| A new client called the other day and asked: "How | | | | provides a way of linking solutions to obstacles |
| do I get my parent company to support my | | | | and presenting the benefits of the possible results. |
| team's ideas?" As a team leader developing a | | | | 3. It is a way of subjectively reviewing the |
| new product line, he felt that no one was taking | | | | projects facts and assumptions. It is a way of |
| his team seriously. I started by saying that he | | | | presenting an analysis in simple terms. This |
| needed to develop a case, a project case also | | | | enables management and staff can see the value |
| known as a business case. A project case is a | | | | of the team's proposal over other projects that |
| method for documenting critical information about | | | | may be competing for the same resources. |
| a venture in story form. It is an effective tool in | | | | 4. It provides a historical record of the project. |
| project planning and reengineering design, used to | | | | This is especially valuable for long term projects, |
| justify resources, relay critical facts and provide a | | | | providing accurate and factual information used to |
| complete overview to stakeholders. | | | | evaluate success and measure progress. |
| A project case is the process used by a team to | | | | 5. The project case plays an important role by |
| document all relevant facts and link them | | | | providing a consistent message to the various |
| together to make a complete story about a new | | | | stakeholders. It is a sort of overview of the |
| project or change process. There are five | | | | project and enables management, staff, |
| functions of a project case: | | | | customers, suppliers and funding sources to |
| 1. It forces the team to reflect on each phase of | | | | become knowledgeable about the project. |
| the process and ensures they have not missed | | | | The goal of a project or business case is to |
| any critical steps. It is not unusual for teams to | | | | communicate all the facts as part of an overall |
| plug along and fail to document the knowledge | | | | story. It provides a way of presenting your |
| they have gained. This is especially true in the | | | | team's accomplishments. It shows progress and |
| concept and design stages of a team project. | | | | provides a vehicle for obtaining approval or |
| 2. It verifies that the project meets the needs of | | | | support for continuing the project. The project |
| the organization. It is a vehicle for obtaining | | | | case is a necessary step used by very successful |
| approval, funding or additional resources. Taking | | | | teams. |
| the steps to write a story about the project | | | | |