Instructor-led
Self-paced

Better Business Cases training courses

Based on HM Treasury’s Green book.

Learn best practices in business case development under HM Treasury guidelines. Gain skills to craft compelling business cases with our accredited courses.

Knowledge Train | Better Business Cases training courses

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Better Business Cases certification

Better Business Cases certification

What is Better Business Cases?

Better Business Cases is used to develop spending proposals and make investment decisions. It is a strategic and objective approach that helps organisations to create proposals that are accurate and effective in securing funding. The Better Business Cases approach is based on the UK government’s best practice approach, as outlined in the HM Treasury’s Green Book and the Five Cases Model.

The main goal of the Better Business Cases approach is to ensure that organisations make informed investment decisions that align with their overall strategy and objectives. The approach provides a structured and transparent process for evaluating a proposal’s costs, benefits, and risks and assessing its viability from a financial, commercial, and management perspective.

By using the Better Business Cases method, organisations can improve the quality of their proposals, increase the chances of securing funding, and make better investment decisions.

HM Treasury’s Green Book

The Green Book is a guide produced by the UK government’s HM Treasury, providing a framework for appraising, and evaluating proposals for policies, programs, and projects.

The Five Cases Model

The Five Cases Model is a framework for developing proposals and making investment decisions, used by the UK government as part of its best practice approach. The Five Cases Model consists of five inter-related elements, or cases, that must be considered when making investment decisions:

  • Strategic Case: This case assesses whether the proposal aligns with the organisation’s overall strategy and objectives.
  • Economic Case: This case considers the costs and benefits of the proposal and assesses whether it is the most cost-effective solution.
  • Financial Case: This case assesses the proposal’s viability from a financial perspective, including the estimated costs, funding sources, and potential risks and returns.
  • Commercial Case: This case assesses the commercial aspects of the proposal, including market conditions, the competitive environment, and the proposed delivery model.
  • Management Case: This case assesses the feasibility of the proposal, including the resources required, the risks involved, and the proposed implementation plan.

By considering each of these five cases, organisations can make more informed investment decisions and develop more likely proposals to succeed. For more information about the Five Cases Model, click here. Better Business Cases Foundation and Practitioner courses are accredited by APMG International.

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What is Better Business Cases certification?

What is Better Business Cases certification?

There are 2 Better Business Cases certification levels: the entry-level Better Business Cases Foundation certification and the intermediate Better Business Cases Practitioner certification.

Better Business Cases Foundation

The Better Business Cases Foundation course does not have any prerequisites and does not require any prior knowledge. It is suitable for anyone interested in developing, approving, or delivering a business case. The course covers the fundamentals of business case development and is a useful starting point for individuals looking to gain a basic understanding of this important topic.

Better Business Case Foundation exam
  • Style: Multiple-choice.
  • Questions: 50 questions.
  • Pass mark: 50% (25/50).
  • Duration: 40 minutes.
  • Materials allowed: Closed book.
  • Prerequisites: None.
  • Results: Same day for online exam. 3 working days for in-person exam.

Better Business Cases Practitioner

The Better Business Cases Practitioner certification is designed to help students learn the Five Cases Model. Through this certification, students will learn how to apply the principles and techniques to developing compelling business cases more likely to be funded and supported by management.

Better Business Case Practitioner exam
  • Style: Objective testing.
  • Questions: 4 questions per paper, with 20 marks available per question.
  • Pass mark: 50% (40/80).
  • Duration: 150 minutes.
  • Materials allowed: Open book (International Guide to developing the Project Business Case and International Guide to developing the Programme Business Case only).
  • Prerequisites: Better Business Cases Foundation.
  • Results: Same day for online exam. 3 working days for in-person exam.
How to earn your Better Business Cases certification

If you are interested in earning your Better Business Cases certification, you can enrol in an instructor-led course. Our instructor-led classroom courses are available online or in a range of cities across the UK.

Instructor-led courses

All instructor-led courses are taught by experienced Better Business Cases trainers and offer all the benefits of face-to-face learning with an experienced tutor. To participate in an instructor-led course, you must be able to commit to a fixed classroom schedule. To check whether there is a classroom instructor-led course in your area, or a virtual instructor-led course hosted on the internet, please check the dates on the Better Business Cases Foundation or Better Business Cases Practitioner page.

Self-paced online courses

If you cannot commit to a fixed classroom schedule, you can always obtain your Better Business Cases certification by enrolling in a self-paced online Better Business Cases course.

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Self-paced online learning

Self-paced online learning

Self-paced online learning has had many different names over the years, including distance learning, computer-based training (CBT), and e-Learning (or elearning). We prefer using the term ‘self-paced’ because you can stop and start your learning whenever, and wherever you want. Read the benefits of online self-paced learning below to learn more about why self-paced learning is a great way to learn about Better Business Cases and gain certification.

Online self-paced training benefits

Online self-paced training benefits

Here are the benefits of studying Better Business Cases online:

  • Saves you time
  • Saves you money
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Gain support from an expert
  • Best practice design aids knowledge retention
  • Take your certification exam online.
About self-paced training

About self-paced training

Learning technology

These self-paced online Better Business Cases courses have been designed with the latest web technologies, so they work on Windows, MacOS, iOS and Android. They are fully responsive, and fit any device and screen size – desktop, tablet and mobile.

Best practice design

Our self-paced online Better Business Cases training courses are highly interactive, and exercises have been designed to aid a deeper level of understanding, leading to longer-lasting learning.

Like all our online training, these self-paced online Better Business Cases courses have been designed using the latest best practices in instructional design, including microlearning and gamification, quizzes, audio, and hosted on an easy-to-use learning management system.

Accessibility standards

Our Better Business Cases training courses meet the key accessibility standards from the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Many companies develop online training cheaply just by filming a trainer in a classroom. We do not think that’s a good way to help students learn, nor does it engage learners.

We are confident that our interactive eLearning will help you gain an understanding of Better Business Cases so you can take your exams with confidence.

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Better Business Cases Foundation course details:

Course format

  • Instructor-led or self-paced online
  • Accredited training materials (instructor led) or fully interactive eLearning content (self-paced online).
  • Official exams.
  • Sample exams.
  • HM Treasury guidance: Guide To Developing the Project Business Case; Guide To Developing the Programme Business Case; and The Green Book.

Course times

  • Instructor-led training: 2 days, 9 am to 5 pm.
  • Self-paced online: 12 hours.

Learning outcomes

  • Students gain an understanding of different business cases, who is responsible for them and when.
  • Students will also gain an understanding of the Five Case Model and its role in developing a business case.

Course content

  • Structure, terminology, philosophy and rationale of the Five Case Model.
  • Different types of business case, their purpose, who is responsible.
  • Development of the business case.

Prerequisites

  • None.

More information about Better Business Cases Practitioner course can be found here.

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Better Business Cases Practitioner course details:

Course format

  • Instructor-led or self-paced online.

Training includes

  • Accredited training materials (instructor-led) or fully interactive eLearning content (self-paced online).
  • Official exams.
  • Sample exam.
  • HM Treasury guidance: Guide To Developing the Project Business Case; Guide To Developing the Programme Business Case; and The Green Book.

Course times

  • Instructor-led training: 2 days, 9 am to 5 pm (Foundation & Practitioner 4 days).
  • Self-paced online: 15 hours (Foundation & Practitioner 27 hours).

Learning outcomes

  • Students gain an understanding of the development lifecycle of a business case.
  • Students learn to apply the Five Cases Model when developing a business case

Course content

  • Development lifecycle of a business case and relationships to the 5 cases.
  • How to tailor the Five Case Model.
  • How to apply the steps in the business case development framework.

Prerequisites

  • Better Business Cases Foundation.

More information about Better Business Cases Practitioner course can be found here.

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Better Business Cases courses frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Is Knowledge Train accredited for Better Business Cases training?

Yes. Knowledge Train is an accredited training organisation for Better Business Cases.

Why choose Knowledge Train over other course providers?

Knowledge Train only hires the most experienced professionals and certified Better Business Cases trainers to help deliver our Better Business Cases training. Our instructor-led Better Business Cases training courses are taught by the best trainers in the UK. Each is a training expert with years of experience working in business cases. They help us deliver a high quality of Better Business Cases training you won’t find elsewhere! If you’d like to sit in on an instructor-led virtual Better Business Cases course and learn how we run our virtual training courses, give our team a call at +44 (0)207 148 5985, and we’ll find you a place on our next available Better Business Cases course.

Should I take instructor-led or self-paced training?

We’ve designed our instructor-led training and self-paced courses to give you the best possible chance to learn about Better Business Cases and pass your Better Business Cases exams. Simply choose the Better Business Cases course format that best suits your needs. You should take instructor-led Better Business Cases training if any of the following apply:

  • You can commit to a fixed classroom schedule
  • You’d like to earn your Better Business Cases qualification as quickly as possible
  • You prefer face-to-face learning with a trainer
  • You enjoy learning in a social environment with other students.

You should take a self-paced Better Business Cases online course if any of the following apply:

  • You cannot commit to a fixed classroom schedule
  • You cannot travel to a classroom training venue
  • You prefer to learn at your own pace.

Should I take a Foundation or Practitioner course?

Both Better Business Cases Foundation and Practitioner courses are best suited to:

  • Senior Responsible Owners (SROs), programme directors and others responsible for delivering programmes and projects.
  • Project managers, project team members and specialist advisers delivering a business case for investment.
  • Those responsible for scrutinising or reviewing investment proposals.

What is the latest version of Better Business Cases?

The latest update to the Better Business Cases publication was in 2018.

When do I receive my Better Business Cases certificate?

All exam results and certifications are administered by APMG. You will receive your Better Business Cases Foundation or Practitioner digital certificate within 2 working days of sitting your exam.

When do I receive my Better Business Cases manual?

If you choose to attend an instructor-led Foundation or Foundation & Practitioner course, you will gain digital access to the following HM Treasury guidance: Guide To Developing the Project Business Case; Guide To Developing the Programme Business Case; and The Green Book.

How can I prepare for my Better Business Cases course?

If you’ve enrolled in an instructor-led Better Business Cases course, we’ll provide introductory reading to help you familiarise yourself with basic terms and concepts before the course begins. This reading should take no more than 3-4 hours and provides a basic overview of some of the topics you’ll encounter on your first day of training.

When can I take my Better Business Cases exam?

In our instructor-led Better Business Cases training courses, your instructor may set aside time during training hours within which to take the exams. However, you are not obligated to sit your Better Business Cases exams at this time and can book your exams whenever it is most convenient for you.

Do I receive any support to help me pass my Better Business Cases exams?

As a student of an instructor-led Better Business Cases course, you’ll receive sample exams that match the style, form, and content of questions you will be asked in your Better Business Cases examinations.

  • Better Business Cases Foundation course – you will receive 2 sample papers.
  • Better Business Cases Practitioner course – you will receive 1 sample paper.

Students of our instructor-led Better Business Cases courses are also able to watch video recordings of earlier training sessions for later review.

Do Better Business Cases courses have homework?

If you choose to study through our instructor-led Better Business Cases courses, our trainers will assign you homework. Typically, you can expect to be required to complete 2 hours of homework at the end of each day.

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