Detailed Course Outline
Introduction
- Fundamentals of a business case
- Where the business case fits into the project life cycle
- Business case as an Organisation Process Asset (OPA)
Defining the Business Case
The six-step process model
- Defining the ADAPTS business case analysis process
- Focusing on the required elements
- Examining the role and value of the steps
Identifying the benefits and risks of the process
- Business case structure and process
- Proving that benefits are realised
Agreeing on the Scope
The two-step scoping process
- Harvesting stakeholder goals
- Clarifying the business drivers
Applying the stakeholder perception matrix
- Creating the problem statement
- Turning goals into business requirements
Developing the Initiative
Conducting stakeholder analysis
- Identifying business-level stakeholders
- Capturing user scenarios
Deducing key decision criteria
- Constructing a compliance matrix from the scenarios
- Prioritising criteria with affinity diagraming
Determining possible alternatives
- Practical tools for researching alternatives
- Applying key criteria to judge alternate solutions
Comparing Costs and Benefits
Estimating costs
- Benefiting from a Cost Estimation Worksheet
- Evaluating and selecting financial appraisal methods
Forecasting benefits
- Categorising tangible and intangible benefits
- Proving intangible benefits with a benefits rationale
Creating and applying a basic cost model
- Employing four common financial analysis tools
- Producing a cash flow model
Managing Business Case Risk
Risk assessment methods and tools
- Recognising the impact of time and risk
- Creating and using a risk register
- Applying a risk assessment matrix
Prioritising risks
- Framing risk with your stakeholder analysis
- Aligning risk evaluation with stakeholder point of view
Targeting Your Recommendation
Delivering and positioning the solution
- Three common decision-making heuristics
- Aligning the business case with stakeholders
Aligning and prioritising initiatives
- Prioritising and selecting alternatives
- Selecting the business case delivery methodology
Crafting a Persuasive Business Case
Preparing the document
- Overcoming the business document paradox
- Minimising content to get maximum results
Polishing the Executive Summary
- Exploiting the Executive Summary template
- Avoiding common mistakes
Presenting the Business Case
Organising your presentation
- Revisiting key decision-maker hot buttons
- Preparing the message
- Sequencing the content
- Tailoring your presentation to the audience
Selecting the delivery medium
- Communicating your case with confidence
- Templates to build powerful presentations and wall-walks
Improving the presentation
- Validating your presentation
- Generating feedback for improvement