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| The IT Business Case: How Do You Justify It? |
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 von Johannes Ritter, CEO SolutionmatrixHave you ever proposed an IT investment that was not approved, or failed to deliver expected returns? A short list of what it takes to produce a good information technology (IT) business case should surprise no one. You need to …. ... be thorough (track down all the important, costs and benefits) clear and logical (describe the cause and effect chain behind each cost and benefit), and objective (produce an analysis that is unbiased and complete). It also helps to understand basic financial concepts and something about the interplay between IT capacity, user needs, and IT resource requirements. Intelligent managers appreciate this much already and there is an abundance of methods, tools, and services on the market that claim these qualities. Yet IT ROI figures still fail to "come true," still raise cries of "Soft Benefits!" and still fail to instill confidence in senior management. What else is missing? What can be done about it? Have you ever proposed an IT investment that was not approved, or failed to deliver expected returns? Below are three more contributors to the successful IT business case, making it more accurate and credible. These "keys" have proven many times to make the difference between success and failure: 1. Recruit and Use a Reference Group 2. Build and Agree on a Comprehensive Cost Model 3. Remember: Business Benefits come from meeting Business Objectives How do you justify IT business cases? The IT business case can deliver accuracy and credibility if stakeholders and decision makers contribute to case-building, and if the case report communicates self-evident, through tools like a comprehensive cost model and a solidly established benefits rationale. Take action! Learn and practice proven methods for building your cases at http://www.business-case-secrets.com.
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