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business casesfive case modelOrganizational Change

Ensuring proposals accurately scope and initiatives and secure management support and funding.

Change initiatives often fail at the first hurdle as the business case fails to convince senior management of the return on investment. Creating effective business cases and spending proposals is therefore critical to securing funding and management buy-in.

Better Business Cases training and certification is based on the ‘Five Case Model’ – the UK government’s best practice approach to developing spending proposals and enabling effective business decisions.

Accredited training – available globally via APMG-accredited providers – will help individuals to:

  • Understand and apply the philosophy of the Five Case Model to business cases and other spending proposals
  • Understand different types of business cases, their purpose, who is responsible for them and when they are required
  • Understand the development lifecycle of a business case and the relationships between the five cases
  • Develop effective business cases and spending proposals that appropriately scope the initiative and secure funding and management support.

 

Watch – How to build a better business case

You may want to watch this video where a panel of experts discuss how to build a better business case. Key questions are answered including what skills and competencies are most useful, how often should you revisit the business case and what not to do when building a business case.

Episode 223 – Level Up your Career – How to build a better business case in 2024 part 1

Celebrating 10 years and 20,000 exams

We’re delighted to be celebrating a pair of major milestones for our Better Business Cases training and certification program. In just ten years since we launched the program, over 20,000 exams have now been completed.

Read the full announcement here.

Boosting business cases ability and confidence

We recently conducted a survey of Better Business Cases training and certification candidates and the results were overwhelmingly positive. Click here for the survey outcomes.

Better Business Cases Foundation Digital Certificate

Foundation

Learn to work effectively with a team to develop a strong business case.

Project Management, Programme Management
Who is Foundation for?
  • Senior Responsible Owners (SROs), Programme Directors and other Directors with responsibility for the successful delivery of programmes and projects.
  • Project Managers, Project Team members and specialist advisers tasked with delivering a business case for investment.
  • Officers involved in the scrutiny and review of investment proposals.
What are the key things you will learn?
  • The philosophy and underlying rationale of the Five Case Model.
  • The different types of business case, their purpose, who is responsible for them and when they are required in the development of a spending proposal.
  • The development of the business case in relation to other recognized and recommended best practice for programme and project management.
Exam format:
  • Multiple Choice
  • 50 questions
  • 25 marks or more required to pass (out of 50 available) - 50%
  • 40 minutes duration
  • Closed book
Better Business Cases Practitioner Certificate

Practitioner

Become a business case professional able to apply the Five Case Model to a real project.

Project Management, Programme Management
Who is Practitioner for?
  • Senior Responsible Owners (SROs), Programme Directors and other Directors with responsibility for the successful delivery of programmes and projects.
  • Project Managers, Project Team members and specialist advisers tasked with delivering a business case for investment.
  • Officers involved in the scrutiny and review of investment proposals.
What are the key things you will learn?
  • The development lifecycle of a business case and the relationships between the five cases.
  • How to apply the steps in the business case development framework, in order to support the production of a business case, using the Five Case Model, for a given scenario.
Exam format:
  • Objective testing
  • 4 questions per paper, with 20 marks available per question
  • 40 marks or more required to pass (out of 80 available) - 50%
  • 2 ½ hours duration
  • Open book exam (International Guide to developing the Project Business Case and International Guide to developing the Programme Business Case only)
     

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SFIA Framework

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The SFIA Framework is the global common reference for skills and competency for the digital world
SFIA is a globally recognised framework that “identifies skills needed for the Information age”. This APMG certification has been mapped against the SFIA Framework to help you see which certifications are most relevant to your professional development.
Knowledge
This certification confirms (endorsement)
Generic attribute Knowledge up to level 3, Feasibility Assessment level 3
...
This certification would be useful for (development)
Same as above plus Feasibility Assessment level 4, Methods and Tools level 3
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Knowledge
This certification confirms (endorsement)
Generic attribute Knowledge up to level 3, Feasibility Assessment up to level 4
...
This certification would be useful for (development)
Same as above plus Methods and Tools up to level 4
...

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FAQs

What is APMG-International’s Better Business Cases?

Better Business Cases is a systematic and objective approach to all stages of the business case development process that sits alongside, and complements, HM Treasury’s Green Book guidance.

The course and examination are based on The Five Case Model, the UK government’s best practice approach to planning spending proposals and enabling effective business decisions. This provides a step by step guide to developing a business case, by:

  • Establishing a clear need for intervention - a case for change
  • Setting clear objectives - what you want to achieve from the investment
  • Considering a wide range of potential solutions - ensuring an optimal balance of benefits, cost and risk
  • Putting the arrangements in place to successfully deliver the proposal.

How can I train for the Better Business Cases examinations?

Training for our Better Business Cases examinations is available from the network of Accredited Training Organizations (ATOs) who are assessed and certified by APMG-International.

Only these organizations and registered partners/affiliates are authorized to deliver APMG-International Better Business Cases training.

Do I have to receive training to sit the exams?

No, however attending an accredited training course is recommended.

Individuals also have the option of self-study to prepare for the examinations. APMG-International administer online exam sessions, allowing those who self study the opportunity to sit an online exam from the comfort of their own home or office.

Our online proctoring system allows you to take your exam anytime as sessions are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Click here for more information.

How much does it cost to sit the Better Business Cases examinations?

If you are sitting the examinations through an accredited training organization, the costs of the exam is generally included in the course fee. APMG International uses a global pricing structure, so for those sitting the exam online at home or work, the cost is dependent on where the exam is being sat. To find out the cost in your region, please contact the APMG International service desk on +44 (0)1494 452450 or at: servicedesk@apmg-international.com

Are there any pre-requisites for the Better Business Cases examination?

There are no pre-requisites for the Foundation examination. Candidates must have passed the Foundation exam before they can take the Practitioner exam.

Which languages are the Better Business Cases examinations available in?

The Better Business Cases examinations are currently available in English only. Translations will be progressed subject to market demand.

What are the supporting publications for APMG’s Better Business Cases and where can I purchase them?

Training courses and examinations are based on the ‘International Guide to Developing the Project Business Case’ and the ‘International Guide to Developing the Programme Business Case’, which are centred around the Five Case Model. The Five Case Model is the UK government’s best practice approach to planning spending proposals and enabling effective business decisions. The Guidance documents are available to download free of charge from the Gov.UK website.

Which languages are the supporting publications available in?

The supporting publications are currently available in English only.

How long will it take to learn the Better Business Cases material?

For individuals self-studying it is very difficult to say. As all candidates have different experience and amount of time available for study, it varies from person to person. We suggest you review the guidance before deciding how long you need to spend learning.

For those studying with an ATO, Foundation courses are generally delivered over 2-3 days, with Practitioner courses adding a further 1-2 days. It is well worth investigating with individual providers, as many will offer tailored and blended learning solutions.

Do the changes in the 2020 version of The Green Book affect the Better Business Cases courses and exams?

No, the updates to the Green Book in 2020 do not have any impact on the Better Business Cases exams. There are currently no plans to update the exams to reflect any changes made to the 2020 version of the Green Book.

What is the structure of the Better Business Cases examination?

The Foundation level exam comprises: 

  • Multiple Choice
  • 50 questions
  • 25 marks or more required to pass (out of 50 available) - 50%
  • 40 minutes duration
  • Closed book

The Practitioner Exam comprises:

  • Objective testing
  • 4 questions per paper, with 20 marks available per question
  • 40 marks or more required to pass (out of 80 available) - 50%
  • 2 ½ hours duration
  • Open book exam ('Guide to Developing the Project Business Case' and 'Guide to Developing the Programme Business Case' only).

How long are the APMG Better Business Cases qualifications valid for?

The Foundation and Practitioner qualifications are not valid for a defined period and will not expire.

When can I expect the results of my Better Business Cases examination?

The Better Business Cases Foundation exam can be marked at the end of your exam and your trainer providing you with provisional confirmation of your result. The Better Business Cases Practitioner exam must be returned to APMG for marking.

APMG will issue formal notification of your exam result once your exam paper has been received back into our office. All results will be made available in your Candidate Portal.

When will I receive my certificate?

Candidates will be able to claim their digital badge and electronic certificate from their APMG Candidate Portal within two business days of their exam result being issued.

What is the pass mark for the Better Business Cases examination?

Candidates must achieve 25/50 (50%) to pass the Foundation exam.

Candidates must achieve 40/80 (50%) to pass the Practitioner exam

What pass mark is required to be eligible to become an APMG Better Business Cases Approved Trainer?

To be eligible to apply to become a Better Business Cases approved trainer, individuals must achieve a score of 66% (53/80) or more in the Practitioner exam.

How do I find out if I scored enough to be eligible to become a trainer?

To find out if you scored enough to be eligible as a trainer, please email servicedesk@apmg-international.com noting your interest. A representative of the Service Desk will be able to advise.

Can I use the APMG International Better Business Cases logo?

Only organizations licensed to do so are allowed to use the APMG Better Business Cases logo. This includes Better Business Cases ATOs accredited by APMG International. The Better Business Cases logo is a Trade Mark of APMG International and should not be used without prior permission or an appropriate license.

All Individuals that pass a Better Business Cases exam are entitled to claim a digital badge which can be shared on social media and added to CVs / resumes.

What companies use APMG’s Better Business Cases?

The Better Business Cases approach is currently popular in the UK and New Zealand public sectors. The scheme is relevant to all sectors though, and we anticipate growth in a range of industries as the scheme grows in popularity.

Are there any comparisons to alternative methods?

There are a number of training courses available on how to write business cases. Additionally, there are various professional bodies that run courses on topics such as investment appraisal (e.g. CIPFA accountancy body course). However, none of those that we have reviewed seem to be based on specific guidance or internationally recognized best practice.

How do I become a Better Business Cases approved trainer?

All Better Business Cases trainers must be "sponsored" by a Better Business Cases accredited training organization (ATO).

To find out more about becoming a trainer or an accredited training organization, please contact your local APMG representative: https://apmg-international.com/contact

What is a Better Business Cases digital badge?

Digital badges allow you to easily showcase your achievements online. When you pass an exam, you'll instantly have the option to claim a digital badge representing your new certificate.

Your badge can be embedded on an email signature, website, social media or digital CV. With just one click employers, customers and clients can easily view and verify your credentials and skills.

Please see our 'Digital Badges - Sharing Your Exam Success' presentation for more information.

How do I access my digital badge and/or certificate?

You can always access all your electronic certificates and badges via the APMG Candidate Portal. Once you have logged on to the Candidate Portal, click on the ‘Badges and Certificates’ option from the menu bar at the top of screen. From here you should click on the ‘Create Badge/Certificate’ button. This will take you to the Credly platform to create and account and download your badge and certificate.

Step-by-step guidance is available to download from the ‘Badges and Certificates’ area in your Candidate Portal.

Electronic certificates are environmentally friendly, but you can print the certificate yourself at home or work, if required.

If you have any problems with accessing your digital certificate, please contact our Customer Interaction Team - servicedesk@apmg-international.com

Can I earn PMI® PDUs for attending an accredited training course?

It is possible to earn PMI Education PDUs for attending third-party provider training (training courses not offered by a PMI Authorized Training Partner), as long as the training meets the requirements around the skill areas of the PMI Talent Triangle. Please check the PMI website (https://www.pmi.org/certifications/certification-resources/maintain/earn-pdus/education) for further details on how to record your PDUs and what supporting evidence is required.

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