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1 Executive Summary
For a standard Business Case, complete this section after completing all other sections.
1.1 Issue
Briefly describe the business issue that the recommended project would solve without describing how the problem will be addressed. Include a brief statement of any mandates that require processes and/or services not currently in place.
1.2 Anticipated Outcomes
Describe the anticipated outcomes of implementing a project that specifically addresses the business issue. The description should include answers to questions such as “What are we aiming for?” and “What are the expected benefits to business operations?”
1.3 Recommendation
Describe the project that is being recommended to achieve the anticipated business outcomes by summarizing the approach for how the project will address the business issue. Identify the stakeholders/customers involved in determining whether the desired results are achievable by implementing the project.
1.4 Justification
Justify why the recommended project should be implemented and the rationale for why the project was selected above the other alternative solutions. Provide a compelling argument by summarizing key quantitative and qualitative information from the Project Evaluation section, including a description of the impact of not implementing the project.
Determine and include analysis information that is necessary to provide a clear justification for the project. The type and extent of information included in the justification will vary based on the best approach for making a compelling and accurate argument.
1.5 Assumptions
List and describe any assumptions relevant to the project that is being recommended to achieve the anticipated business outcomes.
1.6 Limitations
List and describe any limiting factors, or constraints, relevant to the project that is being recommended to achieve the anticipated business outcomes.
2 Governance and Business Case Analysis Team
2.1 Governance
Describe the IT governance processes and structures within COMPANYNAME
2.2 Business Case Analysis Team Members
Describe the roles on the business case analysis team. Provide the names and titles of Institution staff that will fulfill them.
| Role | Description | Name/Title |
Table 1: Business case analysis team members
3 Problem Definition
3.1 Problem Statement
Describe the problem the project would address, including any problems related to technology, processes and/or services, without presupposing a solution.
3.2 Institution and Constituent Environment
Identify and briefly describe the relation of each stakeholder/customer to the project.
| Stakeholders/Customers | Description |
Table 2: Stakeholder/Customer relationship
Describe the processes and/or services that would be modified or automated by the project. Include processes and/or services for agencies and constituents (citizens, employers, other agencies).
| Processes/Services | Description of Modifications/Automation |
Table 3: Processes/Services
3.3 Current Technology Environment
3.3.1 Current Software
Describe COMPANYNAME’s existing software that will be modified or replaced by the proposed project.
| Software Items | Description |
Table 4: COMPANYNAME’s existing software items
3.3.2 Current Hardware
Describe COMPANYNAME. existing hardware that will be modified or replaced by the proposed project.
| Hardware Items | Description |
Table 5: COMPANYNAME’s existing hardware items
4 Project Overview
4.1 Project Description
Describe the approach the project will use to address the business problem. Include the project sequence number for the project from the Information Technology Detail (ITD).
| Description of Project |
| ITD Project Sequence Number: |
Table 6: Approach to address the business problem
4.2 Goals and Objectives
Describe the business goals and objectives of the project. Ensure the goals and objectives support business needs.
| Business Goal/Objective | Description |
Table 7: Business goals and objectives
4.3 Performance Measures
Describe performance measures that will be used to gauge the project’s business outcomes for key processes and services.
| Key Process/Services | Performance Measure |
Table 8: Performance measures
4.4 Assumptions
List the assumptions regarding COMPANYNAME processes and/or services affected by the proposed project.
4.5 Constraints
List the limitations or constraints regarding COMPANYNAME processes and/or services affected by the proposed project.
4.6 Proposed Technology Environment
4.6.1 Proposed Software
Describe software for the project, including technical factors that may be critical to project selection if applicable.
| Software Item | Description |
Table 9: Software item
4.6.2 Proposed Hardware
Describe the hardware for the project, including technical factors that may be critical to project selection if applicable.
| Hardware Item | Description |
Table 10: Hardware item
4.7 Major Project Milestone
Describe the project’s preliminary major milestones, deliverables, and target dates.
| Milestones/Deliverables | Target Date |
Table 11: Project milestone
5 Project Evaluation
The Business Case Workbook is completed as part of this section. Once completed, the Business Case Workbook evaluation factors are summarized in this section.
5.1 Statutory Fulfillment
Describe the direct and derived mandate(s) related to the project and cite reference(s) for federal and state statutes, rules, and regulatory requirements. Describe any penalties or funding losses.
| Mandates Related to Project | Statutory Citations | Penalties/Funding Losses |
Table 12: Mandates related to project
5.2 Strategic Alignment
Identify titles of strategic plans the project addresses, including the State Strategic Plan for Information Resources Management, COMPANYNAME strategic plan, and any other applicable plans. Cite the specific goals and objectives in each plan that are related to the project. Describe the relationship of the project to each of the plans based on how the project aligns and meets the goals and objectives cited in the strategic plans.
| Plan | Goals/Objectives | Relationship to Project |
Table 13: Strategic plan
5.3 COMPANYNAME Impact Analysis
Summarize how the project would impact the use of technology resources at the Institution level, including support of the defined architecture and standards for the Institution and state.
5.4 Financial Analysis
Using the level of detail illustrated in the instructions, describe methods used to calculate project cost and quantitative project benefit estimates. Describe estimate factors and underlying assumptions.
| Methods: Project Cost Estimates | Estimate Factors/Underlying Assumptions |
| Methods: Institution and Constituent Quantitative Project Benefits | Estimate Factors/Underlying Assumptions |
Table 14: Financial analysis
5.5 Initial Risk Consideration
Identify each additional initial risk and rate it consistent with the instructions provided in the Business Case Workbook Evaluation Factor worksheet. These are initial risks that were not already identified in the Evaluation Factor worksheet.
| Risk | Rating |
Table 15: Initial risk consideration
5.6 Alternatives Analysis
Describe alternative options, including the option of not implementing any project at all and at least one non-selected project option. State the reasons for not selecting each alternative. If at least one rejected alternative is not included, explain why.
| No Project (Status Quo) | Reasons For Not Selecting Alternative |
| Alternative Option | Reasons For Not Selecting Alternative |
| Alternative Option | Reasons For Not Selecting Alternative |
Table 16: Alternative analysis
6 Project Selection
6.1 Methodology
Describe the Institution-developed methodology used for project selection.
6.2 Results
State the rationale for why the project was selected above the other alternatives solutions. Cite any market research that was conducted.
Note: The graphical summary charts below may be copied to the Executive Summary depending on the desired approach for providing a clear and succinct justification for the project.
| Summary: All Project Evaluation Factors | |||
| Line | Factor | Maximum Rating Possible | Rating* |
| SF | Statutory Fulfillment | 35 | |
| SA | Strategic Alignment | 45 | |
| IA | Institution Impact Analysis | 35 | |
| FA | Financial Analysis – Government/Constituent | 60 | |
| RC | Initial Risk Consideration | 45 | |
| AA | Alternatives Analysis | 30 | |
| Total, All Project Factors | 250 |
Table 17: Summary: All Project Evaluation Factors
* Ratings are detailed in the Business Case Workbook.
| Financial Analysis: Institution/State | |||||||
| Line | Measure | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Total |
| RA1 | Institution Benefits (Cash Inflow) | ||||||
| RA2 | Project Costs (Cash Outflow) | ||||||
| RA3 | Benefit/Cost Variance (Net Cash Flow) | ||||||
| RA4 | Cumulative Net Benefits (Cumulative Net Cash Flow) | ||||||
| RA7 | Breakeven Point (Years 1 to 10) |
Table 18: Financial Analysis: Institution/State
| Financial Analysis: Constituents | |||||||
| Line | Measure | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Total |
| VA1 | Constituent Benefits | ||||||
| VA2 | Project Costs | ||||||
| VA3 | Benefit/Cost Variance | ||||||
| VA4 | Cumulative Net Benefits |
Table 19: Financial Analysis: Constituents
7 Glossary
Define all terms and acronyms required to interpret the Business Case properly.
8 Revision History
Identify changes to the Business Case.
| Version | Date | Name | Description |
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