Due: Sunday by 11:59pm
Total Points: 100

Overview:

This assignment is part 1 of the ongoing case study project introduced at the start of the course.
Complete this portion of the case study using the accompanying outline template provided in
Blackboard. The Case Study Project is not a collaborative effort. All assignments should be
completed individually.

Instructions:

Based on all readings and resources this week and the outline template provided, write a
Business Case for your project. Remember a Business Case is a proposal! Write the Business
Case as if the project has not yet begun (even if the project you?ve chosen as your case study
already has started, or has even finished.)

If you?re debating whether a project is too big or small for this assignment, review the Business
Case and Project Proposal Outline template attached to the assignment. If you?re not able to
fairly easily provide the information the Business Case outline requires for your project, then you
should consider a different project.

For additional help, run an internet search on ?tips for writing a business case? and see what
you find! There is a significant amount of information online. Specifically, you may find the
following websites useful ? but there are many others as well:

? www.gantthead.com

? www.pmhut.com

? www.theiiba.org

Requirements:

? Use the ?Business Case and Project Proposal Outline? template to complete the

assignment and submit to Blackboard.

? Please follow APA guidelines (proper margins, double-spaced, Times New Roman font,

12-point font).

? Use APA citation format and include a reference/works cited page when necessary.

? Writing should be clear, concise, and well organized. Thoughts should be expressed in

a logical manner.

? The writing should be free of spelling, grammar errors with excellent sentence /

paragraph construction.

? The outline template should be 4 pages maximum in length including reference
page/work cited page.

PMG501 ? Scope Project Management

Unit 1 Assignment: Writing a Business Case for a Case Study Project

? Save your files using the following filename convention:

o BusinessCase ? FirstName_LastName

Be sure to read the criteria, by which your paper/project will be evaluated, before
you write, and again after you write.

Evaluation Rubric for Unit 1: Business Case and Project Proposal Outline
Assignment

CRITERIA Deficient

Needs

Improvement
Proficient

Exemplary

0 ? 15 Points 16 ? 19 Points 20 ? 24 Points 25 Points

Overview of the
Business case
and
Requirements

Business case

overview and/or

correct number of

requirements are

missing and does

not adequately

address key points.

Business case

overview and correct

number of

requirements

address all key

points but is missing

some detail.

Business case

overview and correct

number of

requirements

included that

address most key

points in detail.

Business case
overview and correct
number of
requirements are
thorough, detailed
and addresses all
key points.

Description of
Proposed
Project/Solution

Brief description of
project is missing
and/or correct
number of benefits,
costs, and risks
included associated
with project. Little to
no evidence of unit
concepts applied.

Includes brief
description of project
but incorrect number
of benefits, costs,
and risks associated
with project. Few
unit concepts
applied and evident.

Includes brief
description of project
and correct number
of benefits, costs,
and risks associated
with project. Some
unit concepts applied
and evident.

Includes brief
description of project
and the correct
number of benefits,
costs, and risks
associated with
project. Several unit
concepts applied
and evident.

Analysis of
Alternatives

Incorrect number of
alternatives listed
and/or no
justification included
for proposed project.
Little to no evidence
of unit concepts
applied.

Correct number of
alternatives listed
but justification is
weak for proposed
project. Few unit
concepts applied
and evident.

Correct number of
alternatives listed
and justification is
valid for proposed
project. Some unit
concepts applied
and evident.

Correct number of
alternatives listed
that includes strong
justification for
proposed project.
Several unit
concepts applied
and evident.

0 ? 8 Points 9 ? 11 Points 12 ? 14 Points 15 Points

Final
Recommendation

Summary is missing
and/or doesn?t
include rationale or
justification. Little to
no evidence of unit
concepts applied.

Summary includes
weak rationale
and/or justification.
Few unit concepts
applied and evident.

Summary includes
relative rationale and
justification. Some
unit concepts applied
and evident.

Summary includes
strong rationale on
initiation and
justification.
Several unit
concepts applied
and evident.

0 ? 5 Points 6 ? 7 Points 8 ? 9 Points 10 Points

Clear and
Professional
Writing

Writing assignment
contains no sense of
organization.
Paragraphs lack
clear ideas.
Contains several
errors in grammar,
spelling and
punctuation which
detracts from
content of the
passage.

Writing assignment
contains a sense of
organization. Some
paragraphs have
clear ideas.
Contains several
minor errors in
grammar, spelling
and punctuation, but
does not detract
from content of the
passage.

Writing assignment
contains good
overall organization.
Most paragraphs
have clear ideas and
are supported with
some examples.
Mostly free of errors
in grammar, spelling
and punctuation.

Writing assignment
is well-planned and
well-thought out. All
paragraphs have
clear ideas, are
supported with
examples and have
smooth transitions.
Free of errors in
grammar, spelling
and punctuation.

Business Case and Project Proposal: [Your Proposed Project
Name Here]

(Note: the text in RED is designed to help you write your Business Case. Please remove all red
text before submitting your assignment.)

1. Business Background
? In this section, use 2 to 3 paragraphs to explain the current situation that has prompted

this project proposal. In other words, ?tell the story? about where this proposed project
has come from: what problems, needs, or situation has caused us to consider this
project at this time?

2. Business Requirements
? Using the guidelines and examples contained in this week?s lecture material and

readings, write at least 3 specific BUSINESS requirements for this proposed project.
? Recall that a business requirement is a clear statement of the CAPABILITY we need to

have (the problem to be solved), and isn?t focused on a particular solution. Even if your
case study project has already started (or has finished), remember that a Business Case
is written during the project initiation phase ? so, if this were a ?real world? business
case, the project wouldn?t have actually started yet (we wouldn?t necessarily know the
project had already been approved.)

? Try writing your business requirement statements so that they begin with the phrase
?we require the capability to?? in order to avoid identifying a specific solution (the
next section focuses on the specific solution.)

3. Description of Proposed Project/Solution
? In this section, describe the specific PROJECT you?ve chosen for your case study. At a

minimum, describe at least 5 key features, functions, or characteristics the output of
this project will have. (If you described this project verbally in a conversation, how
would you describe it?) Although not required, you may find using a bulleted list to be
helpful.
3.1 Solution Benefits

? Describe at least 3 benefits associated with this project, and at least 1 of your 3 benefits
must be expressed in monetary terms.
3.2 Solution Costs

? Describe at least 3 costs associated with this project, and at least 1 of your 3 costs must
be expressed in monetary terms.

3.3 Solution Risks

PMG501 ? Scope Project

Management
Business Case and Project Proposal Outline Template

? Using the Risk Identification syntax included in this week?s lecture materials (?due to
the fact that?there is a risk that?which would result in??), identify at least 5 risks
associated with this project.

? For each risk you identify, also indicate whether you believe the risk has high, medium,
or low impact to the proposed project if the risk occurs.

4. Analysis of Alternatives

? In this section, identify and describe at least 2 other potential projects or solutions that
could also satisfy the business requirements you listed in section 2 of this Business Case.

? What are some of the costs, benefits and risks associated with each alternative? Why is
your proposed project (your case study) a better project to pursue than the other
alternatives?

5. Final Recommendation
? In this section, briefly summarize whether you believe your proposed project (your case

study) should be approved for initiation, and why.