Frame
Business Cases
A document that makes an investment decision reviewable through its options, costs and assumptions.
What is Business Cases?
A document that makes an investment decision reviewable through its options, costs and assumptions.
What you learn
Find the one assumption the whole investment depends on.
When it helps
you need funding for work, or a proposal needs a credible case.
Use it at work
- State the decision and the options, including doing nothing.
- Show the costs and benefits of each.
- Name the assumptions behind the benefits.
- Test the riskiest one before asking for the full amount.
Your output
For your next business case, finish the sentence “This is worth it only if...” Test that assumption before asking for the full budget.
Watch for
Presenting a case as certain, with its key assumption hidden.
Related practices
Sources
- Business Thinking for Designers: Chapter 5, Communicate the options
- Product Design Management
- Guidance on developing business cases
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