Overview

The Better Business Cases course and examination are structured around the Five Case Model, which is recognized as the UK government’s best practice method for planning spending proposals and making effective business decisions. This model offers a step-by-step guide for developing a business case by:

• Establishing a clear need for intervention, creating a compelling case for change.
• Setting clear objectives to define what you aim to achieve from the investment.
• Considering a wide range of potential solutions to ensure an optimal balance of benefits, costs, and risks.
• Implementing the necessary arrangements to successfully deliver the proposal.
• This is a five-day course culminating in the Better Business Cases Foundation and Practitioner examinations.

The Foundation qualification aims to verify that a candidate has enough knowledge and understanding of the guidance to effectively contribute to or work as part of a team developing a business case using the Five Case Model. The Practitioner qualification aims to confirm whether the candidate has attained sufficient understanding of the theory and application of the Five Case Model to effectively develop and produce a business case. A successful Practitioner candidate should be able to start applying the model to a real project.

To take the Practitioner examination, you must first pass the Foundation qualification.

What is Covered?

Better Business Foundation course, participants are expected to grasp the framework and fundamental terminology of the Five Case Model, including:

• The underlying philosophy and rationale guiding the Five Case Model.
• Different types of business cases, their objectives, responsible parties, and their timing within the development of spending proposals.
• How to develop a business case in alignment with recognized and recommended best practices for program and project management.

Better Business Practitioner course, participants should be capable of applying and customizing the Five Case Model effectively within their organizational environment. This includes:

• Understanding the lifecycle of business case development and the interdependencies among the five cases.
• Applying the steps of the business case development framework to facilitate the creation of a business case using the Five Case Model, tailored to specific organizational scenarios.

Target Audience

This qualification targets individuals involved in or overseeing projects within the public sector, focusing on the essential work required to justify investment cases. This includes:

• Senior Responsible Owners (SROs), Programme Directors, and other directors accountable for program and project success.
• Project Managers, project team members, and specialist advisers responsible for delivering investment business cases.
• Officers engaged in scrutinizing and reviewing investment proposals.

Exam format
Better Business Case Foundation:

• Multiple Choice
• 50 questions
• 25 marks or more required to pass (out of 50 available) – 50%
• 40 minutes duration
• Closed book

You must have passed the Foundation qualification to sit the Practitioner examination.

Better Business Case Practitioner:

• Objective testing
• 4 questions per paper, with 20 marks available per question
• 40 marks or more required to pass (out of 80 available) – 50%
• 2 and a half hours duration
• Open book exam (international guide to developing the project business case and international guide to developing the programme business case only).