Building a credible business case

This workshop supports the NSW Government’s Gateway Review System and is designed to assist agencies preparing business cases, especially for projects to be submitted for a Gateway Review.

This two-day workshop focuses on the thinking and processes required to develop a business case for funding. It takes participants from a strategic view of the problem or opportunity, to considerations for evaluating options, to ensuring appropriate coverage of key business case success factors. Whether the project is for capital developments, information systems or goods and services, superior business case development skills are an asset. During the workshop, participants  discuss and apply business case principles to a case study, and are invited to share their own real-life examples.

Course Content

This workshop explores the key elements that contribute to a robust business case including a summary of the Gateway Review System, the preliminary business case versus the final business case, strategic and policy alignment, service delivery options, sustainability considerations, risk, value for money – economic and financial appraisal, documenting stakeholder, change and project management capability and presenting the business case for review and funding.

Course Outcomes

By the end of this course attendees should be able to:

• write the ‘right’ business case in an appropriate style
• understand the requirements of, and connection between, business case guidelines and the Gateway review process
• align their business case with their Results and Services Plan or statement of business intent
• align with the State Plan and State Infrastructure Plan
• be confident that their project will effectively address the service need
• adequately cover the critical elements that deliver the project outcomes
• write an executive summary that will sell their case.

Benefits to your organisation

• greater understanding of what needs to be covered in a business case and improved prospects of achieving project and service delivery outcomes
• alignment of business case options with the Results and Services Plan or statement of business intent
• greater objectivity in selecting the best business case option

Benefits to you

• skills in developing a business case
• confidence in the credibility and consistency of your business cases and improved assessment of risk
• understanding of the Gateway review business case requirements