Business Analysis: Developing Irresistible Business Cases from Udemy

Are you working on projects that just don’t make a difference in your organization?

The problem is that business cases are being done wrong… and it’s up to you to fix it.

The best Business Analysts are able to take a problem, find a solution, develop a project proposal, and promote its business case to senior management. And that's what this course enables you to do.

In this intermediate-level course, we’ll cover the role the business case plays in enterprise project selection and funding. We’ll start with the organization’s goals, trace down to the strategies that aim to deliver those goals, and then the projects that execute those strategies.

We’ll then focus on the full scope of analysis methods used to develop problems into solutions, analyze the financial and intangible costs and benefits of the solutions, and choose the solution that will best meet the needs of the enterprise.

From there, we’ll move on to documenting business cases. And it’s not just filling out a template. This course gives you a method for crafting proposals in the most compelling way possible and developing the supplemental documentation you need to set you up for success.

But documentation will only take your project idea so far. It’s then up to us to promote the idea to management, and the course gives you a rational, non-salesy, and compelling way to do this.

We’ll then wrap up with a final insight (that might surprise you).

Take ownership and control of your projects, by developing the influence you need to execute the right projects in the first place. Enroll now.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Develop project proposals that truly solve business problems
Analyze the costs and benefits of projects
Assess the value of intangible benefits

Develop business case documentation that stands out among its competition
Promote business cases and project proposals effectively to senior management

Develop project proposals that truly solve business problems
Analyze the costs and benefits of projects
Assess the value of intangible benefits
Develop business case documentation that stands out among its competition
Promote business cases and project proposals effectively to senior management

Syllabus

The Big Picture

Introduction

The Business Case

Course Materials

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Focuses on developing project proposals that solve business problems, which is a core skill for business analysts and project managers

Teaches methods for crafting compelling proposals and developing supplemental documentation, which are essential for project success

Explores the role of business cases in enterprise project selection and funding, which is highly relevant to project managers

Covers analysis methods used to develop problems into solutions, which is a core skill for business analysts

Teaches how to promote project ideas to management in a rational and compelling way, which is useful for career advancement

Requires an intermediate level of understanding, so beginners may need to acquire foundational knowledge first

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Business Analysis: Developing Irresistible Business Cases with these activities:

Review Financial Accounting Principles

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Refresh your understanding of financial accounting principles to better analyze the costs and benefits presented in business cases.

Browse courses on Discounted Cash Flow

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Review key financial statements.
Practice calculating financial ratios.
Understand the time value of money.

Review 'Business Case Analysis: Best Practices'

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Study a book on business case analysis to gain a deeper understanding of best practices and different approaches.

View Effective Project Management: Traditional,... on Amazon

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Read the book's introduction and overview.
Focus on chapters about cost-benefit analysis.
Take notes on key concepts and examples.

Cost-Benefit Analysis Exercises

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Practice cost-benefit analysis exercises to improve your ability to quantify the financial impact of projects.

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Find sample project scenarios online.
Identify costs and benefits for each scenario.
Calculate net present value and ROI.
Compare different project options.

Four other activities

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Develop a Business Case Template

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Create a business case template to streamline the documentation process and ensure consistency in your proposals.

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Identify key sections of a business case.
Design a template with clear headings and prompts.
Incorporate best practices from the course.
Test the template with a sample project.

Prepare an Elevator Pitch

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Craft a concise and compelling elevator pitch to effectively communicate the value of your business case to stakeholders.

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Identify the key benefits of your project.
Write a short, persuasive summary.
Practice delivering the pitch confidently.
Get feedback from colleagues.

Read 'The Art of the Pitch'

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Read a book on pitching and persuasion to improve your communication skills when presenting business cases.

View The Art of the Pitch: Persuasion and... on Amazon

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Read the book and take notes.
Identify key takeaways about persuasive communication.
Apply the principles to your business case presentations.

Analyze a Real-World Business Problem

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Apply the course concepts to analyze a real-world business problem and develop a comprehensive business case proposal.

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Identify a business problem in your organization.
Gather data and analyze the problem thoroughly.
Develop potential solutions and evaluate their costs and benefits.
Document your findings in a business case proposal.
Present your proposal to stakeholders.

Career center

Learners who complete Business Analysis: Developing Irresistible Business Cases will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Business Analyst

A business analyst helps organizations improve their processes and systems. A business analyst may find this course useful, because it is designed to equip you with the skills to develop project proposals that solve real business problems. This course teaches analysis methods to develop problems into solutions, analyze costs and benefits, and choose the solution that best meets enterprise needs. You'll learn how to document business cases and promote your ideas to management, which is essential for a successful business analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Project Manager

Project managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. This course can help project managers by training them to develop project proposals that truly solve business problems. The course focuses on analyzing costs and benefits, assessing intangible benefits, and developing standout business case documentation. As a project manager, you'll appreciate learning how to effectively promote business cases and project proposals to senior management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Business Owner

Business owners oversee and manage their own companies. A business owner should take this course, as they will develop project proposals that truly solve business problems. The curriculum analyzes the costs and benefits of projects, assesses the value of intangible benefits, and develops business case documentation that stands out among its competition. Plus, the advice on how to promote business cases and project proposals effectively to senior management is crucial to growing a business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Owner

Management Consultant

Management consultants advise organizations on how to improve their performance and efficiency. As a consultant, you often need to present compelling business cases for your recommendations. This course helps build the skills needed to analyze problems, develop solutions, and quantify the financial and intangible benefits. The course provides strategies for documenting and promoting business cases, which are vital for influencing stakeholders and securing buy-in as a management consultant.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Product Manager

Product managers are responsible for the strategy, roadmap, and feature definition for a product or product line. The course's focus on developing strong business cases helps product managers justify new features or product developments. The course content teaches how to analyze costs and benefits, assess the value of intangible benefits, and document business cases effectively. Furthermore it shows how to promote product proposals to senior management, a key skill for a product manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Strategy Analyst

Strategy analysts support the development and execution of an organization's strategic plans. This course helps strategy analysts understand how to align projects with organizational goals and strategies. The course emphasizes analyzing costs and benefits, assessing intangible benefits, and developing compelling business case documentation. With the skills gained from this course, a strategy analyst can more effectively promote project proposals to senior management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Strategy Analyst

Program Manager

Program managers oversee multiple related projects, often with a strategic goal. This course is useful for program managers who seek to develop project proposals that solve business problems. The course provides the skills to analyze costs and benefits, assess intangible benefits, and develop effective business case documentation. As a program manager, one essential ability is promoting business cases and project proposals effectively to senior management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Program Manager

Business Development Manager

Business development managers are responsible for identifying and pursuing new business opportunities. This course can help a business development manager learn to craft proposals in a compelling way and develop the documentation needed to set them up for success when taking ownership and control of their projects. This course gives a rational and compelling way to promote ideas to management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Manager

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts evaluate investment opportunities, analyze financial data, and provide recommendations. This course may be useful because it covers the analysis of costs and benefits that is necessary for project selection and funding. The specific focus on cost benefit analysis can allow a financial analyst to choose solutions that will best meet the needs of the enterprise, which informs investment decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Operations Manager

Operations managers oversee the day-to-day activities of an organization. This course may be useful for operations managers because it teaches how to develop project proposals that truly solve business problems. It also focuses on analyzing the costs and benefits of projects, assessing the value of intangible benefits, and promoting project proposals effectively to senior management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Data Analyst

Data analysts interpret data and turn it into information which can offer ways to improve a business. By understanding the costs and benefits of projects through the lens of data, the data analyst may be more helpful in developing project proposals in a way that senior management approves. The data analyst may then become more influential when executing projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Process Improvement Specialist

Process improvement specialists may find a course such as this useful when developing project proposals that truly solve business problems. Learning how to assess the value of intangible benefits through the course may also be useful. Through learning how to create effective business case documentation, the process improvement specialist may find their projects are more likely to be approved.

See salaries and explore the career path for Process Improvement Specialist

Solutions Architect

Solutions architects design and implement information systems. This course can help solutions architects develop project proposals that truly solve business problems. The course teaches how to analyze the costs and benefits of projects, assess the value of intangible benefits, and develop standout business case documentation. This course may be useful for promoting project proposals effectively to senior management so that the architect's projects can launch.

See salaries and explore the career path for Solutions Architect

Change Management Specialist

Change management specialists guide organizations through transitions. A change management specialist may find this course useful when developing project proposals that truly solve business problems. This course teaches how to analyze costs and benefits, assess the value of intangible benefits, and develop standout business case documentation. With the added ability to promote project proposals effectively to senior management, a change management specialist may become more effective during change initiatives.

See salaries and explore the career path for Change Management Specialist

Chief Executive Officer

A chief executive officer (CEO) is the highest-ranking executive in a company. While a CEO might delegate the generation of business cases, understanding the principles behind them is crucial for making informed decisions about project selection and funding. A CEO may find the content on aligning projects with organizational goals and strategies helpful, as well as understanding how to assess intangible benefits. This course may inform a CEO's perspective on documenting business cases and promote project proposals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Executive Officer

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Business Analysis: Developing Irresistible Business Cases.

Effective Project Management

Save

Provides a comprehensive guide to developing effective business cases. It covers various analysis techniques, documentation strategies, and presentation methods. It valuable resource for understanding best practices and improving the quality of your business case proposals. This book adds depth to the course by providing real-world examples and case studies.

Effective Project Management: Traditional, Agile,...

Paperback

Effective Project Management: Traditional, Agile,...

Kindle Edition

The Art of the Pitch

Save

Focuses on the art of persuasive communication, which is essential for promoting business cases. It provides practical advice on crafting compelling narratives and delivering effective presentations. While not directly focused on business cases, it offers valuable insights into how to influence decision-makers. This book is more valuable as additional reading than as a current reference.

The Art of the Pitch: Persuasion and Presentation...

Hardcover

Business Analysis

Developing Irresistible Business Cases

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

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Activities

Career center

Reading list

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