# Business Case

> Write clear, decision-ready business cases that justify investment with problem, options, costs, benefits, risks, and recommendation. Use when requesting funding, proposing a major initiative, or evaluating build-vs-buy or strategic options.

- Skill: `itsual/business-case` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add itsual/business-case`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/itsual/business-case/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: itsual (https://skillmd.com/u/itsual)
- Updated: 2026-09-21
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/itsual/business-case

---


# Business Case

## Overview

A business case exists to support a decision. It should make the recommended option and its rationale obvious to the people who control resources.

## When to Use

- Requesting budget or headcount
- Proposing new products, platforms, or major projects
- Build vs buy vs partner decisions
- Strategic initiatives that need formal approval

## Recommended Structure

1. Executive summary & recommendation
2. Problem / opportunity statement
3. Strategic alignment
4. Options considered (including “do nothing”)
5. Recommended option – scope, approach, timeline
6. Costs and benefits (quantitative + qualitative)
7. Risks and mitigations
8. Implementation outline and success metrics
9. Ask / decision required

## Principles

- Lead with the recommendation
- Make assumptions explicit
- Compare options fairly
- Quantify where credible; be honest where not
- Keep the main body concise; put detailed models in appendices

## Verification

- [ ] A decision-maker can understand the recommendation and key trade-offs quickly
- [ ] Costs, benefits, and risks are clearly stated
- [ ] Success metrics are defined