Business Cases That Get Results

Business Cases That Get Results

by Carrie Marshall
Released January 2019
Publisher(s): BCS Learning & Development Limited
ISBN: 9781780174556

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Book description

A business case is a logical, structured argument to bring about business change, aimed at the decision makers in an organisation. A persuasive, well-written business case can win over your readers and get you the all important approval you need.

In this book you’ll discover the do’s and don’ts of pitching your ideas through a business case. You'll learn what the essential components of a business case are, including what key questions you should be answering, how to structure your business case, factors to consider when thinking about benefits and risks, and how best to tackle ROI. ---
'Presents a practical and down to earth approach to business case development.' Peter Wheatcroft , Moderator for the UK IT Industry Awards, Service Desk and Incident Manager

Table of contents

  1. Front Cover
  2. Half-Title Page
  3. BCS, THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE FOR IT
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright Page
  6. Contents
  7. Author
  8. Preface
  9. 1. INTRODUCTION: WHAT IS A BUSINESS CASE?
    1. Key takeaways
  10. 2. THE KEY QUESTIONS YOUR CASE NEEDS TO ANSWER
    1. What is the need that your business case addresses?
    2. What evidence do you have to demonstrate the need?
    3. What are you proposing to do to meet the need?
    4. What are the other options?
    5. How does your business case fit with the appropriate mission, strategy and values?
    6. What disbenefits are there?
    7. How will you know you’ve achieved what you set out to do?
    8. How long will it take to implement?
    9. What are the known unknowns?
    10. What do you need?
    11. What will the impact on the business be?
    12. Key takeaways
  11. 3. THE IMPORTANCE OF IDENTIFYING EVERY STAKEHOLDER
    1. Stakeholder identification
    2. Winning over stakeholders
    3. Key takeaways
  12. 4. HOW TO STRUCTURE YOUR BUSINESS CASE
    1. How to present your business case for a large project
    2. Things to consider when you write your business case
    3. Key takeaways
  13. 5. BENEFITS AND OUTCOME ANALYSIS
    1. What benefits mean in a business case
    2. Making soft benefits harder
    3. Money, money, money
    4. Analysing outcomes
    5. Key takeaways
  14. 6. THINKING ABOUT RISKS
    1. Political risks
    2. Economic risks
    3. Social risks
    4. Technological risks
    5. Legal risks
    6. Environmental risks
    7. How to present risks in a business case
    8. Key takeaways
  15. 7. ROI: WHAT IT IS AND WHY YOU NEED TO SHOW IT
    1. ROI basics
    2. Expect the unexpected
    3. Other financial measures
    4. Key takeaways
  16. 8. INTERNAL OPPOSITION: THE ENEMY IN THE RANKS
    1. Fear of change
    2. Force of habit
    3. Lack of knowledge
    4. Key takeaways
  17. 9. MAKING YOUR CASE WITH A PRESENTATION
    1. The rule of three
    2. Three is the magic number
    3. Expect the unexpected
    4. Key takeaways
  18. 10. THE IMPORTANCE OF EDITING
    1. Key questions to ask as you edit
    2. How to make your business case better during the editing process
    3. Peer review
    4. Key takeaways
  19. 11. SUBMITTING YOUR BUSINESS CASE
    1. Who should you submit your case to?
    2. What should your business case include?
    3. How should you format your business case?
    4. When should you submit your business case?
    5. Key takeaways
  20. 12. AFTERWORD
    1. References
    2. Index
  21. Back Cover

Product information

  • Title: Business Cases That Get Results
  • Author(s): Carrie Marshall
  • Release date: January 2019
  • Publisher(s): BCS Learning & Development Limited
  • ISBN: 9781780174556