How to write a business case
A step-by-step guide to writing business cases that are easy to understand and make the right decision.
Work in any business or industry long enough, and you will come across a Business Case. You may be asked to review a business case, contribute or even write one. The problem is that very few of us have been trained to write business cases, so the quality varies wildly — even reviewing a business case can be a challenge. Here then, is a step-by-step guide to writing better business cases.
The Decision Maker’s View
In my career, I’ve been on most sides of business cases. I’ve had to write, contribute, review and give my approval to proceed — or postpone or even shut them down.
As a CEO or decision maker in a business, what you see below is what I would look for from a business case.
This will help you understand how to write the business case so you can answer the questions your decision makers will have.
A Chicken and Egg Situation
As you develop a business case, you will find a classic chicken and egg problem:
- You won’t know all the resources and costs until you’ve done detailed planning.
