Writing Effective Business Cases

Price
$1,395.00 USD

Duration
2 Days

 

Delivery Methods
Virtual Instructor Led
Private Group

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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. NOTE: This course will earn you 14 PDUs.

Course Objectives

  • 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.

    • Who Should Attend?

    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.
    • Top-rated instructors: Our crew of subject matter experts have an average instructor rating of 4.8 out of 5 across thousands of reviews.
    • Authorized content: We maintain more than 35 Authorized Training Partnerships with the top players in tech, ensuring your course materials contain the most relevant and up-to date information.
    • Interactive classroom participation: Our virtual training includes live lectures, demonstrations and virtual labs that allow you to participate in discussions with your instructor and fellow classmates to get real-time feedback.
    • Post Class Resources: Review your class content, catch up on any material you may have missed or perfect your new skills with access to resources after your course is complete.
    • Private Group Training: Let our world-class instructors deliver exclusive training courses just for your employees. Our private group training is designed to promote your team’s shared growth and skill development.
    • Tailored Training Solutions: Our subject matter experts can customize the class to specifically address the unique goals of your team.

    Course Prerequisites

    There are no prerequisites for this course.

    Agenda

    1 - Module 1: Introduction

    • Module Learning Objectives
    • What is Business Analysis
    • Polling Question
    • International Institute of Business Analysis
    • BABOK® Guide Components
    • Project Management Institute
    • Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide
    • BABOK® Guide Knowledge Areas
    • Benefits of Business Analysis
    • Polling Question
    • A Business Analyst can Influence Project Success Factors
    • Challenges of Business Analysis
    • Polling Question
    • Polling Question
    • Purpose of a Business Case
    • Exercise 1a: What Should a Business Case Include
    • Define the Business Case Elements
    • What to Look Out For
    • Who is Involved
    • Exercise 1b: Review Business Case Outline
    • Module Learning Objectives

    2 - Module 2: Pre-Project Activities & the Business Analyst

    • Module Learning Objectives
    • The Definition of a Business Analyst
    • The Role of a Business Analyst
    • Responsibilities of a BA
    • BA Role vs. PM Role
    • Business Analysis vs. Systems Analysis
    • Business Analysis Competencies
    • Polling Question
    • Business Analyst Role and Stakeholders
    • Exercise 2a: Review the Case Study
    • Afternoon
    • What is a Stakeholder?
    • The Importance of Stakeholders
    • Stakeholder Identification
    • Tips for Identifying Stakeholders
    • Other Stakeholder Tips
    • Stakeholder Identification/Analysis
    • Exercise 2b: Identify Roles and Responsibilities
    • Stakeholder Map
    • Stakeholder Matrix & Onion Diagrams
    • Stakeholder Map
    • Onion Diagram
    • Why do we Need to Understand the Enterprise?
    • Why Study the Enterprise?
    • What is Enterprise Architecture?
    • What is Strategy Analysis?
    • About Strategy Analysis
    • Purpose of Strategy Analysis
    • When to Perform Strategy Analysis
    • Strategic Planning
    • Module Summary

    3 - The Needs Assessment Process

    • Module Learning Objectives
    • Business Need Defined
    • Define Business Need
    • The Needs Assessment Process
    • Problem or Opportunity
    • Exercise 3a: Problem/Opportunity Identification
    • Understanding Why
    • Situation Statements
    • Business Need and Current State
    • Determine the Stakeholders
    • Polling Question
    • Goals and Objectives
    • Polling Question
    • Exercise 3b: Give 3 Examples of Business Goals
    • Define Business Need Techniques
    • Exercise 3c: Identify the Business Need
    • Definition of Strategy Analysis
    • When Business Strategy is not Driving Project Definition
    • Typical Project Profile
    • The Executive Paradox
    • Solution to the Paradox
    • Exercise 3d: Describe 3 Outcomes You Would Expect from the Case Study
    • The Four “Ares”
    • Understand How to Create a Business Model
    • Business Model Example
    • Exercise 3e: Create a Business Model
    • The Business Case Approach
    • Financial and Strategic Measurement Tools
    • Module Summary

    4 - Determining the Required Capabilities & Defining Solution Scope

    • Module Learning Objectives
    • Business Need and Current State
    • Purpose of Analyzing the Current State
    • Analyzing Current Capabilities and Process
    • Capabilities Defined
    • Techniques for Analyzing the Current State
    • Define the Future State
    • Define the Future State
    • Techniques for Defining the Future State
    • Assess Capability Gaps
    • Stakeholders Involved when Reviewing Capability Gaps
    • Discussion: Assessing New Capabilities
    • Defining Solution Scope
    • Determining Scope Boundary
    • How to Define Solution Scope
    • Defining Solution Scope
    • Project Scope and Product Scope
    • Scope Modeling
    • Techniques Used to Define Scope
    • Define Scope Boundaries
    • Modeling Scope: Context Diagram
    • Exercise 4a: Create a Context Diagram from the Case Study
    • Communicating Solution Scope to Stakeholders
    • Stakeholders Participating in Scope Activities
    • Exercise 4b: Discuss Managing Expectations
    • Module Summary

    5 - Assessing Feasibility & Proposing Solution Options

    • Module Learning Objectives
    • Financial Analysis
    • Purpose of Financial Analysis
    • Costs versus Benefits
    • Financial Models
    • Timing for Assessing Financial Benefits
    • Afternoon
    • Risk
    • Assessing Risks
    • Risk Process
    • Exercise 5a: Identifying Risks
    • Risk Analysis
    • Capturing and Categorizing Risks
    • Risk Strategies
    • Tolerance for Risk
    • Determining Solution Options
    • Solution Option Process
    • Determining and Analyzing Solution Options
    • Brainstorming
    • Conducting an Outcomes Focused Brainstorming Session
    • Stakeholders Involved in Determining Solution Options
    • Exercise 5b: Determining Solution Options
    • Feasibility Analysis
    • Discussion: Ranking Solution Options
    • Discussion: Recommending the Most Viable Option
    • Exercise 5c: Assess the Most Viable Options
    • Solution Approach Definition
    • Exercise 5d: Review the Business Case Templates
    • Module Summary

    6 - Packaging & Presenting the Business Case

    • Module Learning Objectives
    • Circumventing a Business Case
    • Documenting the Business Case
    • Value of the Business Case Process
    • Business Case Components
    • Business Case Techniques
    • Build a Convincing Business Case
    • Discussion: Identifying Decision Criteria
    • Exercise 6a: Supporting a Go/No Go Decision
    • Packaging the Business Case
    • Planning Business Case Delivery
    • Discussion: Planning Stakeholder Buy-in
    • Information and Communication Needs in the Business Case Process
    • Presenting your Business Case
    • Exercise 6b: Anticipating and Responding to Challenges
    • Module Summary

    7 - APPENDIX A

    • Templates
     

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