[Title] Business Case

[Organization’s Name][Author’s Name][Date]

Note: Refer to Skillsoft’s “Developing an L&D Business Case” session slide deck for more information. This template is intentionally developed in a blank template so that it can easily be incorporated into an organization’s specific template.

Executive Summary

• Briefly summarize the proposal• Executive summaries typically contain the salient points from each

of the subsequent sections:o Current situationo Analysis & Recommendationo Conclusion

• Be sure to engage the audience's interest in reviewing the remainder of the proposal

Current Situation

• Purpose is to clearly state the problem or opportunity facing your organization in a quantifiable way

• Express success in terms that contribute to the strategic plan (especially your CFO) such as increasing revenue, decreasing costs, or minimizing risk

• Discuss what is likely to materialize if the situation doesn't change

Analysis & Recommendation

• In the opener, provide clear, specific details about the alternative you suggest the organization adopt

• Explain how your proposal solves the problem or capitalizes on the opportunity identified in the current situation section

Analysis & Recommendation

• Summarize the alternatives you considered in a simple chart that describes the financial analysis, intangible benefits, and risks

• Use graphs to display the most powerful financial aspects of the suggested option

Option 1 Option 2 Option 3

Financial Benefit

Intangible Benefits

Risks

Conclusion

• Recap the benefits of acting on the selected option in terms that support the organization's strategic goals

• Consider including benchmarks to show how this compares to other “best in class” approaches

• Outline the high level implementation milestones, target dates, and the responsible parties

• Clearly flag the date when a decision should be made and what the implications are of not acting on or before that date