Better Business Cases™ Foundation

Better Business Cases™ Foundation Outline

Module 1: Introduction 

• Why Better Business Cases? 

• Case for a Business Case 

• Project Success or Failure? 

• Putting the Right Foot Forward 

• Public Sector Delivery 

• What is a Project and Programme? 

• Recognised Best Practice Programme and Project Management Methodologies 

• Programme or Project? 

• Types of Programme 

• Alignment with Strategic Planning 

• Importance of the Business Case using the Five Case Model 
   

Module 2: Five Case Model 

• Overview of the Five Case Model 

• Importance of the Business Case using the Five Case Model 

• Strategic 

• Demonstrates 

• Challenges 

• Contents of the Strategic Case 

• Economic Case 

• Demonstrates 

• Challenges 

• Contents of the Economic Case 

• Commercial Case 

• Demonstrates 

• Challenges 

• Contents of the Commercial Case 

• Financial Case 

• Demonstrates 

• Challenges 

• Contents of the Financial Case 

• Management Case 

• Demonstrates 

• Challenges 

• Contents of the Management Case 
   

Module 3: Programme and Project Business Case 

• Advantages of the Programme Business Case 

• Advantages of the Project Business Case 

• When Should a Business Case be Developed? 

• Planning for Spending Proposals 

• Key Steps in Developing the Programme Business Case 

• Project Business Case Development Process 
   

Module 4: Determining the Strategic Context and Undertaking the Strategic Assessment 

• Overview 

• Strategic Assessment 

• Related Activities 

• Stages of Business Case Development 

• Strategic Outline Case 

• Outline Business Case 

• Full Business Case 

• Development of the Business Case and Business Justification Case 

• What is Programme Assurance? 

• What is Project Assurance? 

• Responsibility for Producing the Business Case 
   

Module 5: Making the Case for Change 

• Agree Strategic Context 

• Determine Spending Objectives, Existing Arrangements, and Business Needs 

• Generic Drivers for Spend 

• Determine Potential Business Scope and Service Requirements 

• Determine Benefits, Risks, Constraints, and Dependencies 

• Each Spending Objective 
   

Module 6: Exploring the Preferred Way Forward  

• Agree Critical Success Factors (CSFs) 

• Determine Long List Options and SWOT Analysis 

• Options Framework 

• Using the Options Framework 

• Drafting the Long List 

• Recommended Preferred Way Forward 

• Complete the Strategic Outline Case 
   

Module 7: Determining Value for Money (VFM) 

• Project Level Business Case 

• Revisit the Short-List 

• Prepare the Economic Appraisals for Short-Listed Options 

• Relevant Costs for Economic Appraisals 

• Estimating Benefits for the Economic Appraisals 

• Valuing Costs and Benefits 

• Presenting the Economic Appraisals 

• Undertake Benefits Appraisal 

• Undertake Risk Appraisal 

• Select Preferred Option and Undertake Sensitivity Analysis 

• Sensitivity Analysis 

• Final Selection of the Preferred Option 

What You’ll Learn in this Course

This course leads you from understanding the fundamentals of business case development to confidently applying the Five Case Model in real-world scenarios. Each stage of the journey equips you with the tools to support investment decisions and deliver public value. 
 

• Learn the purpose and structure of the Five Case Model 

• Learn how to develop clear, evidence-based business cases 

• Learn to align proposals with strategic and organisational objectives 

• Learn to develop investment-ready business cases with clear justification 

• Learn to meet public sector standards for investment approval 

• Learn how to support effective project delivery through strong justification 

Better Business Cases™ Foundation Exam Information

The Better Business Cases™ Foundation exam assesses your understanding of the Better Business Cases methodology. It focuses on the key concepts, structure, and purpose of each case within the model. The details below provide insight into the current exam structure.

• Question Type: Multiple-choice 

• Total Questions: 50   

• Total Marks: 50 Marks   

• Pass Marks: 50%, or 25/50 Marks 

• Duration: 40 Minutes 

• Open Book/ Closed Book: Closed Book