Sample Business Case
For Project Management
[A good business case captures the reasoning for initiating a project or task. Formal business cases typically include background of the project, the expected business benefits, the options considered (with reasons for rejecting or carrying forward each option), the expected costs of the project, a gap analysis and the expected risks. .Prior to detailing the recommendation for the project, you should describe the alternatives considered, including the alternative of not taking any action, as well as the reasons for rejecting alternatives, and the risks associated with taking no action. Remember that those evaluating your case for a project will be looking at:
value, risk and relative priority in the context of overall business mission and strategy costs and return on investment as a measure of value quantifiable methods to compare alternative proposals. Objective methods to measure effectiveness and results]
[Depending on the size and complexity of the project, and availability of information, you may need to include some or all of the components detailed on the following pages.] [Gray-shaded bracketed information is instructional in nature, and should be deleted prior to submission. Angle-bracketed information highlighted in yellow is meant to be replaced by your own information.]
Sample Business Case
Table of Contents
Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 3 Value Proposition/Business Opportunity ...................................................................................................... 3 Background ............................................................................................................................................... 3 Current State ............................................................................................................................................. 3 Desired Outcomes ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Strategic Alignment .................................................................................................................................. 4 Risks .......................................................................................................................................................... 4 Benefits ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 Alternatives ................................................................................................................................................... 4 Evaluation Criteria .................................................................................................................................... 4 Alternative 1.............................................................................................................................................. 4 Alternative 2.............................................................................................................................................. 4 Choosing not to Proceed ........................................................................................................................... 5 Project Recommendation .............................................................................................................................. 5 Objectives ................................................................................................................................................. 5 Scope ......................................................................................................................................................... 5 Key Stakeholders ...................................................................................................................................... 6 Assumptions & Constraints ...................................................................................................................... 6 Dependencies ............................................................................................................................................ 7 Deliverables .............................................................................................................................................. 7 Impacts & Cost/Benefits Analysis ............................................................................................................ 7 Intangible Benefits ................................................................................................................................ 9 Required Resources.................................................................