Key Elements In A BT Business Case

For every major IT project or initiative, CIOs should demand a business case that outlines the business reason(s) for the investment, the expected benefits of the initiative, the costs to make it happen, an analysis of risks, and future options that are created. The business case moves discussion of a project away from a debate about technical merits or favored vendors to one that looks at the linkage between business impact and the technology that enables it. A common, comprehensive, and codified structure for the business case allows different projects with different goals, costs, and benefits to be compared and contrasted, and it allows for the goals and business value of projects selected for funding to be communicated to all involved. Additionally, the summary of the approved business case becomes the lead for all communications about the initiative as it moves from planning, through development, and into use.