Checklist for an infrastructure business case (from ITIL)

This is a checklist for an infrastructure project from the ITIL books.

• Identification and quantification of all the benefits to the business and its customers.

• The overall scope, objectives and Critical Success Factors (CSFs) of the proposed solution.

• The business sponsor, owner and list of stakeholders.

• A description of the current situation, including strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

• The strategic fit and details of how the preferred solution conforms to, or deviates from, existing business and technology policies, strategies and plans.

• The implications and impact of not proceeding with the business case.

• A description of the proposed new services, components or technology being considered.

• Constraints and dependencies.

• Contractual, legal and regulatory issues environmental issues.

• An overview of how this proposal support the key strategic objectives of:

• the business strategies.
• the technology strategy.

• Market considerations:

• The markets involved and their possible geographical variations.
• External opportunities and threats.
• Market share and competitors.
• The key customer segments and business sectors.
• Present and forecasted volumes, revenues and profit.
• Regulatory and legislative constraints.
• Trends in price, quality, standards and technology.
• Competitive services and products, their quality and performance.

• Proposed Go Live date.

• How key strategic objectives and benefits are to be achieved.

• How the objectives, CSFs and business benefits will be measured

• Details of the project methodology and approach.

• Details of all impacts on, and benefits to:

• Technology structures and processes.
• The business structures and processes.
• The market.
• Internal customers.
• External customers.
• Market share and competitors.
• Other technology systems and services.
• Human resources: headcounts, operational support and responsibilities.

• Details of anticipated business volumes and technology volumes

• Identification and quantification of all risks:

• Description of the risk
• Probability of the risk
• The impact of the risk
• Analysis of the risk
• Steps taken to manage and minimise the risk
• Any necessary contingency plans and expenditure

• The preferred solution with its advantages, disadvantages, benefits, risks, costs, resources and time-scales, including ongoing requirements and costs.

• Alternative solutions considered and their advantages, disadvantages, benefits, risks, costs and time-scales, including ongoing requirements and costs, including the ‘do nothing’ option.

• The reasons for selecting the preferred suppliers and rejecting alternative suppliers.

• Details of key milestones in the implementation process and the overall dependency upon them.

• Details of related projects, dependancies and their interfaces and approval status.

• Details of any dependent programmes or projects and their dependencies and approval status.

• The authorising, owning or sponsoring body and budget(s) to be used.

• Details of the approach to be adopted (e.g., in-house development, contracted-in development or outsourced development).

• What levels of service are expected from the new services, components or technology and whether they are consistent with all existing levels and targets.

• Procurement plans and policies with details of the preferred suppliers and their costs and comparative alternatives and their costs.

• Financial analysis:

• Financial assumptions.
• Initial costs.
• Ongoing costs.
• Financial constraints and budgets.
• Payback period and return on investment (ROI.)
• Tolerances and sensitivities.
• Funding and stakeholders.
• The effect on the organisation’s financial performance and profitability.

• The requirements for resources and finances from other areas of the company or externally.

• The level of authorisation or approval necessary and the required time-scale for approval.

• Summary and recommendations, clear, concise and unambiguous.