Better Business Cases™ Foundation and Practitioner

In our post-recession world, where the focus is increasingly on showing value for money, taking the Better Business Case Foundation and Practitioner is a great way to ensure you have a clear understanding of proven tools and techniques to make a stronger and more successful Business Case.

The Better Business Cases™ methodology is written by the UK Government Treasury in conjunction with the Welsh Government, is well tried and tested and in their words has lead to “quicker and cheaper business decisions”.

Given the Business Case is the most important part of a Project, identifying if the project is worth starting, and when reviewed it can influence as to whether the project continues or indeed is stopped, then you would expect it to have a real importance. However, many projects run with an optimistic Business Case, often poorly written, and organisations are spending money that may well not give them the return they expected.

This Better Business Cases™ Foundation and Practitioner is based on The Five Case Model, the UK Government’s best practice approach to planning spending proposals and enabling effective business decisions.

This provides a step by step guide to developing a business case, by:

Establishing a clear need for intervention – a case for change
Setting clear objectives – what you want to achieve from the investment
Considering a wide range of potential solutions – ensuring an optimal balance of benefits, cost and risk
Putting the arrangements in place to successfully deliver the proposal.

The first module introduces you to the Practitioner exam and then answers introductory themes, including the importance of project business cases and the ‘Five Case Model’.

The module also considers when a business case should be developed, the different types of programmes, and their advantages. The first module then focuses on when a programme business case should be developed and how to maintain it.

This module is an overview of the ‘Five Case Model’. Learners would have had a brief understanding of what the five cases are from the prerequisite Better Business Cases™ Foundation course, but this module looks at the importance of each case so that they can be fitted into the various steps and actions.

The ‘Five Case Model’ is applied to policies, strategies, programmes and projects and is made up of: the Strategic Case, the Economic Case, the Commercial Case, the Financial Case, and the Management Case.

The third module discusses the Business Case Development Framework, which is developed over four key stages, following the Office of Governance and Commerce (OGC) stages of procurement for significant spending.

The six stages are:

Stage 0 – Determining the strategic context for the project.
Stage 1 – Scoping the scheme and preparing the Strategic Outline Case (SOC).
Stage 2 – Planning the scheme and preparing the Outline Business Case (OBC).
Stage 3 – Procuring the solution and preparing the Full Business Case (FBC).
Stage 4 – Implementation and monitoring throughout the project.
Stage 5 – Evaluation and feedback.

Module four enables learners to perform a strategic assessment to determine the strategic context of a proposed project or programme.

This session will then focus on Step 1—Determining the Strategic Context, which is Action 1—Ascertaining Strategic Fit.

This module works through the SOC. You will look at:

Step 2 – Making the case for change:
- Action 2 – Agree the strategic context
- Action 3 – Determine the spending objectives, existing arrangements, and business needs
- Action 4 – Determine the potential scope for the project
- Action 5 – Determine project benefits, risks, constraints, and dependencies

This will then be followed by:

Step 3 – Exploring the preferred way forward:
- Action 6 – Agree critical success factors (CSFs)
- Action 7 – Determine long list options and SWOT analysis
- Action 8 – Recommend a preferred way forward

The sixth module will start to investigate and complete the OBC.

You will learn to finish the economic case which appraises the social, environmental and economic costs, benefits and risks for the short-listed options and identifies the preferred option, which is the option most likely to offer the best social value for delivery of the project.

Module seven will go through procuring the proposal and preparing the FBC.

In the final training session, you will look at some of the typical basic criteria that can be used as a checklist to review a business case at the various key stages of development – the SOC, OBC, and the FBC.

There are key questions that need to be asked for each business case at the development stage, and these need to have appropriate evidence to show it has been done correctly.

Module nine is the exam practice session. You will be able to practice sample questions and familiarise yourself with the different question styles that will be used in the official exam.

With this Better Business Cases™ Practitioner course, you will have online access for six months, including:

Eight modules covering the Better Business Cases™ Practitioner syllabus.
An exam practice module containing sample questions.
Downloadable documents.
Sample question papers.
The official APMG Better Business Cases™ Practitioner examination.

The Better Business Cases Foundation and Practitioner course is relevant to those responsible for developing and producing spending proposals or their assessment and approval; in particular:

Accounting Officers – responsible for delivering public value
Senior Responsible Owners (SROs), Programme Directors and Project Managers, responsible for successful delivery
Directors of Finance, procurement and planning, responsible for the forward planning and prioritisation of spending proposals
Members of approvals and management boards with responsibility for scrutinising or approving spending proposals.

50 multiple choice questions / 40 minutes
APMG Accreditation
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 ½ hours duration
Open book exam (International Guide to developing the Project Business Case and International Guide to developing the Programme Business Case only)
Take your exam online with ProctorU, find out more on our exams page

An improved understanding of the Better Business Case process, relevant to both those responsible for producing business cases and those who approve them.
Understanding of an established and proven methodology which can be applied at both strategic (macro) and tactical (micro) levels.
Core business competency for any manager or director.

Reduce unnecessary spend and optimise public value.
Reduce consultancy costs.
Faster throughput and a clear, proportionate approval process.
Improve quality of decision making.

As experts in delivering project management training through a range of study styles, your success is key to our success. We understand how people learn, we know how to train people to pass exams, we employ the best trainers and specialise in small class sizes to help you get the best from your investment. So, if you’re looking to enhance your project management skills and ensure you pass first time, Training ByteSize is a name you can trust.

As a family run business, project and programme management training is in our blood, and so is innovation. Our founders have been part of the industry since the 1990’s, specifically founding Key Skills and developing the world’s first accredited e-learning course for PRINCE2.

Today we are proud to continue with world firsts; with second generation Victoria at the helm, she had led Training ByteSize to ensure were the first company to develop and deliver e-learning options for accredited courses including Business Analysis Foundation, ITIL4, and AgilePM. When we say we’re experts in project management training, we really do mean it.

5 George House, Princes Court,
Beam Heath Way, Nantwich,
Cheshire CW5 6GD

Training teams is what we do really well, so if you have more than one person to train it may be more cost effective for you to consider our corporate solutions. Courses are offered online, on-site or virtually; there are so many options so it’s best for you to email us at learning@trainingbytesize.com with your requirements and we will send you a tailored quote.

Online learning is a great way to study and our e-learning courses are interactive and engaging.

Studying for your qualification online is a viable option for so many project managers:

Learning is completely flexible to suits your busy schedule
The interactive online course consists of voice-over and animation to keep you engaged throughout the learning
You can access it anywhere in the world and take your exam online at a time that suits you best
The Foundation e-learning will take around 10 hours to complete and includes a quiz bank which contains a range of questions to test your knowledge and understanding of the course prior to sitting the official exam
Our pass rates are well in excess of the national average (nearly 100%!), there is really no reason you should fail!

Virtual classroom learning with Training ByteSize

Our Virtual Course platform delivers accredited and certified training, led by leading subject matter experts, direct to your home, mobile, computer or office without the hassle of travelling or staying away. It is so easy to fit in an online class into your busy schedule; simply log in from home, the office, or even while you are travelling.

Students can ask questions using a headset, webcam or a chat window, and get their questions answered, just like in a traditional classroom. Questions can be lined up and answered at intervals, without interrupting the teacher’s flow of thought. There is no difference in the level of interaction – in fact distractions are significantly reduced because of this way of teaching. Our trainers have a minimum of 10 years training experience, plus have previously run and managed live projects, so have real-life experience they bring to the virtual session.

Download our virtual classroom course brochure to find out more.

If you would like to find out more about this option please complete this short form and we’ll come right back to you.

Classroom learning is a great way to study

Please enquire with us directly for details on forthcoming dates, email learning@trainingbytesize.com or call 01270 626330.

Classroom courses with Training ByteSize are a cut above the rest

Included in the price of your training is:

Pre course learning materials
A thorough, clear and professional course support pack with stationary
Lunch each day
Snacks and refreshments throughout the day

Virtual

If you’re unable to make the course in person, we have the option to attend the same course virtually from the comfort of your own home or office.

There is a dedicated, high performance ceiling mounted camera that tracks the trainer and streams the course throughout the day. The trainer will also use a radio microphone, and there are microphones located throughout the room, so you’ll be able to hear the discussions clearly.

You will be able to ask questions and communicate with the trainer and those attending the course in person all day, so you’ll feel like you’re there!

All you need is a Zoom account, an internet connection, webcam, and microphone.

Before the course

Once you’ve booked your place on the course you will receive a confirmation email and then a booking form for you to sign. You will have the opportunity to inform us of any dietary requirements or any additional needs or reasonable adjustments for any exams.

A thorough, clear and professional course support pack with stationary including pre-course materials and further instructions for the course, will be sent three to four weeks before the course commences.

During the course

Each day, the course will start at 9:00 in the morning.

Our friendly, expert trainer will guide you through the course syllabus ensuring that you understand all the information. There will be questions and activities throughout the course to reinforce the learning.

The trainer will be on hand in the evenings to answer any further questions that you may have about what you’ve covered that day.

Exams can be taken on the last day of the course, or they can be deferred and taken online at a later date. We would encourage you to take them as soon as possible whilst the information is still fresh.

There will be a break at around 10:30, and another at 14:30, with lunch at 12:30.

Lunch is ordered from a local company who provide an array of sandwiches, fruit, scones and a different selection of cakes each day. Crisps, breakfast bars and chocolate bars are also provided throughout the day. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate and water are available.

Travel, parking and directions

There is free parking at the Training Bytesize offices where the training centre is located. If you are staying at The Cheshire Cat Hotel, there is also free parking for guests.

If you’re driving, here are the addresses you might need:

To the Training Bytesize Training Centre: Sat Nav Postcode CW5 6GD; 5 George House, Princes Court, Beam Heath Way, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 6GD.
To The Cat hotel: Sat Nav Postcode CW5 5ED; The Cheshire Cat, 26 Welsh Row, Nantwich, CW5 5ED. Tel. 01270 623020.

If you are travelling by train, you can arrive at either Crewe or Nantwich train station.

Crewe train station: It’s around seven miles from Crewe train station to Nantwich, so we usually recommend getting a taxi to the training centre, which should take around 15 minutes. There are usually taxis waiting at the station or you can book one in advance. If you’d like further information, please contact us on 01270 626330 and we’ll be happy to help.
Nantwich train station: There are trains from Crewe to Nantwich every hour and Nantwich train station is located just five minutes away from the town centre on foot. It’s a 25-minute walk to the Training Bytesize training centre, or just five minutes in a taxi. It’s a small unattended station, so you will need to book any taxis in advance. Please contact us for more details.

Sometimes taking two days out of the office just doesn’t work, especially if you have a large group of people going through training. So we’ve come up with a tried and tested solution which combines the very best distance learning with onsite training, ensuring your company experiences the least impact on general day to day business. Additionally the bespoke blended option offers you a more cost effective way to train you team, so it’s a win-win.

If you would like to find out more about this option please call our team on 01270 626330 or complete this short form and we’ll come right back to you.

Better Business Cases™ Foundation and Practitioner

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