create-a-business-case

name	create-a-business-case
category	write
description	Compare an investment with credible alternatives using benefits, full cost, risk, and uncertainty. Use when decision-makers need evidence for whether and how to proceed.

create-a-business-case

Procedure

1. Define the decision, outcome, sponsor, users, baseline, constraints, and time horizon.
2. Describe the current-state cost and harm with sourced evidence.
3. Compare no action, minimum change, phased change, purchase, and internal options where viable.
4. Model implementation and operating cost, benefits, capacity, dependencies, transition, and exit.
5. Separate cashable, noncash, avoided, qualitative, and uncertain benefits.
6. Test sensitivity to adoption, delay, volume, price, failure, and benefit realization.
7. Record delivery risks, disbenefits, affected groups, controls, and accountable owners.
8. Recommend an option, staged gates, measures, and review points without hiding dissent.

Guardrails

• Do not invent precise savings to make the preferred option pass.
• Never omit the no-action baseline or material transition and operating cost.
• Route financial, legal, tax, security, and regulatory judgments to qualified owners.

Done

• A business case compares viable options on a common evidence and cost basis
• Assumptions, sensitivity, risks, disbenefits, and benefit owners are explicit
• The recommendation includes authority, staged gates, and outcome measures