Better Business Cases™ Foundation & Practitioner

Better Business Cases™ Foundation & Practitioner 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? 

• What is a Programme? 

• Links to Recognised Best Practice Programmes 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 Case 

• 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 the Business Case 

• Full Business Case 

• Development of the Business Case 

• 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 on 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 the Preferred Option and Undertake a Sensitivity Analysis 

• Sensitivity Analysis 

• Final Selection of the Preferred Option 
   

Module 8: Preparing for the Potential Deal 

• Determine Procurement Strategy 

• Determine Service Streams and Required Outputs 

• Outline Potential Risk Apportionment 

• Outline Potential Payment Mechanisms 

• Pre-Delivery Phase 

• Operational Phase 

• Extension Phase 

• Ascertain Contractual Issues and Accountancy Treatment 
   

Module 9: Ascertaining Affordability and Funding Requirement 

• Prepare Financial Models and Financial Appraisals 

• Financial Modelling 

• Impacts to Consider 

• Assessing Affordability 

• Closing Affordability Gaps 
   

Module 10: Planning for Successful Delivery 

• Plan Programme or Project Management 

• Programme Roles 

• Programme Plan 

• Project Plan 

• Use of Specialist Advisers 

• Plan Change Management and Contract Management 

• Plan Benefits Realisation 

• Benefits Resister 

• Plan Risk Management 

• Risk Register 

• Plan Programme/Project Assurance and Post Project Evaluation 
   

Module 11: Procuring the VFM Solution 

• Revisit the Case for Change 

• Revisit the OBC Options 

• Detail Procurement Process and Evaluation of BAFOs 
   

Module 12: Contracting for the Deal 

• Set Out the Negotiated Deal and Contractual Arrangements 

• Set Out the Financial Implications of the Deal 
   

Module 13: Ensuring Successful Delivery 

• Finalise Project Management Arrangements and Plans 

• Finalise Change Management Arrangements and Plans 

• Finalise Benefits Realisation Arrangements and Plans 

• Finalise Risk Management Arrangements and Plans 

• Finalise Contract Management Arrangements and Plans 

• Finalise Post Project Evaluation Arrangements and Plans 

• Review the Business Case: SOC, OBC, and FBC 

• Steps and Actions for Preparation of Programme and Project Business Cases 

What You’ll Learn in this Course

This course helps you progress from understanding the fundamentals of business case development to applying structured techniques in real-world investment proposals. Each stage builds your practical expertise and equips you to contribute effectively to strategic decision-making. 

• Learn the core principles of structured business case development 

• Learn to distinguish between programme and project business cases 

• Learn to identify strategic context and define clear spending objectives 

• Learn to evaluate options and demonstrate value for money 

• Learn to assess affordability, procurement strategy, and delivery planning 

• Learn to apply business case principles across sectors and project types 

Better Business Cases™ Foundation Exam Information

The Better Business Cases™ Foundation exam certifies an individual's understanding of the Better Business Cases™ methodology for developing effective business cases. It ensures that candidates can contribute to proposals that demonstrate value for money and strategic alignment. 

• 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