## Guidance Notes for completing this template

##### The completed document should be no more than 4-5 pages. Keep it as short as possible.

The purpose of this document purpose of this document is to agree and document the Better Business Cases (BBC) pathway for an initiative and the appropriate level of analysis for the next (current) business case stage. It is completed after a Risk Profile Assessment (RPA), which determines the inherent risk of the initiative and informs the approach to the BBC process.

- • of who writes the business case, or if specialists have been engaged to assist with detailed • of who writes the business case, or if specialists have been engaged to assist with detailed analysis, an internal executive or manager must own and be accountable for each case (e.g. Commercial Manager for the Commercial Case, CFO for the Financial Case) and ensure appropriate internal stakeholder involvement throughout the process.
- • Better Business pathways diagram shows the standard pathways through the process. Discuss with • Better Business pathways diagram shows the standard pathways through the process. Discuss with Treasury which pathway is appropriate, or to tailor the process if necessary.
- • guidance for each business case type includes a Reviewer Assessment Tool that can assist with planning the • guidance for each business case type includes a Reviewer Assessment Tool that can assist with planning the proposed approach to address the key reviewer criteria.

Note 1	You may want to seek support for planning and developing the business case: Your Treasury vote analyst/team • The Treasury IMAP team for general guidance on investment management and BBC: • investmentmanagement@treasury.govt.nz and better.businesscases@treasury.govt.nz Digital Public Service branch (DPS) for guidance on the planning of ICT investments: • www.digital.govt.nz/ : gcdo@dia.govt.nz Infrastructure Commission Te Waihanga for guidance on the planning major Infrastructure • investments: www.infracom.govt.nz/ Government Procurement (MBIE) for guidance on planning market engagement and the • commercial case: www.procurement.govt.nz/ : procurementplanning@mbie.govt.nz Government Property (MBIE) for guidance on the development of proposals that are likely to • feature a property component: www.procurement.govt.nz/property/
Note 2	Whole of life costs (WoLC) means the present value of total cash costs of an investment over its life cycle, calculated using the WoLC guidance and the relevant Public Sector Discount Rates.
Note 3	The risk rating is determined by the Risk Profile Assessment (RPA).
Note 4	Consider the decisions that will be required and the decision makers that may need to be engaged. What will the decision makers (Cabinet? Others?) be asked to approve? Are there any time constraints or deadlines for decisions? Better Business Cases & the annual budget process.
Note 5	BBC guidance for each business case type. The BBC ‘five-case’ model is designed to systematically answer five key questions: Strategic Case: Is there a compelling case for change? • Economic Case: Does the preferred investment option optimise value for money? • Commercial: Is the proposed option commercially viable? • Financial: Is the spending proposal affordable? • Management: Can the proposal be delivered successfully? •
Note 6	Describe the approach proposed to develop each case. The key methods and tools used to develop the business case depend on the level of uncertainty and ambiguity in the programme/project; they should be appropriate, proven, involve key stakeholders, and be applied by capable practitioners. Investment Logic Mapping (ILM) is a key tool to develop the strategic investment story; for High risk projects and programmes an accredited practitioner must be used.
Note 7	Outline the intended assurance arrangements. For significant ICT programmes and projects, an assurance plan must be submitted to DIA’s Digital Public Services Branch for quality review purposes. The assurance plan should include assurance activities to be applied such as IQA (Independent Quality Assurance), TQA (Technical Quality Assurance), health-checks, etc. For High Risk projects and programmes: agencies must use IQA/TQA providers from the GDS Assurance Services Panel. • Gateway reviews are required. •

BBCTM Template: September 2020 | 4