How to Build a Business Case
Individual Assignment #2 – How to Build a Business Case – 15%
A preliminary analysis of the business’s issues is a useful way of ensuring the consulting proposal will deliver the client’s requirements.
As part of the preliminary analysis, you should consider the following questions:
- What are the major opportunities and issues the business faces?
- How can the consultant’s service help the business overcome this challenge?
A critical element in the success of the consulting exercise is that its objectives are well defined and understood by all involved. Information is needed to understand the opportunities and issues the business faces. The consultant must interpret the information and create a perspective from it.
A business case is a form of gap analysis. It describes the business problem, the current status, the desired status and an action plan. A well-written business case provides a clear statement of the business problem and a potential solution. A business case provides the opportunity to create a consulting proposal based on objective data that offers an increased sense of understanding.
Waterton Performing Arts Festival (Management Consulting Text pg. 52-54)
Your business case should be communicated in a 1500 word paper. Your paper should include an introduction and a conclusion along with body paragraphs that address the components below. The paper must also include an executive summary and an appendix as appropriate. Be sure to use in-text citations and to provide a reference list aligned with the APA Conestoga format style. You must use the APA Conestoga Paper Template which is available through the Learning Commons or can be downloaded from the course shell on eConestoga.
Your business case must include the following components:
Problem Statement. In one paragraph or less, clearly state the specific business problem.
Background. Be sure to include significant information regarding skills, budgeting and performance that contribute to the business problem. Indicate in general terms, what’s required to resolve or reduce the problem.
Project objectives. Use a maximum of seven bullet points to state what the proposed solution(s) is trying to accomplish.
Current process. Identify the current organizational processes that the proposed solution will affect, including the training department, other departments within the organization and relationships with clients, and external partners.
Requirements. List resources needed to complete the project, such as internal staff, hardware, software, print materials, time and budget.
Alternatives. Outline at least four other options to implementing the proposed solution. Be sure to include basic requirements for each and estimate project risks, ramp-up time, costs, etc.
Compare alternatives. Compare and contrast each of the alternatives with the proposed solution and the other alternatives. State similarities and differences, benefits and detriments, and potential costs associated with each option.
Additional considerations. List critical success factors other than ROI metrics; for example, potential effects on partnership agreements with specific vendors or other internal resources.
Action plan. Propose specific action steps. State your short-term (first three months) and long-term (three months to conclusion) action plans, including major milestones. This section should also include proposed metrics to measure success.
Executive summary. Write a clear, summary of the proposed solution. Tailor it to your audience and offer a high-level overview the research that leads you to the consulting proposal.
| A Note on Avoiding Plagiarism |
“Written or other work which a student submits in a course shall be the product of his/her own efforts. Plagiarism, cheating, or other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited. Cheating means the misrepresentation by the student of his/her performance in a college setting” (Conestoga College, 2013). To avoid plagiarism, be sure to cite your sources using the APA style. Should you require further information and/or assistance using the APA style guide, please visit the Learning Commons.
| Late Penalty |
Please note that assignments are due by the date and time specified in the Instructional Plan. Late submissions will be subject to a 10% per day penalty for up to 3 days. After the 3rd day, late assignments will not be graded. This will result in a total of 30% after three days. On the fourth day, the assignment cannot be handed in.