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Course Details:
Writing Effective Business Cases
Course Overview:
Learn the steps to effective business case development and support your strategic business recommendations with sound budgeting and financial back-up. The one course you need to make high-impact recommendations and receive full management support for your ideas.
Course Description:
About this course
Students will be provided a deep exploration of how to perform pre-project activities necessary to develop a well-structured business case. The course begins by providing students an understanding of the business analyst’s role in pre-project activities. Techniques are provided to support the business analyst in analyzing the current state business environment, identifying the current business problem (or opportunity) and creating a ‘situation statement’ to communicate to decision makers why a change is required in the business. Students then explore how to go about determining a desired future state and identifying the needed changes and capabilities that will support the enterprise in achieving the business need. A thorough exploration of the business case is presented, including feasibility analysis and the various areas of a solution option the business analyst must explore in order to build a convincing business case. Students learn the components of a well-structured business case and walk away understanding how to logically present a business case and obtain buy-in. Techniques are also discussed to help prepare a business analyst for the challenges that often are presented when delivering business cases to management.
Note: This course is compliant with IIBA’s Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK® Guide) version 3 standard in business analysis and is aligned with and upholds the practices as discussed in PMI’s Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide.
Audience profile
This course is intended for intermediate business and requirements analysts who are looking to improve their business case development and presentation skills. This course is also a great fit for project managers and product owners who work closely with business analysts or who perform some form of business case work themselves.
At course completion
After completing this course, students will be able to:
Course Outline
Agenda......................................................................................................................... 11
Logistics & Introductions.............................................................................................. 12
Course Objectives......................................................................................................... 13
Discussion – Past Project Challenges.............................................................................. 14
What is Business Analysis............................................................................................. 17
Polling Question........................................................................................................... 18
International Institute of Business Analysis................................................................... 19
BABOK® Guide Components.......................................................................................... 20
Project Management Institute...................................................................................... 21
Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide..................................................... 22
BABOK® Guide Knowledge Areas................................................................................... 23
Benefits of Business Analysis........................................................................................ 24
Polling Question........................................................................................................... 25
A Business Analyst can Influence Project Success Factors.............................................. 26
Challenges of Business Analysis.................................................................................... 27
Polling Question........................................................................................................... 28
Polling Question........................................................................................................... 29
Purpose of a Business Case........................................................................................... 30
Exercise 1a: What Should a Business Case Include...................................................... 31
Define the Business Case Elements............................................................................... 32
What to Look Out For.................................................................................................. 34
Who is Involved........................................................................................................... 35
Exercise 1b: Review Business Case Outline..................................................................... 36
Module Learning Objectives.......................................................................................... 37
The Definition of a Business Analyst.............................................................................. 40
The Role of a Business Analyst...................................................................................... 42
Responsibilities of a BA................................................................................................ 43
BA Role vs. PM Role..................................................................................................... 44
Business Analysis vs. Systems Analysis.......................................................................... 45
Business Analysis Competencies................................................................................... 46
Polling Question........................................................................................................ 47
Business Analyst Role and Stakeholders........................................................................ 48
Exercise 2a: Review the Case Study................................................................................ 49
The Importance of Stakeholders................................................................................... 51
Stakeholder Identification............................................................................................. 52
Tips for Identifying Stakeholders.................................................................................. 53
Other Stakeholder Tips................................................................................................. 54
Stakeholder Identification/Analysis............................................................................... 55
Exercise 2b: Identify Roles and Responsibilities.............................................................. 56
Stakeholder Map.......................................................................................................... 57
Stakeholder Matrix & Onion Diagrams.......................................................................... 58
A Stakeholder Map...................................................................................................... 59
Onion Diagram............................................................................................................. 61
Exercise 2c: Why do we Need to Understand the Enterprise?..................................... 62
Why Study the Enterprise?........................................................................................... 63
What is Enterprise Architecture?.................................................................................. 64
What is Strategy Analysis?............................................................................................ 67
About Strategy Analysis................................................................................................ 68
Purpose of Strategy Analysis......................................................................................... 69
When to Perform Strategy Analysis............................................................................... 70
Strategic Planning......................................................................................................... 71
Module Summary.......................................................................................................... 72
Business Need Defined................................................................................................. 75
Define Business Need................................................................................................... 76
The Needs Assessment Process.................................................................................... 77
Problem or Opportunity................................................................................................ 78
Exercise 3a: Problem/Opportunity Identification........................................................... 79
Understanding Why...................................................................................................... 80
Situation Statements..................................................................................................... 81
Business Need and Current State................................................................................. 82
Determine the Stakeholders......................................................................................... 83
Polling Question........................................................................................................... 84
Goals and Objectives.................................................................................................... 85
Polling Question........................................................................................................... 86
Exercise 3b: Give 3 Examples of Business Goals.......................................................... 87
Define Business Need Techniques................................................................................. 88
Exercise 3c: Identify the Business Need........................................................................ 89
Definition of Strategy Analysis...................................................................................... 90
When Business Strategy is not Driving Project Definition............................................... 91
Typical Project Profile................................................................................................... 92
The Executive Paradox................................................................................................. 93
Solution to the Paradox................................................................................................ 94
Exercise 3d: Describe 3 Outcomes You Would Expect from the Case Study.................. 95
The Four “Ares”........................................................................................................... 96
Understand How to Create a Business Model................................................................ 97
Business Model Example.............................................................................................. 98
Exercise 3e: Create a Business Model........................................................................... 99
The Business Case Approach...................................................................................... 100
Financial and Strategic Measurement Tools................................................................ 101
Module Summary........................................................................................................ 102
Business Need and Current State................................................................................ 105
Purpose of Analyzing the Current State....................................................................... 106
Analyzing Current Capabilities and Process.................................................................. 107
Capabilities Defined.................................................................................................... 108
Techniques for Analyzing the Current State................................................................. 109
Define the Future State.............................................................................................. 111
Define the Future State.............................................................................................. 112
Techniques for Defining the Future State.................................................................... 113
Assess Capability Gaps................................................................................................ 115
Stakeholders Involved when Reviewing Capability Gaps.............................................. 116
Discussion: Assessing New Capabilities........................................................................ 117
Defining Solution Scope.............................................................................................. 118
Determining Scope Boundary..................................................................................... 119
How to Define Solution Scope.................................................................................... 120
Defining Solution Scope.............................................................................................. 121
Project Scope and Product Scope................................................................................ 122
Scope Modeling.......................................................................................................... 123
Techniques Used to Define Scope............................................................................... 124
Define Scope Boundaries............................................................................................ 125
Modeling Scope: Context Diagram.............................................................................. 127
Exercise 4a: Create a Context Diagram from the Case Study..................................... 128
Communicating Solution Scope to Stakeholders.......................................................... 129
Stakeholders Participating in Scope Activities.............................................................. 130
Exercise 4b: Discuss Managing Expectations................................................................. 132
Module Summary........................................................................................................ 133
Financial Analysis........................................................................................................ 136
Purpose of Financial Analysis...................................................................................... 137
Costs versus Benefits.................................................................................................. 138
Financial Models......................................................................................................... 139
Timing for Assessing Financial Benefits......................................................................... 140
Assessing Risks........................................................................................................... 142
Risk Process................................................................................................................ 143
Exercise 5a: Identifying Risks....................................................................................... 144
Risk Analysis............................................................................................................... 145
Capturing and Categorizing Risks................................................................................. 146
Risk Strategies............................................................................................................ 147
Tolerance for Risk...................................................................................................... 148
Determining Solution Options..................................................................................... 149
Solution Option Process.............................................................................................. 150
Determining and Analyzing Solution Options............................................................... 151
Brainstorming............................................................................................................. 152
Conducting an Outcomes Focused Brainstorming Session............................................ 153
Stakeholders Involved in Determining Solution Options............................................... 155
Exercise 5b: Determining Solution Options................................................................... 156
Feasibility Analysis....................................................................................................... 157
Discussion: Ranking Solution Options.......................................................................... 158
Discussion: Recommending the Most Viable Option..................................................... 159
Exercise 5c: Assess the Most Viable Options............................................................. 160
Solution Approach Definition....................................................................................... 162
Exercise 5d: Review the Business Case Templates..................................................... 163
Module Summary........................................................................................................ 164
Circumventing a Business Case................................................................................... 167
Documenting the Business Case.................................................................................. 168
Value of the Business Case Process............................................................................. 169
Business Case Components........................................................................................ 170
Business Case Techniques........................................................................................... 173
Build a Convincing Business Case............................................................................... 175
Discussion: Identifying Decision Criteria....................................................................... 176
Exercise 6a: Supporting a Go/No Go Decision........................................................... 177
Packaging the Business Case....................................................................................... 178
Planning Business Case Delivery.................................................................................. 179
Discussion: Planning Stakeholder Buy-in...................................................................... 180
Information and Communication Needs in the Business Case Process.......................... 181
Presenting your Business Case.................................................................................... 182
Exercise 6b: Anticipating and Responding to Challenges........................................... 183
Module Summary........................................................................................................ 184
Questions................................................................................................................... 187
Additional Resources.................................................................................................. 188
Thank You………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….......................................................................................................................... …………189
Students will be provided a deep exploration of how to perform pre-project activities necessary to develop a well-structured business case. The course begins by providing students an understanding of the business analyst’s role in pre-project activities. Techniques are provided to support the business analyst in analyzing the current state business environment, identifying the current business problem (or opportunity) and creating a ‘situation statement’ to communicate to decision makers why a change is required in the business. Students then explore how to go about determining a desired future state and identifying the needed changes and capabilities that will support the enterprise in achieving the business need. A thorough exploration of the business case is presented, including feasibility analysis and the various areas of a solution option the business analyst must explore in order to build a convincing business case. Students learn the components of a well-structured business case and walk away understanding how to logically present a business case and obtain buy-in. Techniques are also discussed to help prepare a business analyst for the challenges that often are presented when delivering business cases to management.
Note: This course is compliant with IIBA’s Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK® Guide) version 3 standard in business analysis and is aligned with and upholds the practices as discussed in PMI’s Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide.
Audience profile
This course is intended for intermediate business and requirements analysts who are looking to improve their business case development and presentation skills. This course is also a great fit for project managers and product owners who work closely with business analysts or who perform some form of business case work themselves.
At course completion
After completing this course, students will be able to:
- Understand the role of the business analyst within the business case process
- Understand the main professional associations and standards that support business analysts in the industry
- Discuss the benefits of business case creation
- Explore how to define the business need
- Describe the role of the business analyst in supporting the enterprise to determine how to optimally invest in the right project initiatives
- Explain how to identify stakeholders and the significance to the pre-project activities
- Discuss the importance of analyzing the enterprise
- Describe and explore the activities performed to assess the current business environment
- Explain how a business analyst describes a ‘future’ state environment including how to identify gaps in enterprise capabilities
- Present and explore how to define the scope of a solution
- Describe the activities performed and techniques used to determine viable solution options
- Explore various techniques for evaluating solution options including feasibility and risk analysis
- Thoroughly understand the purpose of conducting a feasibility assessment
- Discuss and practice a number of business analysis techniques that support the business case process
- Explore the components of a business case
- Describe how the business case supports decision makers in making go/no-go decisions
- Demonstrate how to assemble the output from pre-project activities into a well- structured business case
- Present techniques for presenting business cases to top level managers and obtaining buy-in
- Discuss methods for preparing for challenges during business case delivery
Course Outline
Day 1 – Agenda:
MorningAgenda......................................................................................................................... 11
Logistics & Introductions.............................................................................................. 12
Course Objectives......................................................................................................... 13
Discussion – Past Project Challenges.............................................................................. 14
Module 1: Introduction................................................................................................. 15
Module Learning Objectives......................................................................................... 16What is Business Analysis............................................................................................. 17
Polling Question........................................................................................................... 18
International Institute of Business Analysis................................................................... 19
BABOK® Guide Components.......................................................................................... 20
Project Management Institute...................................................................................... 21
Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide..................................................... 22
BABOK® Guide Knowledge Areas................................................................................... 23
Benefits of Business Analysis........................................................................................ 24
Polling Question........................................................................................................... 25
A Business Analyst can Influence Project Success Factors.............................................. 26
Challenges of Business Analysis.................................................................................... 27
Polling Question........................................................................................................... 28
Polling Question........................................................................................................... 29
Purpose of a Business Case........................................................................................... 30
Exercise 1a: What Should a Business Case Include...................................................... 31
Define the Business Case Elements............................................................................... 32
What to Look Out For.................................................................................................. 34
Who is Involved........................................................................................................... 35
Exercise 1b: Review Business Case Outline..................................................................... 36
Module Learning Objectives.......................................................................................... 37
Module 2: Pre-Project Activities & the Business Analyst............................................... 38
Module Learning Objectives.......................................................................................... 39The Definition of a Business Analyst.............................................................................. 40
The Role of a Business Analyst...................................................................................... 42
Responsibilities of a BA................................................................................................ 43
BA Role vs. PM Role..................................................................................................... 44
Business Analysis vs. Systems Analysis.......................................................................... 45
Business Analysis Competencies................................................................................... 46
Polling Question........................................................................................................ 47
Business Analyst Role and Stakeholders........................................................................ 48
Exercise 2a: Review the Case Study................................................................................ 49
Afternoon
What is a Stakeholder?................................................................................................ 50The Importance of Stakeholders................................................................................... 51
Stakeholder Identification............................................................................................. 52
Tips for Identifying Stakeholders.................................................................................. 53
Other Stakeholder Tips................................................................................................. 54
Stakeholder Identification/Analysis............................................................................... 55
Exercise 2b: Identify Roles and Responsibilities.............................................................. 56
Stakeholder Map.......................................................................................................... 57
Stakeholder Matrix & Onion Diagrams.......................................................................... 58
A Stakeholder Map...................................................................................................... 59
Onion Diagram............................................................................................................. 61
Exercise 2c: Why do we Need to Understand the Enterprise?..................................... 62
Why Study the Enterprise?........................................................................................... 63
What is Enterprise Architecture?.................................................................................. 64
What is Strategy Analysis?............................................................................................ 67
About Strategy Analysis................................................................................................ 68
Purpose of Strategy Analysis......................................................................................... 69
When to Perform Strategy Analysis............................................................................... 70
Strategic Planning......................................................................................................... 71
Module Summary.......................................................................................................... 72
Module 3: The Needs Assessment Process.................................................................... 73
Module Learning Objectives.......................................................................................... 74Business Need Defined................................................................................................. 75
Define Business Need................................................................................................... 76
The Needs Assessment Process.................................................................................... 77
Problem or Opportunity................................................................................................ 78
Exercise 3a: Problem/Opportunity Identification........................................................... 79
Understanding Why...................................................................................................... 80
Situation Statements..................................................................................................... 81
Business Need and Current State................................................................................. 82
Determine the Stakeholders......................................................................................... 83
Polling Question........................................................................................................... 84
Goals and Objectives.................................................................................................... 85
Polling Question........................................................................................................... 86
Exercise 3b: Give 3 Examples of Business Goals.......................................................... 87
Define Business Need Techniques................................................................................. 88
Exercise 3c: Identify the Business Need........................................................................ 89
Definition of Strategy Analysis...................................................................................... 90
When Business Strategy is not Driving Project Definition............................................... 91
Typical Project Profile................................................................................................... 92
The Executive Paradox................................................................................................. 93
Solution to the Paradox................................................................................................ 94
Exercise 3d: Describe 3 Outcomes You Would Expect from the Case Study.................. 95
The Four “Ares”........................................................................................................... 96
Understand How to Create a Business Model................................................................ 97
Business Model Example.............................................................................................. 98
Exercise 3e: Create a Business Model........................................................................... 99
The Business Case Approach...................................................................................... 100
Financial and Strategic Measurement Tools................................................................ 101
Module Summary........................................................................................................ 102
Day 2 – Agenda Morning
Module 4: Determining the Required Capabilities & Defining Solution Scope............... 103
Module Learning Objectives....................................................................................... 104Business Need and Current State................................................................................ 105
Purpose of Analyzing the Current State....................................................................... 106
Analyzing Current Capabilities and Process.................................................................. 107
Capabilities Defined.................................................................................................... 108
Techniques for Analyzing the Current State................................................................. 109
Define the Future State.............................................................................................. 111
Define the Future State.............................................................................................. 112
Techniques for Defining the Future State.................................................................... 113
Assess Capability Gaps................................................................................................ 115
Stakeholders Involved when Reviewing Capability Gaps.............................................. 116
Discussion: Assessing New Capabilities........................................................................ 117
Defining Solution Scope.............................................................................................. 118
Determining Scope Boundary..................................................................................... 119
How to Define Solution Scope.................................................................................... 120
Defining Solution Scope.............................................................................................. 121
Project Scope and Product Scope................................................................................ 122
Scope Modeling.......................................................................................................... 123
Techniques Used to Define Scope............................................................................... 124
Define Scope Boundaries............................................................................................ 125
Modeling Scope: Context Diagram.............................................................................. 127
Exercise 4a: Create a Context Diagram from the Case Study..................................... 128
Communicating Solution Scope to Stakeholders.......................................................... 129
Stakeholders Participating in Scope Activities.............................................................. 130
Exercise 4b: Discuss Managing Expectations................................................................. 132
Module Summary........................................................................................................ 133
Module 5: Assessing Feasibility & Proposing Solution Options....................................... 134
Module Learning Objectives....................................................................................... 135Financial Analysis........................................................................................................ 136
Purpose of Financial Analysis...................................................................................... 137
Costs versus Benefits.................................................................................................. 138
Financial Models......................................................................................................... 139
Timing for Assessing Financial Benefits......................................................................... 140
Afternoon
Risk............................................................................................................................ 141Assessing Risks........................................................................................................... 142
Risk Process................................................................................................................ 143
Exercise 5a: Identifying Risks....................................................................................... 144
Risk Analysis............................................................................................................... 145
Capturing and Categorizing Risks................................................................................. 146
Risk Strategies............................................................................................................ 147
Tolerance for Risk...................................................................................................... 148
Determining Solution Options..................................................................................... 149
Solution Option Process.............................................................................................. 150
Determining and Analyzing Solution Options............................................................... 151
Brainstorming............................................................................................................. 152
Conducting an Outcomes Focused Brainstorming Session............................................ 153
Stakeholders Involved in Determining Solution Options............................................... 155
Exercise 5b: Determining Solution Options................................................................... 156
Feasibility Analysis....................................................................................................... 157
Discussion: Ranking Solution Options.......................................................................... 158
Discussion: Recommending the Most Viable Option..................................................... 159
Exercise 5c: Assess the Most Viable Options............................................................. 160
Solution Approach Definition....................................................................................... 162
Exercise 5d: Review the Business Case Templates..................................................... 163
Module Summary........................................................................................................ 164
Module 6: Packaging & Presenting the Business Case.................................................... 165
Module Learning Objectives....................................................................................... 166Circumventing a Business Case................................................................................... 167
Documenting the Business Case.................................................................................. 168
Value of the Business Case Process............................................................................. 169
Business Case Components........................................................................................ 170
Business Case Techniques........................................................................................... 173
Build a Convincing Business Case............................................................................... 175
Discussion: Identifying Decision Criteria....................................................................... 176
Exercise 6a: Supporting a Go/No Go Decision........................................................... 177
Packaging the Business Case....................................................................................... 178
Planning Business Case Delivery.................................................................................. 179
Discussion: Planning Stakeholder Buy-in...................................................................... 180
Information and Communication Needs in the Business Case Process.......................... 181
Presenting your Business Case.................................................................................... 182
Exercise 6b: Anticipating and Responding to Challenges........................................... 183
Module Summary........................................................................................................ 184
Module 7: Course Wrap Up......................................................................................... 185
Course Summary........................................................................................................ 186Questions................................................................................................................... 187
Additional Resources.................................................................................................. 188
Thank You………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….......................................................................................................................... …………189
APPENDIX A
TemplatesCourse Title
Writing Effective Business Cases
Course Number
BA03
Course Outline
Duration
2 days
Additional Info
Price
$1195.00