A business case captures the reasoning for initiating a project or task. Many projects, but not all, are initiated by using a business case. It is often presented in a well-structured written document, but may also come in the form of a short verbal agreement or presentation. The logic of the business case is that, whenever resources such as money or effort are consumed, they should be in support of a specific business need. An example could be that a software upgrade might improve system performance, but the "business case" is that better performance would improve customer satisfaction, require less task processing time, or reduce system maintenance costs. A compelling business case adequately captures both the quantifiable and non-quantifiable characteristics of a proposed project. According to the Project Management Institute, a business case is a "value proposition for a proposed project that may include financial and nonfinancial benefit."
Business cases can range from comprehensive and highly structured, as required by formal project management methodologies, to informal and brief. Information included in a formal business case could be the 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. Consideration should also be given to the option of doing nothing including the costs and risks of inactivity. From this information, the justification for the project is derived.
Business cases are created to help decision-makers ensure that:
The business case process should be designed to be:
A good business case report brings confidence and accountability into the field of making investment decisions. It is a compilation of all information collected during enterprise analysis and the business case process. The key objective is to provide evidence and justification for continuing with the investment proposition.
A business case can include details such as strategic alignment, return on investments, risk exposure assessment, feasibility study, expected Key Performance Indicators, evaluations and alternative measures.[1]
Here is an example of a report structure for a business case:[2] [3]
At various stages in the project, the business case should be reviewed to ensure that:
The result of a review may be the termination or amendment of the project. The business case may also be subject to amendment if the review concludes that the business need has abated or changed, this will have a knock on effect on the project.
Many public sector projects are now required to justify their need through a business case. In the public sector, the business case is argued in terms of cost–benefit analysis, which may include both financial and non-financial cost and benefits. This allows the public body concerned to take social and environmental benefits into account, allowing a more comprehensive understanding of economic impacts.