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Business Consulting
Business Cases
How the public sector can make and support business decisions
All public sector organisations are reacting to economic and spending pressures in times of increased scrutiny. Faced with such constraints it is essential to consider radical and innovative ways of working and to ensure that all options have been thoroughly investigated.
Whether it is the choice to invest resources into new services or assets, or change previously established operating models and processes to realise efficiencies, the decisions you take require a robust evidence base.
Business Cases demonstrate how proposed changes fit strategically with national and local plans, as well as the financial and economic reasoning for decision making.
Focus on the change
Traditionally, Business Cases have been predicated on the need to justify investment; organisations have been required to produce them in order to secure the investment for capital developments.
The reality is that all significant changes within Public Sector organisations - such as large internal restructuring, implementing revenue-generating opportunities, developing new delivery models or capital investments - should be made with and supported by a solid evidence base.
This evidence is exactly what a good quality Business Case will provide.
A critical risk to effective change: avoid the tick-box mentality
Preparing and developing a Business Case should not be considered a burdensome task on any organisation, but rather a process that encourages detailed assessment of innovative solutions.
If developed correctly, a Business Case will genuinely test the whole spectrum of options available to provide solutions and deliver benefits. Considering a Business Case as a tick box exercise may jeopardise the decision-making process. Crucially, flawed decision making is likely to be exposed as time progresses – which can prove to be too late.
Have you really considered change and will the business case succeed?
The common pitfalls of any Business Case are:
- The preferred option has already been decided and options are not genuinely investigated
- The need for a Business Case is not communicated effectively so the analysis commences too late in the change process
- Lack of ownership and engagement in the change process leads to stakeholders not agreeing with the preferred option
- Assessment criteria for the options appraisal are not SMART and as such the benefits are not measured, tracked or owned following implementation
- Insufficient consideration for change management and implementation planning leads to difficulty delivering the preferred option
related projects
Sandwell PCT and Neath Port Talbot – Colleges and Neath Port Talbot
Get in touchPlease contact Phil Smart
for more information:
phil.smart@cpcprojectservices.com
or call 0161 830 2139
mob 07827 938 057
