The Irish Government requires a high quality business case before it will approve capital spending. Under the Infrastructure Guidelines (formerly the Public Spending Code), every proposal must set out why it is needed, which options were considered, and why the preferred option offers value for money. These steps can be complicated, and many projects stall because the case is not strong enough, or is not ready in time. Outside technical support can keep a project on track and allow your organisation to stay focused on delivering outcomes rather than paperwork.

Dr Benjamin Warner was lead author of the economic case for MetroLink, directed the business cases for all 12 BusConnects corridors, and has led business cases for universities and the Land Development Agency. He has the skills and experience to guide even the most complex business case through to approval.

Services in this area fall into two groups: individual elements of a business case, which can each be delivered on their own, and overarching services which cover the business case as a whole.

Elements of a business case

• Strategic case development: The strategic case sets out why the project is required and what it will deliver. Many projects fail to gain approval due to a lack of clear strategic direction or measurable objectives. We can support the development of the business case by taking an independent view of the project and working with you to develop a compelling case for change.
• Economic case and options appraisal: The economic case shows that the preferred option offers the best value for money, and is built on a robust cost benefit analysis and options appraisal. Challenges to the economic case are one of the main reasons projects fail to gain approval, and Dr Warner has been developing and scrutinising them for over 20 years. See Cost Benefit Analysis for more.
• Multi-criteria analysis: Not every benefit can be valued in money terms. A multi-criteria analysis scores and weights the options against an agreed set of criteria, such as strategic fit, deliverability and value for money, so that they can be compared in a transparent and structured way. It is often used at the options stage of a business case, alongside or in place of a cost benefit analysis.
• Benefit realisation plans: A business case promises benefits, but those benefits only materialise if someone is responsible for delivering them. A benefit realisation plan sets out what each benefit is, how and when it will be delivered, who owns it, and how it will be measured. It gives approving bodies confidence that the benefits are achievable, and provides the baseline for later evaluation.
• Post project evaluation: There is now an increased focus on learning lessons and making sure future projects build on the successes, and challenges, of earlier ones. This requires Project Completion Reports and Post Project Evaluations, which test delivery against the benefit realisation plan. We can guide you through this process and help to deliver evaluations which celebrate success while also drawing out practical lessons for future projects.

Overarching services

These cover the business case as a whole, whichever elements are being prepared.

• Authorship: Even once all the information has been gathered, it needs to be presented in a single, cohesive document which clearly demonstrates compliance with the Infrastructure Guidelines. We can work with a wide variety of contributors and stakeholders to make sure a compelling case is made.
• Independent review and quality assurance: A senior second opinion on a business case before it goes to a funder or approving body, covering the strength of the strategic argument as well as the economics. This can be provided to organisations preparing their own business case, or to teams who want specialist economic input within a wider project.

Dr Warner can lead a business case in full, or provide the economics within a wider team. See Services for the ways of working together.