This course is run over 4 x 3.5-hour sessions (9.00am to 12.30pm).
The Better Business Cases approach was developed collectively by the New Zealand Treasury, HM Treasury (UK) and the Welsh Government to better support fully-informed and evidence-based decisions for Public spending. While initially developed for government, it represents the next wave of thinking in terms of providing the best benefit value for all organisation types. It is a thinking and planning tool rather than a compliance tool.
This course takes a pragmatic and real life approach drawing from experience in developing business cases within New Zealand.  Rather than theoretical guidance, you’ll enjoy an informed, pragmatic approach applicable to a range of organisational contexts. Extensive hands on exercises will help to anchor the learning.
Better Business Cases extends the traditional business case development approach by asking:-
- What is the underlying problem or opportunity we are trying to address?
- How does this fit within organisational strategy?
- Does this fit with or clash with other work we are doing within the organisation?
- Have we taken the stakeholders with us on the journey and taken their suggestions on board?
- Have we considered all the feasible options?
- Does solution best balance benefits, cost and risks?
- Are there suppliers who can deliver this and will the deal represent value for money?
- Is the organisation setup to manage the project or programme successfully?
The Better Business Cases approach is structured around the UK Five Case Model. The Five Case Model provides a disciplined, step by step approach that helps to ensure that each of the key aspects of a robust investment proposal is explicitly and systematically addressed as part of the business case development process. This ensures that important aspects of the analysis are less likely to be omitted or under-weighted.
- The Strategic Case demonstrates that the proposal is strategically aligned and is supported by a compelling case for change
- The Economic Case ensures that a wide range of investment options have been appraised and that the preferred option optimises value for money
- The Commercial Case ensures that any proposed procurement is commercially attractive and viable
- The Financial Case demonstrates that the preferred solution is affordable and can be funded
- The Management Case provides assurance that processes and capabilities are in place to ensure that the preferred solution can be successfully delivered.
BBC practice is rapidly growing. In New Zealand, BBC is being adopted by a growing number of organisations, not just for capital expenditure and not just for large scale funding proposals. BBC has demonstrated that it is a flexible, pragmatic and common sense tool for supporting business decisions in a wide range of contexts. It provides managers with a valuable tool for successfully delivering on their strategic plans, particularly in complex, dynamic or resource-constrained environments.
BBC integrates fully with good practice programme and project management. In BBC, project or programme delivery commences with a robust business case that plans early for successful delivery of objectives.
