The OTR GroupA business case is a way of explaining why something is worth doing. The Five Case Model, set out in Transport Scotland's guidance on developing business cases and based on HM Treasury's Green Book supplementary guidance, splits that explanation into five parts. Used well, it gives a team a checklist for the questions that decision-makers tend to ask.
The five cases
- Strategic case. Is the reason for the change sound? The guidance says a scheme should make a robust case for change.
- Socio-economic case. Does it give good value for money across economic, social and environmental benefit?
- Commercial case. Is it commercially viable, and can it be put to the market on workable terms?
- Financial case. Is it financially viable? In plain words, can it be afforded?
- Management case. Is it achievable? Can it be delivered?
Using it outside the public sector
The model comes from public-sector projects, but the questions travel well. A private business planning new premises, a software rollout or a hiring plan can ask the same five things: why, is it worth it, can we buy it on workable terms, can we pay for it, and can we deliver it?
A tip
Write one short paragraph for each case before you write any detail. If one paragraph is hard to write, that is usually where the plan needs more thought.