Background:

A business case is the first deliverable in the IT project life cycle. It provides an analysis of the organisational value, feasibility, costs, benefits, and risks of several proposed alternatives or options.

A business case helps to determine whether or not a project justifies an organisations investment into a project. The business case defines the problem and its impact and performs a cost benefit analysis for the proposed solution. It also looks at possible alternative solutions. The business case should also provide a check to see that the project aligns with the organisation's strategic plan.

For on preparing a business case, see: http://www.cio.com.au/article/433382/how_make_winning_business_case/

Overview:

In this assignment, you will be required to form teams of approximately four (4) people. One team member is to be elected the project leader for the duration of the project. Teams will prepare a project business case based on an IT project case study and should use their own initiative regarding assumptions and the scheduling all deliverables.

An electronic copy of a case study will be available from your tutor or course lecturer (alternatively your team may wish to propose their own project-please get permission from your lecturer before proceeding with this).

Requirements:

Ideally the business case should contain details of the following:

• introduction and description of project background

• description of project objectives (including link to organisational mission statement)

• description of the current situation (including a SWOT analysis)

• outline of problem/opportunity statement

• details of critical assumptions and constraints

• an analysis of options and recommendations

• financial analysis (npv, roi and payback figures)

• preliminary project requirements (project preliminary scope)

• budget estimate (cost model and baseline)

• schedule estimate (including work breakdown structure level 3)

• list of potential risks

Templates for the above documents are available from your lecturer/tutor. You can use these as a basis, but you are encouraged to research new and innovative ways of presenting your business case.

A quality team business case will demonstrate a synthesis of plan content, templates and ideas acquired from project management professionals and academic authors with details from the case study provided. Innovation marks may be awarded for evidence of additional deliverables, team participation such as meeting agenda's and minutes, leadership approach etc.