HBR guide to building your business case /

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Bibliographic Details
Author / Creator:Sheen, Raymond, author.
Imprint:Boston, Massachusetts : Harvard Business Review Press, [2015]
Description:xv, 149 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm.
Language:English
Series:Harvard Business Review guide
Harvard business review guides.
Subject:Business planning.
Strategic planning.
New business enterprises -- Planning.
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Strategic Planning.
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Business Communication / Meetings & Presentations.
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Management.
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Economics / General.
Business planning.
New business enterprises -- Planning.
Strategic planning.
Format: Print Book
URL for this record:http://pi.lib.uchicago.edu/1001/cat/bib/10322030
Hidden Bibliographic Details
Varying Form of Title:Guide to building your business case
Building your business care
Other authors / contributors:Gallo, Amy, author.
ISBN:9781633690028
1633690024
Notes:Includes index.
Summary:"You've got a great idea that will increase revenue or productivity--but how do you get approval to make it happen? By building a business case that clearly shows its value. Maybe you struggle to win support for projects because you're not sure what kind of data your stakeholders will trust, or naysayers always seem to shoot your ideas down at the last minute. Or perhaps you're intimidated by analysis and number crunching, so you just take a stab at estimating costs and benefits, with little confidence in your accuracy. To get any idea off the ground at your company you'll have to make a strong case for it. This guide gives you the tools to do that"--
Table of Contents:
  • Introduction
  • Success is enabling a wise decision.
  • Section 1. Prepare
  • 1. Know the Basics of Making a Case
  • You're telling a story about how to meet a business need.
  • 2. Learn How Your Company Evaluates Cases
  • Seek counsel from those who know what wilt fly.
  • Section 2. Get to Know Your Audience
  • 3. Figure Out Who's Calling the Shots
  • Who really has the authority to give your project the green light?
  • 4. Understand Your Audience's Objectives
  • Find out what your stakeholders care about.
  • Section 3. Build the Case
  • 5. Clarify the Need
  • What pain are you trying to alleviate? What opportunity are you pursuing?
  • 6. Build a Cross-Functional Team
  • You need multiple perspectives to find the right solution.
  • 7. Consider Alternatives
  • The tough part is ruling out options.
  • 8. Think Through the "How" at a High Level
  • Pave the way for realistic estimates.
  • Section 4. Crunch the Numbers
  • 9. Estimate Costs and Benefits
  • Peg them to categories in your company's P&L.
  • 10. Calculate ROI
  • Spreadsheets make it fairly painless.
  • 11. Account for Risks
  • Weigh the "what ifs."
  • Section 5. Present Your Case and Move Forward
  • 12. Prepare Your Document
  • Summarize your story and support it with data.
  • 13. Shop Your Case Around
  • Drum up support before decision time.
  • 14. Are You Ready to Present?
  • Use this brief checklist to make sure you've covered alt the bases.
  • 15. Make Your Pitch
  • Appeal directly to decision makers.
  • 16. Get to a Decision i°5
  • "Yes" is meaningless unless stakeholders commit resources.
  • 17. What Next?
  • Get started, even if it means heading back to the drawing board.
  • Appendix A. Avoid Common Mistakes
  • Appendix B. How to Give a Killer Presentation
  • Glossary
  • Index
  • About the Authors