Resources on Business Case Governance

Business case governance is managing the development and implementation of business cases within an organization. Effective business case governance helps ensure that business cases are developed consistently and rigorously and that they align with the organization’s strategic goals and priorities.

Here are some key elements that could be included in a business case governance framework:

Roles and responsibilities: The governance framework should clearly define the roles and responsibilities of those involved in the development and implementation of business cases, including project sponsors, business analysts, and other stakeholders.
Policies and procedures: The framework should establish policies and procedures for developing and reviewing business cases, including using standardized templates and the criteria for approving or rejecting business cases.
Review and approval process: The governance framework should establish a review and approval process for business cases, including the criteria used to evaluate them and the timeline for review and approval.
Performance metrics: The framework should include metrics and KPIs that will be used to measure the performance and effectiveness of business cases, such as ROI, cost savings, and customer satisfaction.
Risk management: The framework should include processes for identifying, assessing, and managing risks associated with business cases, including using risk registers and contingency plans.
Communication and reporting: The framework should establish processes for communicating and reporting on the status of business cases, including regular updates to stakeholders and senior leadership.
Continuous improvement: The framework should include processes for continuously improving the business case governance framework, including regular reviews and updates based on feedback and lessons learned.

Effective business case governance can help organizations ensure that business cases are developed consistently and rigorously and that they align with the organization’s strategic goals and priorities. By establishing clear roles and responsibilities, policies and procedures, review and approval processes, performance metrics, risk management, communication and reporting, and continuous improvement processes, organizations can ensure that business cases are developed and implemented in a way that maximizes their potential benefits while minimizing their risks and costs.

The Business Case Governance category is a dedicated collection of resources, articles, and documents designed to help CIOs, IT executives, and decision-makers establish and maintain effective governance processes for the development, approval, and ongoing management of IT-related business cases within their organizations. This section of our CIO Reference Library focuses on providing insights, best practices, and tools to ensure that your technology investments are well-planned, strategically aligned, and capable of delivering maximum value.

Effective governance is essential to ensure the success of IT projects and initiatives, as it ensures consistency, transparency, and accountability throughout the decision-making process. The Business Case Governance category aims to assist you in creating a robust governance framework that promotes efficient resource allocation, risk mitigation, and stakeholder engagement while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and learning.

Key topics covered in this category include:

Principles and best practices for business case governance
Establishing and maintaining a governance framework for IT projects
Roles, responsibilities, and decision-making authority within the governance process
Processes for business case development, review, approval, and monitoring
Ensuring alignment of IT initiatives with organizational goals and strategy
Performance measurement and evaluation of IT projects and investments
Risk identification, assessment, and management within the governance framework
Stakeholder engagement and communication in the governance process
Continuous improvement and post-implementation review
Real-world examples and case studies of effective business case governance

The Business Case Governance category is updated regularly with new content, ensuring it remains a valuable and relevant resource for CIOs and IT executives as they strive to establish robust governance processes and drive their organizations’ digital transformation and success.