Ambitionin Action
Ambition in Action
www.sit.nsw.edu.au
Preparing and Presenting an Effective Business Case
Presentation to HIMAAJuly 2010
Ambition in Action
www.sit.nsw.edu.au
Overview of Session:
/ What is a business case?
/ Why develop a business case?
/ What goes into a business case?
/ Presenting your business case
/ Summary
Ambition in Action
www.sit.nsw.edu.au
What is a business case? “ a business case is a proposal document or
presentation that details the business reasons for initiating a project. It provides senior management
with the facts and figures they need to make an informed decision about whether the project should
be given a green light to go ahead.”
Examples: staffing, major acquisitions, digitisation, cataloguing systems
Ambition in Action
www.sit.nsw.edu.au
The Business case should answer these questions:
Ambition in Action
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Why is a business case necessary?
Ambition in Action
www.sit.nsw.edu.au
Preparing the Business Case:/ Use your organisation’s methodology which will include:
/ Evaluation of the significance of the project/ Information on the scope/details of the project
/ Who will it affect?
/ What is the policy context?
/ Utilise those people who have the information and skills to supplement your business case
/ Optimistic or unrealistic budgets and implementation schedules can destroy the credibility of a
business case
Ambition in Action
www.sit.nsw.edu.au
Business case components:
1. Executive summary
2. Analysis of opportunity
3. Costs and benefits
4. Risks and rewards
5. Implementation plan
Ambition in Action
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Executive Summary:/ Quick, easily understood summary of
the opportunity
/ High level summary of the opportunity
/ Description of the project and resources required to implement
/ Summarise how the project aligns with organisational needs or strategy
Ambition in Action
www.sit.nsw.edu.au
Analysis of opportunity:
/ Where are we now?
/ Define the core problem or business challenge
/ What are the various options
/ Summary of opportunity (value creation and value drivers)
/ Relevant internal and external factors
Ambition in Action
www.sit.nsw.edu.au
Costs and benefits:/ Detailed description of costs and benefits
(generally quantifiable)
/ Initial and recurring costs and benefits
/ If there is uncertainty in the numbers- provide “best case”, “worst case” and “most likely” scenarios
/ Optimistic or unrealistic budgets can destroy the credibility of the business case
Ambition in Action
www.sit.nsw.edu.au
Risks and rewards:
/ Detail non financial risks and rewards eg: impact on employees/ bottom line
/ Mitigation plans for risks
/ Can be strong factor in the success of a business case
Ambition in Action
www.sit.nsw.edu.au
Implementation plan:/ Implementation timeline,
deliverables, resources
/ Operational changes required to achieve the final targets
/ Business owners and operational owners of the project
/ How will you recognise when the need has been met?
Ambition in Action
www.sit.nsw.edu.au
Optional Extra: An ‘elevator pitch’
/ Prepare an ‘elevator pitch’ for your proposal
/ Describes the benefits of your proposal in 100 words or less
/ May include a short slide presentation emailed to key people before your presentation
Ambition in Action
www.sit.nsw.edu.au
Presenting your business case:/ Target presentation to the audience eg: language,
examples/ Explain the WIIFM, so focus on the benefits/ Base presentation on facts and figures but do not
forget the emotions/ Pick other people’s brains for tips/ Think about questions you may be
asked and prepare answers
Ambition in Action
www.sit.nsw.edu.au
Presenting your business case -know your reader
Dominant Easy Going
Spontaneous
Controlled
Ambition in Action
www.sit.nsw.edu.au
Summary/ Know your organisation/ Research the issues well and discuss the proposal
extensively internally/ Write the business case with all costs and issues explained/ The business case should include the relevant financial
justifications, but not just the sole purpose of the document/ The business case should address all stakeholder’s
concerns from economic, social and environmental perspectives
Ambition in Action
www.sit.nsw.edu.au
Thank you!
Question Time.....