Learning Objectives

• Define what a business case is
• Indicate four key elements of a business case
• Specify three ways in which a business case impacts the effectiveness of a project

How often have you worked on a project and had no idea why the project was being done? When you have to allocate resources among competing projects do you know which should have priority? Surprisingly, many projects are proposed and managed through to completion, only to discover (after the results are delivered) that no real value has been achieved for the organization. The reason is often that a clear business case was not defined.

Proper use of a business case–clear justification for how the project will add value to an organization–enables the organization and the project manager to make sure resources and work efforts are applied most effectively. For the project manager, a business case provides critical guidance for many project decisions when internal options present themselves: which approach to take; how to structure the deliverables; who to assign to certain tasks; who are the real stakeholders? Even though a project sponsor may say “Don't worry about why we're doing this–just do what I ask,” you do need to know the “why,” as well as the “what,” to make effective decisions within your project.

This session, mixing guided design and lecture, will bring a new level of understanding to your role of “project manager as solution provider” and help you make sure that the solutions you do provide will add value to your organization.