Business Case Writing Introduction to Business Case Writing 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which stakeholder group is most important to identify early when developing a business case?
- Vendors who will supply the solution
- Decision-makers who will approve or reject the proposal (Correct answer)
- External consultants hired to write the case
- End users who will operate the new system
Correct answer: Decision-makers who will approve or reject the proposal
Identifying approvers early ensures the business case is tailored to their priorities, concerns, and decision criteria.
Question 2: A business case that claims '100% certainty of success' would most likely be viewed by reviewers as:
- Highly credible due to confidence
- Lacking credibility because no project is risk-free (Correct answer)
- Appropriate for low-complexity initiatives
- A sign of thorough research
Correct answer: Lacking credibility because no project is risk-free
Claiming certainty undermines credibility; all projects carry some risk, and reviewers expect honest acknowledgment of uncertainty.
Question 3: When should a business case typically be revised after initial approval?
- Never, as changes undermine the original commitment
- Only when the project is completed
- When significant changes in scope, cost, or assumptions occur during execution (Correct answer)
- Only upon request from the project sponsor
Correct answer: When significant changes in scope, cost, or assumptions occur during execution
Business cases are living documents that should be updated when material changes occur, ensuring decisions remain grounded in current information.
Question 4: Which writing technique makes a business case easier for busy executives to read?
- Dense paragraphs with detailed technical data
- Heavy use of industry jargon to demonstrate expertise
- Bullet points, headers, and concise summaries (Correct answer)
- Minimizing the use of visuals to save space
Correct answer: Bullet points, headers, and concise summaries
Structured formatting with bullet points, headers, and summaries allows executives to quickly find and absorb key information.
Question 5: In the context of a business case, 'tangible benefits' differ from 'intangible benefits' in that tangible benefits are:
- More important to the organization
- Directly quantifiable in monetary or numeric terms (Correct answer)
- Only relevant to customer-facing projects
- Easier to sustain over time
Correct answer: Directly quantifiable in monetary or numeric terms
Tangible benefits can be measured and expressed numerically (e.g., cost savings, revenue increase), while intangible benefits are harder to quantify.
Question 6: A business case for a technology upgrade should include a 'current state' analysis primarily to:
- Justify the IT department's budget request
- Establish the problem baseline and demonstrate why change is needed (Correct answer)
- Provide a technical specification for vendors
- Document historical IT spending
Correct answer: Establish the problem baseline and demonstrate why change is needed
The current state analysis shows existing pain points and inefficiencies, making the case for why the proposed change is necessary.
Question 7: Which of the following is the best example of a measurable project objective in a business case?
- Improve customer satisfaction
- Reduce customer complaint resolution time by 30% within 12 months of go-live (Correct answer)
- Modernize the customer service platform
- Enhance operational efficiency
Correct answer: Reduce customer complaint resolution time by 30% within 12 months of go-live
A measurable objective includes a specific metric, target value, and timeframe, making it possible to evaluate whether it was achieved.
Business Case Writing Introduction to Business Case Writing 3
Which stakeholder group is most important to identify early when developing a business case?