How to write a business case,

What is a business case?Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA)

A business case is the justification for some activity (e.g. a project) undertaken by your organisation. It weighs up the timescales, costs and risks of doing the activity against the benefits to be gained. Think of it as weighing up the pros and cons and then taking a sensible decision.Intermediate

A business case forms an essential component of the curriculum of the IIBAbest project management courses3750 hrs BA work exp. (7 yrs).130 multiple choice (3 hrs)

Personal business case£250 (members)

You may also use a business case to justify an investment you make in your personal life. For example, when you’re thinking of moving home to another area. You and your spouse will need to understand the costs of moving, the timescales and risks involved, and weigh these up against the benefits to be gained e.g. saving time traveling to your office, or your children able to go to a better school.Analysts with 2-3 yrs exp.

Why have a business case?Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)

Projects should not just start on a whim or because of vanity – although a lot of money has been wasted over the years on such AdvancedprojectsIIBA.7500 hrs BA exp. (10 yrs)

For business organisations, justification for a project usually takes a commercial form i.e. evaluating how much money could be made from the investment. For example, investing money in developing a new software app to bring first to market, might be deemed to bring certain monetary benefits (in terms of sales) which exceeds the costs of investment.120 multiple choice (3.5 hrs)

For government organisations, justification is probably not a commercial one, but could be based upon giving value for money to achieve certain benefits. For example, a public health campaign extolling the benefits of flu-vaccinations for elderly people, might be judged as giving greater value for money than having no campaign, and instead relying on treating patients in hospital once they have contracted the virus.£260 (members)

With so many competing claims being made on scarce funds, organisations need the assurance that the decision they are taking is the right one. After all, there will not be enough funds to pay for all the ideas for projects which are floating around the organisation.Senior/principal analysts

Who uses a business case?PMI Professional in Business Analysis

Business cases can be used by many different levels of management within an organisation. Not only are they used to justify the investment in an individual project, but also they are typically used by a (PMI-PBA)portfolio managementAdvanced office to help it decide which projects will contribute to the organisation’s strategic goals. That way, they can filter out the bad ideas for projects, and only fund projects which will contribute to strategic goals.PMI

A business case is also often used by a project sponsor or project executive to help it decide if they should invest in a specific project.Bachelor’s + 3 yrs BA exp., or 5 yrs w/o

In all cases, the business case must be written and approved prior to any major commitment of resources.200 multiple choice (4 hrs)

What form does a business case take?£300 (members)

Business cases can take many forms – digital or analogue. The tools you use to create one are also many and varied. Common business tools such as Microsoft Office might be used. Rather than being a document or slide deck however, it could equally be in the form of an email.Project managers/BA leaders

Equally, a business case could be written by hand on a whiteboard or flipchart, or on the back of a cigarette packet!Certification details and processes

What you should always remember is that a business case does not have to be a huge long document. In fact, it should be as short as possible, and only include the most important information. That way it cuts out the noise and provides decision-makers with just the right information to enable them to take sensible decisions.Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis (FCBA)

For those of you interested in Eligibility requirements:project management No prior experience., the project management methodology known as Exam process:PRINCE2 40 multiple choice questions, held online. focuses its decision-making on a project on having a viable business case.Preparation resources:

Business case examples Online preparation courses, sample questions.

We will now give you 2 business case examples. The first example is one which you might find useful for taking decisions in your personal life. The 2nd business case example is more business focused project.Benefits:

Business case example 1: Moving home Entry-level validation, ideal for newcomers to

Suppose you and your spouse are considering moving to a new home. You will need to weigh up the pros and cons of moving. This is done using a business case. You might not call it that, but that’s what it is. Let’s look at an example.business analysis

Reason.

As you can see from the example, the first thing to be clear about in a business case is the reason for doing the project or activity. In this example, the couple has answered the question Practitioner Certificate in Business Analysis Practice (PCBAP)Why?Eligibility requirements: In fact, there are two problems here – the local school and John’s long commute. Some prior business analysis experience it recommended.

Options consideredExam process:

A business case should weigh up the competing options which have been considered. After all, there is usually more than one option. Perhaps an alternative option would have been for John to change his job to one nearer their current house. However, this wouldn’t solve the issue with the school. 40 multiple choice questions, held online.

BenefitsPreparation resources:

The benefits of a project or activity are the positive things you’re going to get back in return for your investment of time and money. In this case, the kids will get a better education, and John will save time each day. Online preparation courses, sample questions.

TimescalesBenefits:

It’s also important to understand how long the investment of resources will take. This is so that the organisation (or family in this case) knows when the resources will be freed up to work on other Ideal for those seeking a pathway to the BCS-IDBA certification.projectsPractitioner Certificate in Requirements Engineering (PCRE) or activities.Eligibility requirements:

There are usually 2 timescales to consider. First, the timescale of the project or activity – in this case 3 months to find a new house and move there. Second, the time over which the benefits shall be realized. In this case it’s 5 years until the kids leave school. Some prior business analysis experience it recommended.

CostsExam process:

The costs of doing the project or activity is the next important bit of information. On this project, the costs of moving to a new house will be £5,000. These are the project costs. 40 multiple choice questions, held online.

However, the couple will spend an additional £2,000/year for every year over which the business case is calculated. For a project in an organisation, this is usually referred to as the operational costs of maintaining and operating the projects outputs e.g. an IT system. At this point, the couple knows the total costs over the timescales when the benefits shall be realized.Preparation resources:

Risks Online preparation courses, sample questions.

For any activity or project, it’s also important to understand the major risks involved. Risks are the uncertain things which may or may not happen during the period of the investment. There is only one risk identified here, which is the risk that the couple might lose touch with friends who live close to them right now.Benefits:

Investment appraisal Ideal for those seeking a pathway to the BCS-IDBA certification.

The next section is where the costs and timescales and risks are weighed up. For this project, it’s a simple decision for the couple to decide if it’s worth spending money over the next 5 years to give their kids better schooling and to save John 2 hours a day commuting.Practitioner Certificate in Modelling Business Processes (PCMBP)

For an organisation to decide if an investment is worthwhile, however, there are several different ways in which it can decide about the investment.Eligibility requirements:

Often in organisations there are rules defined to help business analysts or Some prior business analysis experience it recommended.project managersExam process: write what’s called an investment appraisal. In the next example, we’ll look at one example known as net benefits. 40 multiple choice questions, held online.

Business case example 2: Handheld device projectPreparation resources:

Imagine a heating repair services company that uses a paper-based set of forms filled in by an engineer during site visits. The spare parts required to fix the heater are recorded on a form which is given to staff to process back in the office. They then order the parts, and schedule a follow-up visit for the engineer to fix the heater. Online preparation courses, sample questions.

1. Global or programme management strategies?
2. Is the PDUs, 3-year cycleproject planPMI-PBA aligned with the business case? (e.g. are the costs and timescales in the project plan correctly reflected in the business case?)PMI
3. Are the benefits clearly identified and justified?3-5 years BA experience
4. Is it clear how the benefits will be realized?Global
5. Is it clearly defined what will judged a successful outcome?PDUs, 3-year cycle
6. Is the preferred business option clearly stated, along with the reasons why?Benefits and career outcomes
7. If the project requires external procurement, is the preferred sourcing option stated, and why?Career progression:
8. Is it clearly stated how any necessary funding will be obtained?
9. Does the business case include non-financial, as well as financial criteria?Certification
10. Does the business case include operations and maintenance costs and risks? sets candidates apart for senior and specialised roles such as lead business analyst or business analysis manager.
11. Does the business case include project costs and risks?Salary increase:
12. Does the business case conform to organisational accounting standards (e.g. break-even analysis and cash-flow conventions)? Certified business analysts often command higher salaries and are eligible for more lucrative contracts.
13. Are the major risks faced by the project explicitly stated, together with any proposed responses?Professional recognition:

How do you write a good business case? Certified individuals are recognised by peers and employers as experts in business analysis best practice.

A good business case must contain certain key information including:Opportunities for networking and continuous learning:

• The reasons for doing the project; Membership in professional bodies like BCS, IIBA and
• The business options which have been considered, including the base business options of do nothing, so something, or do something else;PMI
• Project and operational costs; opens access to communities, resources, and up-to-date insights.
• Project and operational timescales;Business analyst certification cost
• Benefits, expressed in measurable terms;Certification costs vary by level, provider, and membership status (BCS, IIBA or PMI), typically ranging from £192 for entry-level to over £1,200 for advanced certifications. Many preparation courses and exams offer
• Investment appraisal (or cost benefit analysis);online certification options
• Major risks and their mitigation plans;, including remote proctored exams, e-learning modules, and digital study materials. Costs should also take into account renewal fees and continuing professional development requirements.

How long is a business case?Certification exam tips

A good business should be long enough that it contains all the information needed for the decision-makers to take an informed decision about whether to invest in the project. That means, remove any waffle, and only include information which helps decision-making.Study the BABOK guide and related exam study materials thoroughly.

What’s included in a business case?Take practice exams from accredited training providers.

The following are the most important items to put into a business case:Join online study groups or forums to discuss scenario-based questions.

• Executive summary – summarizes the key points;Ensure you meet all eligibility requirements before applying.
• The reasons for the project (answers the question ‘Why are we doing this?’);Develop a study plan covering all exam topics well in advance of your exam date.
• The options considered – e.g. do nothing, do something, or do something else – (answers the question ‘What’s the best option?’);FAQs
• The expected benefits – in measurable terms – (answers the question ‘What’s the return?’);What is a business analyst certification?
• Costs – both project and operational – (answers the question ‘How much will it cost?’);Business analyst certification is a recognised professional qualification that verifies an individual’s expertise and competence in business analysis practices, typically awarded by bodies such as BCS, IIBA or PMI.
• Timescales – for the project and for realizing benefits – (answers the question ‘How long will it take?’);Which certification is best for business analyst?
• Investment appraisal – weigh up costs, times, risks against benefits – (answers the question ‘Is it worth it?’);The best business analyst certification depends on your experience and career goals. For those starting out, ICBA or ECBA are suitable, while the BCS IDBA is ideal for professionals seeking global recognition.
• Major risks – (answers the question ‘What if?’).How much does business analyst certification cost?

What is a business case template?Exam costs vary by level and provider: FCBA (£200), PCBAP (£250), PCRE (£250), PCMBP (£250), IDBA (£1,250), ECBA (£130+), CCBA (£250+), CBAP (£260+), and PMI-PBA (£300+). Prices may be lower for members of IIBA or PMI and increase with preparation courses and renewal fees.

A business case template serves as a starting point when writing a business case. It is reusable and can be used across all your projects. Depending upon its needs, your organisation may have different business case templates, each one used for different scales of projects.How do I get certified as a business analyst?

You can download an example To get certified, choose a credential (e.g., FCBA, PCBAP, PCRE, PCMBP, IDBA, ECBA, CCBA, CBAP, or PMI-PBA), ensure you meet eligibility requirements, complete a professional development course if required, apply through the official provider, and pass the certification exam.business case template hereIs business analyst certification worth it?.Yes, business analyst certification can significantly enhance your career prospects, provide profess

What is the purpose of a business case?

The purpose of a business case is simple – it’s used to justify an investment in an activity. Typically, in an organisation this activity is a project. It helps give confidence to management that their investment is worthwhile and will realize benefits for the organisation.

Who owns a business case?ional recognition, and typically lead to higher salary opportunities and career advancement.

A business case is owned by the person who is funding the project. The name of this role is different across organisations, but commonly this role is known as a project sponsor, or project executive.Subscribe to our exclusive offers and promotions

By owning the business case, it means this person is accountable for ensuring that any investment decisions which are taken based upon the information within the business case are worthwhile.