Building Better Business Cases

Description

Read (1) “Building Better Business Cases for IT Investments” (Ward et al., 2008). Develop a benefits table along with first five (5) steps for an IT project using the framework from the reading.

Here are the two options (only pick one):

Option 1: Use the NYU case provided, NYU Langone Medical Center Goes Paperless

Option 2: Use an IT initiative or project from your current organization
Note, if you use option 2 you need to provide a detailed project description (one to two pages, similar to the NYU case in option 1) about the project and place it within appendices. This should be sent to faculty no later than Week 4 for approval.

In making your benefits analysis for your business case, follow the six steps approach by Ward et al. (2008) closely. Your analysis should be presented in the same paper format as you have used in the previous modules. Labeling steps 1 through 5 will be helpful to the reader:

Introduction: Brief overview of project selected and introduction of benefits analysis
Step 1: Define Business Drivers and Investment Objectives
Step 2: Identify Benefits, Measures, and Owners
Step 3: Structure the Benefits
Step 4: Identify Organizational Changes enabling Benefits
Step 5: Determine the Explicit Value of each Benefit
Note: Step 6, Costs and Risks analyses will be done in Module 7
Conclusion (Only conclude your benefits analysis at this point. The key is to have an estimated number for all financial benefits, which can be used for your ROI estimation in Module 7)

References:  Include required readings for Modules 6.  Additional researched references are required. Minimum four (4) additional references from your benefits research.
Appendix:

Visuals

• Provide your benefits table similar to Figure 5 from the main reading, Building Better Business Cases for IT Investments (Ward et al., 2008, p.11)
• A table of your assumptions for the benefits you identified and estimated

Summary of Learning

• What have you learn from business process analysis and then benefits analysis?
• What are the main challenges  so far?

Note: Here is an illustrated example of the business case from “Building Better Business Cases for IT Investments” (Ward et al., 2008).

1. Note: The page limitation for the final business case (combined with Parts 1 and 2) is four (4) pages, plus references, visuals, and learning summary.

Based on the two peer reviews you received from Module 6, revise your steps 1 to 5 and benefits table.  Continue your business case by proceeding to step 6.

Within Step 6: Identify Costs (TCO), calculate ROI, and do a risk analysis

• Estimate TCO using “Measuring and Reducing Total Cost of Ownership” (Woodward, 2016) along with this TCO and ROI Calculator (Note: Most cost numbers need to be researched and estimated along with your assumptions made)
• Identify and assess risks using the matrix introduced in the Module Slides

Visuals for Step 6 (required)

3. Provide TCO (provide explanation and assumption for each cost estimation) and ROI Table
4. Provide Risk Assessment Table

Once the above is done, combine your part 1 (revised from Module 6) and part 2 analyses into a complete business case. Here is the overall structure of your business case:

Introduction (to the business case, not just benefits analysis)

Steps 1 to 5: Revised from Module 6
Step 6: Identify Costs (TCO), Risks, and calculate ROI (these are the focus of Module 7)

Conclusion: provide your recommendation for the investment based on your interpretation of the benefits, costs, and risks analyses. Highlight ROI and other convincing justification.

References: include required readings for both Modules 6 and 7. Additional researched references are required. Minimum four (4) additional references.

Appendix:

o    Visuals (required)

1. Revised Benefits Table based on feedback or additional research along with your assumption table (You did all these in Module 6)
2. TCO & ROI Table within paper (in addition, attach the TCO & ROI spreadsheet along with your final paper)
3. Risk Analysis Table

o    Summary of Learning

1. What changes have you made for Steps 1 to 5 along with your Benefits Table?
2. What have you learn from this business case?
3. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the six-step business case framework by Ward et al. (2008)?

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