Project Management Framework
Initiation - Business Case

Definition

The business case documents the justification for proceeding with a project. It examines the business problem, the tangible and intangible benefits to be gained, the potential impacts of the project on the organization, and the description of how the project will be conducted.

Why is this important?

The business case helps organize material in business terms to facilitate discussions between agency executives and information technology managers concerning the business justification of a proposal.

Instructions

The contents of a business case are outlined in the Business Justification Outline that is included in the Information Services Board Core Systems Framework at: isb.wa.gov/committees/coresystems/justification.aspx. This outline includes a list of questions or considerations to address during the development of the business case.

The Core Systems Framework is a toolset designed to assist agencies with the monitoring, assessment, justification, and analysis of their respective core systems. The framework serves to facilitate and inform the discussion between an agency and members of the Information Services Board about proposed or existing IT systems. While these tools have been developed specifically to provide guidance to agencies that currently have or will have projects subject to oversight, they are also applicable to smaller, less risky, or less complex projects.