Business Case Management

Your anxiety

You realise that you do not have a structured approach for assessing and managing how the objectives of your programme translate into real benefits to the business, and whether the cost of doing so offers value for money. Some concerns you might have about your programme include:

• Are its benefits and the cost of realising them really in balance?
• Is its desired outcome (still) achievable?
• Is its portfolio of projects (still) the optimum way of achieving the desired outcome?

How we can help you

Our business case approach is built around five key ‘cases’ which are consistent with HM Treasury’s Green Book guidance:·

• The Strategic case - whether the vision and desired outcomes actually align with strategic organisational aims
• The Economic case - an examination of all options to determine the most economically viable
• The Financial case - to determine whether the proposed solution is actually affordable
• The Commercial case - to consider the optimum commercial route for achieving the desired outcome
• The Achievability case - an examination of whether the organisation actually has the requisite skills in the necessary numbers to be able to deliver the proposed solution.

Above all, our approach to business case management focuses on the early identification of the key benefits arising from the proposed programme or project. This provides a firm foundation for ongoing benefits realisation during the course of delivery. Proactive management is encouraged.

How we would work with you

We prefer to work jointly with our clients to establish a strong business case at the outset of a new programme or project, but also occasionally find ourselves helping to establish a business case in retrospect in order to assess viability of an initiative that is already under way. Our approach considers both the tangible aspects of business case development and the cultural dimensions such as achieving buy-in for a new initiative. For this reason, we regard business case development as more than an exercise in creating a written document and as the first stage of engaging stakeholders in the need for the proposed programme of activity.

Tools & training we can provide

Our suite of tools in this area includes templates based on best practice for all of the key elements of the business case; recommended review techniques and cycles, bearing in mind that the business case should be a living document reviewed throughout the delivery cycle; and an extensive library of proven business cases all grounded in practical delivery experience.We also provide training and support for managers and change agents involved in business case development
and its linkage into benefits management and realisation.

How this could deliver value for you

Our experience of business case development has enabled our clients to build their change management initiatives on solid foundations linked to clearly articulated views on the practicality of realising future business benefits, balanced at all times against the financial and organisational costs of doing so. Continual review of business cases during the delivery cycle has allowed regular and conscious decisions to be made about whether to continue or stop an initiative, thus ensuring
clear alignment of the portfolio of activity against strategic organisational aims.

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If you would like to talk to us call on the number below. Alternatively, click on the consultants email address, provide us with your details and we will call you back. We look forward to speaking to you. Contact: Email: Tel: Damian Pearce damianpearce@moorhouseconsulting.com +44 (0) 1225 446 313