Lesson 1

Homework Assignment: Writing a Business Case for a Case Study Project

In order to complete each of the homework assignments for this course, you will need to identify and describe and plan a project of your choosing. Your selected project can be either a personal or professional example, but please do not choose a project you have used for any other class or project, or that you are currently working on in your professional work. Your case study project should be unique to you and not previously used by you or anyone else.

To help you select your project, consider that you must know or be able to research enough about this project that you will be able to identify (at least at a high level) the following:

The likely reason the project was undertaken (what business problem(s) the project was supposed to solve)
At least 10 stakeholders
At least 10 key features, functions, or characteristics of the project’s output
Approximately how much the project is supposed to cost (high level)
Approximately how long the project is supposed to take
At least 5 risks associated with the project
What other possible projects could satisfy the same need

It is acceptable to identify only part of a larger project (for example, a particular phase or sub-project).

Hint #1: if you’re debating whether a project is too big or small for this assignment, review the Business Case outline provided on the next two pages. If you’re not able to fairly easily provide the information the Business Case outline requires for your project, then you should consider a different project.

Hint #2: run an internet search on “tips for writing a business case” and see what you find! There is a significant amount of information online. Specifically, you may find the following websites useful – but there are many others as well:

gantthead.com
pmhut.com
theiiba.org

YOUR WEEK 1 ASSIGNMENT:

Based on lecture materials for course week 1 and the template provided on the next pages, write a Business Case for your project. Remember, a Business Case is a proposal! Write the Business Case as if the project has not yet begun (even if the project you’ve chosen as your case study already has started, or has even finished.) Also, this assignment is to be completed individually. Do not seek assistance from (or provide assistance to) other students either in selecting your case study or in writing this Business Case. Doing so will be considered unauthorized collaboration and will result in a failing grade for this assignment.

Once completed, save your assignment as a PDF file using the following filename convention:

Assignment 1B – Business Case – [your First and Last name].pdf

Business Case and Project Proposal: [Your Proposed Project Name Here]

(Note: the text in RED is designed to help you write your Business Case. Please remove all red text before submitting your assignment.)

Business Background

In this section, use 2 to 3 paragraphs to explain the current situation that has prompted this project proposal. In other words, “tell the story” about where this proposed project has come from: what problems, needs, or situation has caused us to consider this project at this time?

Business Requirements

Using the guidelines and examples contained in this week’s lecture material and readings, write at least 3 specific BUSINESS requirements for this proposed project.
Recall that a business requirement is a clear statement of the CAPABILITY we need to have (the problem to be solved), and isn’t focused on a particular solution. Even if your case study project has already started (or has finished), remember that a Business Case is written during the project initiation phase – so, if this were a ‘real world’ business case, the project wouldn’t have actually started yet (we wouldn’t necessarily know the project had already been approved.)
Try writing your business requirement statements so that they begin with the phrase “we require the capability to…” in order to avoid identifying a specific solution (the next section focuses on the specific solution.)

Description of Proposed Project/Solution

In this section, describe the specific PROJECT you’ve chosen for your case study. At a minimum, describe at least 5 key features, functions, or characteristics the output of this project will have. (If you described this project verbally in a conversation, how would you describe it?) Although not required, you may find using a bulleted list to be helpful.
- Solution Benefits
Describe at least 3 benefits associated with this project, and at least 1 of your 3 benefits must be expressed in monetary terms.
- Solution Costs
Describe at least 3 costs associated with this project, and at least 1 of your 3 costs must be expressed in monetary terms.
- Solution Risks
Using the Risk Identification syntax included in this week’s lecture materials (“due to the fact that…there is a risk that…which would result in…”), identify at least 5 risks associated with this project.
For each risk you identify, also indicate whether you believe the risk has high, medium, or low impact to the proposed project if the risk occurs.

Analysis of Alternatives

In this section, identify and describe at least 2 other potential projects or solutions that could also satisfy the business requirements you listed in section 2 of this Business Case.
What are some of the costs, benefits and risks associated with each alternative? Why is your proposed project (your case study) a better project to pursue than the other alternatives?