargon, conjecture and
acronyms
• Communicate all facts as part of the
‘story’
• Provide the reader with a ‘picture’ or
vision of the end state
• Demonstrate the value the project
brings to the Business, customer and the
financial bottom line.
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10. Benefits to you of a Business Case
• Organisation of thoughts,
activities and knowledge
• An objective review of ideas and
facts of the project
• The ability to identify holes,
inconsistencies or weakness in the
effort
• An improved ability to
communicate the purpose of the
project
• Financial justification for the
effort
• A great sense of accomplishment
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11. Summary of a Business Case
EXAMPLE
Project Name
Personalised systems supporting IPD* and CPD within a professional framework (CPD-Eng)
Outline Project Description:
This project will develop a personalised, ‘learner controlled’ online environment to support an
individual’s continuing professional development (CPD) and the staff CPD review process. At its
centre is a scalable, interoperable and robust access and identity management system that will
integrate and control access to personal e-portfolio technologies.
CPD-Eng will create a personalised continuing professional development pilot in the field of
Engineering, integrating and improving existing systems in the areas of reporting, resource and
process management. CPD-Eng will also support the relationships between the lifelong and
workbased learner, training institution(s), knowledge exchange, regulatory bodies (ECuk),
professional bodies and employers.
CPD-Eng will provide the innovative, personalised infrastructure that will support the work-based
learner through a new suite of flexible pathways to professional qualifications for the engineering
professional, integrating real and online worlds and enabling learning to take place 'whenever and
wherever'.
(Footnote * Initial/Qualifying professional development - The structured professional development undertaken by an individual in order to meet the
requirements for registration with a professional body. Continuing professional development. - The systematic maintenance, improvement and
broadening of knowledge and skills, and the development of personal qualities necessary for the execution of professional duties throughout working
life.)

12. TASK
Review your Business Case