Business Case Development
Part of the Business Analyst Roadmap
In short
Good ideas die in meetings all the time, usually because nobody wrote down why they're worth the money. A business case is the document that gets a project a yes, or a sensible no.
A structured argument for why a project is worth investing in — problem, proposed solution, cost, expected benefit, risks, and alternatives considered — the document that gets a project greenlit or killed.
Think of it like this
Asking your parents for a laptop
'I need a laptop' rarely works. 'My old one takes ten minutes to open code, here are three options, this one costs ₹55,000, it'll last four years and I'll do freelance work on it' usually does. That's a business case.
Watch it happen
What a business case contains
1/5One document, usually a few pages, that lets a decision maker say yes or no with confidence.
The big ideas
What you need to know
Problem first
Decision makers fund solutions to problems they believe in. Prove the problem is real and costly before pitching anything.
Show alternatives
One option looks like a sales pitch. Two or three, with honest trade-offs, looks like analysis.
Summary on page one
Busy leaders may read only the first half page. Put the ask, cost and benefit right there.
Be honest about risk
Naming risks and how you'll handle them builds more trust than pretending there are none.
Save yourself the pain
Common mistakes
Oops
Writing 20 pages of background before the recommendation.
Do this instead
Lead with a one-paragraph summary: problem, recommended option, cost, benefit, ask.
Oops
Presenting only the option you already like.
Do this instead
Include do-nothing and at least one real alternative, with the reasons you didn't pick them.
Your mission
One-page business case
Quick check
Why should a business case include a 'do nothing' option?
Go deeper
- 1Write a one-page business case for a hypothetical project idea.
- 2Learn to state your assumptions explicitly so reviewers can challenge the right things.
- 3Practice defending the case against the question 'what would have to be true for this to fail?'
More topics at this stop
SWOT Analysis
Business Model Canvas
PESTLE Analysis
Cost-Benefit Analysis
ROI & Feasibility Analysis
Competitive Analysis for BAs
Strategic Planning Basics
Change Impact Analysis
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