PRINCE2 (TM) Business Case
To get an editable copy of this template to use on your project go to http://www.stakeholdermap.com/project-templates/prince-2-business-case.html
1. Expected Dis-benefits
1.1. [Document any outcomes perceived as negative by one or more stakeholders. For example, a decision to merge two elements of an organization onto a new site may have benefits (e.g. better joint working) and dis-benefits (e.g. drop in productivity during the merger). Log dis-benefits value them and incorporate into the investment appraisal]
2. Costs
2.1. [Summarise the project costs (taken from the Project Plan), the ongoing operations and maintenance costs and their funding arrangements]
3. Document information
3.1. Project Name
3.1.1. [name]
3.2. Date
3.2.1. [date]
3.3. Release
3.3.1. Draft/Final
3.4. Author
3.4.1. [author]
3.5. Owner
3.5.1. [owner]
3.6. Client
3.6.1. [client]
3.7. Document Number
3.7.1. [number]
3.8. Revision, Approvals & Distribution
3.8.1. Revision History
3.8.1.1. Revision # [....]
3.8.1.1.1. Revision Date
3.8.1.1.2. Previous Revision Date
3.8.1.1.3. Summary of Changes
3.8.1.1.4. Changes Marked
3.8.1.2. Revision # [....]
3.8.1.2.1. Revision Date
3.8.1.2.2. Previous Revision Date
3.8.1.2.3. Summary of Changes
3.8.1.2.4. Changes Marked
3.8.1.3. Revision # [....]
3.8.1.3.1. Revision Date
3.8.1.3.2. Previous Revision Date
3.8.1.3.3. Summary of Changes
3.8.1.3.4. Changes Marked
3.8.1.4. Date of next revision:
3.8.1.4.1. [....]
3.8.2. Approvals
3.8.2.1. Approval # [....]
3.8.2.1.1. Name
3.8.2.1.2. Signature
3.8.2.1.3. Title
3.8.2.1.4. Date of Issue
3.8.2.1.5. Version
3.8.2.2. Approval # [....]
3.8.2.2.1. Name
3.8.2.2.2. Signature
3.8.2.2.3. Title
3.8.2.2.4. Date of Issue
3.8.2.2.5. Version
3.8.2.3. Approval # [....]
3.8.2.3.1. Name
3.8.2.3.2. Signature
3.8.2.3.3. Title
3.8.2.3.4. Date of Issue
3.8.2.3.5. Version
3.8.3. Distribution
3.8.3.1. Distribution # [....]
3.8.3.1.1. Name
3.8.3.1.2. Title
3.8.3.1.3. Date of issue
3.8.3.1.4. Version
3.8.3.2. Distribution # [....]
3.8.3.2.1. Name
3.8.3.2.2. Title
3.8.3.2.3. Date of issue
3.8.3.2.4. Version
4. Overview
4.1. Purpose
4.1.1. A Business Case is used to document the justification for the undertaking of a project, based on the estimated costs (of development, implementation and incremental ongoing operations and maintenance costs) against the anticipated benefits to be gained and offset by any associated risks.
4.1.2. The outline Business Case is developed in the Starting up a Project process and refined by the Initiating a Project process. The Directing a Project process covers the approval and re-affirmation of the Business Case.
4.1.3. The Business Case is used by the Controlling a Stage process when assessing impacts of issues and risks. It is reviewed and updated at the end of each management stage by the Managing a Stage Boundary process, and at the end of the project by the Closing a Project process.
4.2. Contents
4.2.1. The Business Case should cover the following topics.
4.2.2. Executive Summary
4.2.3. Reasons
4.2.4. Business Options
4.2.5. Expected Benefits
4.2.6. Expected Dis-benefits
4.2.7. Timescale
4.2.8. Costs
4.2.9. Investment Appraisal
4.2.10. Major Risks
4.3. Advice
4.3.1. The Business Case is derived from the: Project mandate and Project Brief – reasons; Project Plan - costs and timescales; The Senior User(s) - expected benefits; The Executive - value for money; Risk Register and Issue Register.
4.3.2. The Business Case can take a number of formats, including: Document, spreadsheet or presentation slides; Entry in a project management tool.
4.3.3. The following quality criteria should be observed:
4.3.3.1. The reasons for the project must be consistent with the corporate or programme strategy
4.3.3.2. The Project Plan and Business Case must be aligned
4.3.3.3. The benefits should be clearly identified and justified
4.3.3.4. It should be clear how the benefits will be realized
4.3.3.5. It should be clear what will define a successful outcome
4.3.3.6. It should be clear what the preferred business option is, and why
4.3.3.7. Where external procurement is required, it should be clear what the preferred sourcing option is, and why
4.3.3.8. It should be clear how any necessary funding will be obtained
4.3.3.9. The Business Case includes non-financial, as well as financial, criteria
4.3.3.10. The Business Case includes operations and maintenance costs and risks, as well as project costs and risks
4.3.3.11. The Business Case conforms to organizational accounting standards (e.g. break-even analysis and cash flow conventions)
4.3.3.12. The major risks faced by the project are explicitly stated, together with any proposed responses.
5. Executive Summary
5.1. [Highlight the key points in the Business Case, include important benefits and the return on investment (ROI)]
5.1.1. [...]
6. Reasons
6.1. [Define the choice of solution that will be used in the project to deliver the business option selected from the Business Case. Take into consideration the operational environment into which the solution must fit]
7. Business Options
7.1. [Provide analysis and reasoned recommendation for the base business options of: do nothing, do the minimal or do something]
8. Expected Benefits
8.1. [Describe the benefits that the project will deliver in measurable terms against the situation as it exists prior to the project. Benefits should be qualitative and quantitative and aligned to corporate or programme benefits. Tolerances should be set for each benefit and for the aggregated benefit. Include any benefits realization requirements]
9. Timescale
9.1. [Document the period over which the project will run (summary of the Project Plan) and the period over which the benefits will be realized.]
10. How to use this template
10.1. How to share this template with your team
10.1.1. Send an email
10.1.1.1. 1. Click Share this map
10.1.1.2. 2. Select Invite People
10.1.1.3. 3. Write a message
10.1.1.4. 4. Click Invite
10.1.2. Send a link
10.1.2.1. 1. Click Share this map
10.1.2.2. 2. Tick Link to share
10.1.2.3. 3. Copy the link to share it
10.1.3. Export
10.1.3.1. 1. Click down arrow, bottom right
10.1.3.2. 2. Select the export option you want
10.2. How to complete this template
10.2.1. Complete the sections in square brackets
10.2.1.1. [....]
10.2.2. Read these sections for help on this template
10.2.2.1. Purpose
10.2.2.2. Advice
10.2.3. Navigate using the links in Contents
10.2.3.1. Contents
10.3. Attribution
10.3.1. Copyright © AXELOS Limited 2009. All rights reserved. Material is reproduced with the permission of AXELOS