How to write a compelling business case

RS compiles best practice across the industry for maintenance engineers to use when creating their own cases.

Today, many companies expect managers to produce a business case to justify major purchases or investment requirements for new operational projects. But what should you include?

The founder and CEO of software development company Aha!, Brian de Haaff, has seven principles to ensure your business case is compelling and maximises your chances of success. “You are advocating for something new, so you need to take the time to research what makes the opportunity unique and think critically about its viability. You may not get a blank cheque – but I bet you will be closer to getting an emphatic ‘yes’,” he says.

Richard Jeffers, Managing Director for RS Industria at RS Group, agrees that getting your message across is the key to success. “You have to be clear from the outset about what you want to do. Communication skills are absolutely critical because you’ve got to communicate why you're doing it.”

Penny Taylor, who leads the Writing Effective Business Proposals course at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, agrees that presenting your idea in the right way is key to success. “Generally, engineers are not good at persuasive writing, they are good with facts and figures. I often hear engineers I am working with say, ‘I expect the numbers to speak for themselves’ and they don’t appreciate that you have to make the numbers tell a story,” she says.

Read the full article on the Connected Thinking website for further details and considerations for when writing your next business case and learn how to improve your chances of making a successful business document.