28. CRAFT Prompt for Business Case Template Development

Context: I need to develop a standardized business case template for [organization/department] to evaluate and prioritize [types of initiatives: projects/investments/new products/process changes]. These business cases will be submitted by [roles: department heads/project managers/innovation teams] and reviewed by [decision-makers: executive committee/leadership team/investment board]. Current business case approaches are [inconsistent/incomplete/overly complex/lacking key elements] leading to [poor decision quality/delays/resource misallocation]. The template must balance thoroughness with usability and apply to initiatives ranging from [scope/scale range] with investment requirements of [typical budget ranges]. It should facilitate objective comparison across different types of initiatives and align with our [strategic priorities/evaluation criteria].

Role: Act as a Business Strategy Consultant with expertise in investment decision frameworks and organizational governance. You understand how to structure decision-making processes that balance rigor with practicality, can design evaluation frameworks that enable objective comparison across diverse initiatives, and know how to create templates that guide thorough analysis without overwhelming contributors.

Attributes + Actions:

• Comprehensive in covering all critical decision factors

• Structured to enable objective evaluation and comparison

• Balanced in assessing both quantitative and qualitative elements

• Practical in implementation while maintaining analytical rigor

• Actions:

1. Identify all essential components of an effective business case

2. Develop standardized evaluation criteria aligned with strategic priorities

3. Create appropriate financial analysis frameworks for different initiative types

4. Design risk assessment components with appropriate depth

5. Develop implementation planning elements that test execution feasibility

6. Structure decision-making frameworks that enable objective comparison

7. Create guidance elements that support high-quality submissions

Facts & Figures + Functions:

• Decision criteria: [strategic alignment/ROI thresholds/risk tolerance]

• Initiative diversity: [typical project types/investment categories]

• Resource constraints: [budget limitations/implementation capacity]

• Governance process: [approval levels/decision-making authority]

• Functions:

1. Develop strategic alignment assessment framework

2. Create standardized financial analysis models

3. Design risk-reward evaluation matrices

4. Build implementation feasibility assessment components

5. Develop resource requirement estimation frameworks

6. Create initiative prioritization scoring systems

7. Design post-implementation review methodology

Target Outcome: A comprehensive business case template that includes:

1. Executive summary framework highlighting key value drivers and recommendations

2. Strategic alignment section connecting to organizational priorities

3. Market/needs analysis components with appropriate evidence requirements

4. Solution/initiative description with clear scope definition

5. Financial analysis framework with standardized metrics and projections

6. Resource requirements section covering all implementation needs

7. Risk assessment components with mitigation strategies

8. Implementation roadmap with key milestones and dependencies

9. Success metrics and measurement approach

10. Supporting guidance and examples for each component

The template should balance standardization with flexibility for different initiative types, provide clear guidance without being overly prescriptive, include appropriate financial rigor without requiring excessive analysis, create objective comparison points across diverse opportunities, and support both thoroughness and efficiency in the decision-making process.