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Better Business Cases Foundation Course & Examination
Highlights
Delivered Online
Two days
All levels
Dates
Description
Learn how to structure compelling, evidence-based business cases that secure funding and management buy-in with Better Business Cases™ Foundation certification course.
Based on the UK government's proven Five Case Model, the gold standard for spending proposals and investment decisions, this course gives you the framework and language to articulate why a change is needed, what it will deliver and how it will be managed successfully.
Delivered live in our virtual classroom by an expert instructor. Join from anywhere with an internet connection.
What is Better Business Cases™?
Better Business Cases™ is the internationally recognised certification scheme based on the UK government's Five Case Model, the structured approach used across the public and private sectors for developing robust spending proposals and enabling sound business decisions.
The certification is awarded by APMG International and is recognised globally as the standard for business case development. The model is based on two official UK government guidance publications, the International Guide to Developing the Project Business Case and the International Guide to Creating the Programme Business Case, both available free of charge from the UK Government website.
Organisations that adopt the Five Case Model consistently see:
Reduced unnecessary spending through more rigorous investment scrutiny
Improved decision-making quality at senior and executive levels
Higher success rates in securing funding for change initiatives
Better alignment between proposed investments and strategic outcomes
About this course
The Better Business Cases™ Foundation course introduces the structure, terminology and underlying philosophy of the Five Case Model, equipping participants to work effectively within a team to contribute to and review strong business cases.
The Five Case Model provides a step-by-step approach to developing a business case that:
Establishes a clear need for intervention - the case for change
Sets measurable objectives in terms of return on investment and expected outcomes
Considers a wide range of potential solutions to ensure an optimal balance of benefits, costs and risks
Defines arrangements to ensure successful delivery of the recommended option
The five cases themselves are the Strategic Case, Economic Case, Commercial Case, Financial Case and Management Case, each addressing a different dimension of the investment decision. The Foundation course provides a thorough grounding in all five.
What will I learn?
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
Explain the philosophy and underlying rationale of the Five Case Model and why it produces better business decisions
Describe the different types of business case, their purpose, who is responsible for developing them and when they are required in a spending proposal lifecycle
Describe the five cases - Strategic, Economic, Commercial, Financial and Management and explain the role each plays in a complete business case
Explain how business case development relates to other recognised best practice frameworks for programme and project management
Work effectively as part of a team contributing to the development of a business case using the Five Case Model
Who is this course for?
The Better Business Cases™ Foundation course is relevant to anyone involved in developing, reviewing or approving investment proposals. It is particularly suited to:
Senior Responsible Owners (SROs), Programme Directors and other senior leaders responsible for the successful delivery of programmes and projects
Project Managers, project team members and specialist advisers tasked with producing a business case for investment
Officers involved in the scrutiny, governance and review of spending proposals
Finance, strategy and commercial professionals who evaluate or contribute to investment decisions
Any professional who regularly needs to justify investment in change initiatives or make the case for funding
Are there any prerequisites?
There are no prerequisites for the Better Business Cases™ Foundation course. It is the entry point to the Better Business Cases™ qualification scheme and is open to all professionals regardless of background.
Note: Foundation certification is a mandatory prerequisite for the Practitioner course.
Certification & Exam
Successful candidates earn the Better Business Cases™ Foundation certification, awarded by APMG International. Your exam voucher is issued on the first morning of the course and can be scheduled at any time that suits you.
Format | Online, closed book, proctored |
Duration | 40 minutes |
Questions | 50 multiple-choice questions |
Pass mark | 50% - 25 out of 50 correct |
Scheduling | Available 24/7 via APMG International, sit when you're ready |
Requirements | Webcam and stable internet connection required |
Digital badge | Awarded by APMG International upon passing |
How is this course delivered?
Virtual Classroom | 2 days Delivered live in our virtual classroom over 2 days by an expert instructor with deep experience in business case development and investment appraisal. Practical exercises connect the Five Case Model directly to real-world investment scenarios. Join from anywhere with a stable internet connection.
Onsite or Private Group | Flexible duration Bring ITSM Hub to your organisation. Our facilitators can deliver training at your premises or in a private virtual classroom, an excellent option for organisations building a consistent approach to business case development across a project or finance team.
What's included?
Every Better Business Cases™ Foundation course includes:
Downloadable course e-materials, compatible with laptop and tablet devices
Better Business Cases™ Foundation online exam voucher from APMG International, issued on the first morning of the course
Digital badge upon passing, shareable with your professional network
The Better Business Cases™ syllabus is based on two freely available UK Government publications - the International Guide to Developing the Project Business Case and the International Guide to Creating the Programme Business Case, available to download at no charge from gov.uk.
Qualification Pathway
Level | Course | Prerequisite |
Foundation | Better Business Cases™ Foundation | None |
Practitioner | Better Business Cases™ Practitioner | BBC Foundation |
If you are planning to pursue the full Practitioner qualification, consider the Better Business Cases™ Foundation & Practitioner Bundle for a discounted combined price.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Better Business Cases™ only relevant to the public sector?
Not at all. While the Five Case Model was developed by the UK government, it is widely used across both public and private sector organisations worldwide. Any organisation that needs to justify investment decisions, secure approval for change initiatives or improve the quality of its spending proposals will benefit from the framework.
What is the Five Case Model?
The Five Case Model is the structured approach to business case development that underpins the Better Business Cases™ certification scheme. It breaks a business case into five distinct cases, Strategic, Economic, Commercial, Financial and Management ensuring that every relevant dimension of an investment decision is considered and clearly articulated.
What is the difference between Foundation and Practitioner?
Foundation provides a thorough grounding in the structure, terminology and rationale of the Five Case Model, equipping participants to contribute to and review business cases. Practitioner goes further, developing the practical ability to apply the model independently to real projects and produce a complete, well-structured business case.
course Content
4 sections•10 lessons
Getting started2 lessons
- 1Welcome to Better Business Cases
- 2Watch | APMG Level Up Career Series
Better Business Cases Foundation course materials3 lessons
- 1The Green Book: International Guidance
- 2Your course materials
- 3Your APMG exam voucher
Better Business Cases Foundation exam preparation4 lessons
- 1Official sample and Interactive exam
- 2Scheduling your exam
- 3Exam tips
- 4Exam day requirements
Thank you for attending!1 lessons
- 1Feedback and next steps
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Verified
I really enjoyed the 'Foundation' level Better Business Cases course. Malini was a great trainer and delivered a huge amount of information in a digestible and accessible way. She helpfully illustrated the course material with real-life experience and gave participants plenty of time to discuss our own experiences too. I'm already looking forward to the Practitioner level course in October!
Verified
I really enjoyed the 'Foundation' level Better Business Cases course. Malini was a great trainer and delivered a huge amount of information in a digestible and accessible way. She helpfully illustrated the course material with real-life experience and gave participants plenty of time to discuss our own experiences too. I'm already looking forward to the Practitioner level course in October!
