Better Business Cases™ Foundation & Practitioner

• Educational Background: There are no specific educational requirements for this course, but learners need to pass the foundation stage to proceed to practitioner stage. 

• Language Proficiency: Learners should have a good command of English, as all course materials, assessments, and discussions are conducted in English.  

• Interest in Business & Investment: This course is ideal for individuals with a keen interest in learning about how to create value driven business cases for projects. 

• Develop Robust Business Cases: Learners will gain the ability to create comprehensive business cases, incorporating evidence and analysis to support project decisions effectively. 

• Evaluate Project Value: Learners will learn to assess the financial and strategic value of projects, ensuring business cases align with organisational goals and priorities. 

• Apply Economic Appraisal Techniques: Learners will understand and apply economic appraisal methods to quantify project benefits, costs, and risks in business cases. 

• Enhance Stakeholder Engagement: Learners will gain skills in presenting and communicating business cases, ensuring stakeholders understand the value and rationale behind project investments. 

This course is designed for professionals involved in project management, business planning, and financial analysis, helping them develop the skills to create effective, evidence-based business cases.

• Project Managers
• Financial Analysts
• Business Planners
• Strategic Consultants
• Risk Managers
• Programme Managers
• Portfolio Managers

Module 1: Introduction

• Why Better Business Cases?
• Case for a Business Case
• Project Success or Failure?
• Putting the Right Foot Forward
• Public Sector Delivery
• What is a Project?
• What is a Programme?
• Links to Recognised Best Practice Programmes and Project Management Methodologies
• Programme or Project?
• Types of Programme
• Alignment with Strategic Planning
• Importance of the Business Case using the Five Case Model
   

Module 2: Five Case Model

• Overview of the Five Case Model
• Importance of the Business Case using the Five Case Model
• Strategic Case
  • Demonstrates
  • Challenges
• Contents of the Strategic Case
• Economic Case
  • Demonstrates
  • Challenges
  • Contents of the Economic Case
• Commercial Case
  • Demonstrates
  • Challenges
  • Contents of the Commercial Case
• Financial Case
  • Demonstrates
  • Challenges
  • Contents of the Financial Case
• Management Case
  • Demonstrates
  • Challenges
  • Contents of the Management Case
     

Module 3: Programme and Project Business Case

• Advantages of the Programme Business Case
• Advantages of the Project Business Case
• When Should a Business Case be Developed?
• Planning for Spending Proposals
• Key Steps in Developing the Programme Business Case
• Project Business Case Development Process
   

Module 4: Determining the Strategic Context and Undertaking the Strategic Assessment

• Overview
• Strategic Assessment
• Related Activities
• Stages of Business Case Development
  • Strategic Outline Case
  • Outline the Business Case
  • Full Business Case
• Development of the Business Case
• Business Justification Case
• What is Programme Assurance?
• What is Project Assurance?
• Responsibility for Producing the Business Case
   

Module 5: Making the Case for Change

• Agree on Strategic Context
• Determine Spending Objectives, Existing Arrangements, and Business Needs
• Generic Drivers for Spend
• Determine Potential Business Scope and Service Requirements
• Determine Benefits, Risks, Constraints, and Dependencies
• Each Spending Objective
   

Module 6: Exploring the Preferred Way Forward

• Agree Critical Success Factors (CSFs)
• Determine Long List Options and SWOT Analysis
• Options Framework
• Using the Options Framework
• Drafting the Long List
• Recommended Preferred Way Forward
• Complete the Strategic Outline Case
   

Module 7: Determining Value for Money (VFM)

• Project Level Business Case
• Revisit the Short-List
• Prepare the Economic Appraisals for Short-Listed Options
• Relevant Costs for Economic Appraisals
• Estimating Benefits for the Economic Appraisals
• Valuing Costs and Benefits
• Presenting the Economic Appraisals
• Undertake Benefits Appraisal
• Undertake Risk Appraisal
• Select the Preferred Option and Undertake a Sensitivity Analysis
• Sensitivity Analysis
• Final Selection of the Preferred Option
   

Module 8: Preparing for the Potential Deal

• Determine Procurement Strategy
• Determine Service Streams and Required Outputs
• Outline Potential Risk Apportionment
• Outline Potential Payment Mechanisms
• Pre-Delivery Phase
• Operational Phase
• Extension Phase
• Ascertain Contractual Issues and Accountancy Treatment
   

Module 9: Ascertaining Affordability and Funding Requirement

• Prepare Financial Models and Financial Appraisals
• Financial Modelling
• Impacts to Consider
• Assessing Affordability
• Closing Affordability Gaps
   

Module 10: Planning for Successful Delivery

• Plan Programme or Project Management
• Programme Roles
• Programme Plan
• Project Plan
• Use of Specialist Advisers
• Plan Change Management and Contract Management
• Plan Benefits Realisation
• Benefits Resister
• Plan Risk Management
• Risk Register
• Plan Programme/Project Assurance and Post Project Evaluation
   

Module 11: Procuring the VFM Solution

• Revisit the Case for Change
• Revisit the OBC Options
• Detail Procurement Process and Evaluation of BAFOs
   

Module 12: Contracting for the Deal

• Set Out the Negotiated Deal and Contractual Arrangements
• Set Out the Financial Implications of the Deal
   

Module 13: Ensuring Successful Delivery

• Finalise Project Management Arrangements and Plans
• Finalise Change Management Arrangements and Plans
• Finalise Benefits Realisation Arrangements and Plans
• Finalise Risk Management Arrangements and Plans
• Finalise Contract Management Arrangements and Plans
• Finalise Post Project Evaluation Arrangements and Plans
• Review the Business Case: SOC, OBC, and FBC
• Steps and Actions for Preparation of Programme and Project Business Cases