Business Case

A structured justification for a proposed investment or initiative, including expected costs, benefits, risks, and alternatives. The value of a business case isn't the document—it's the discipline of explicitly articulating assumptions, quantifying expected outcomes, and identifying what needs to be true for the initiative to succeed. The best business cases include sensitivity analysis (what if key assumptions are wrong?) and a clear kill criteria (what would cause us to stop?).

When to use it

When facing strategic decisions under uncertainty; when multiple stakeholders have competing interests; when the stakes are high and reversibility is low.

How it can help

Provides frameworks for navigating competitive landscapes, allocating resources under uncertainty, and making high-stakes decisions with incomplete information.