Making the Business Case

Book excerpt: A good business case is so much more than simply the means to justify a decision. A well-written and well-researched business case will secure funding; make sure any project stays on the right side of regulation; mobilize support for the cause; provide the platform for managing the project and the benchmark against which to measure progress. Ian Gambles' Making the Business Case shows you how to make sense of the task at hand, develop a strategy, articulate your options, define the benefits, establish the costs, identify the risks and make a compelling case. Just as with the best business cases, the text is concise, jargon-free and easy to read; illustrated throughout with practical examples drawn from real cases and including reflective exercises at the end of each chapter to help you consolidate what you have learned. At only 198 pages long, this is a jewel of a book; essential reading for the manager tasked with making the business case, the senior manager who needs to understand and test it, and the project manager who is responsible for delivering whatever is agreed on.