Unlocking Regional Growth: How to Build Winning Business Cases

A well-defined problem is the foundation of any request for government funding. Explaining the problem with a cause and then an effect is all that is required. The IMS places significant emphasis on the Problem Definition Workshop, which ensures all stakeholders understand the issue and its impacts. Whether it’s aging infrastructure or environmental challenges, clearly articulating the problem is essential.

The problem in the case of Lower Murray Water was straightforward: aging infrastructure threatened water security for over 100,000 people. Framing this issue within a broader economic and environmental context clarified why immediate action was needed​​.

IMS Tip: Use an Investment Logic Map (ILM) to outline the cause and effect of the problem and validate it with evidence. This approach ensures stakeholders and funders can grasp the urgency of the issue.

The IMS emphasises early and ongoing stakeholder engagement. This is crucial for gathering insights, building political capital, and ensuring broad support. Engaging key stakeholders, community leaders, funders, and partners will help create a submission that addresses diverse concerns and builds momentum.

In the Lower Murray Water example, engaging stakeholders such as farmers, environmental agencies, and community groups early in the process was key to securing broad support. This engagement minimised political risks and demonstrated strong community backing​​.

IMS Tip: The Problem Definition Workshop should include key stakeholders to ensure the business case reflects a comprehensive understanding of the issue and potential solutions​​.

The IMS stresses that projects must clearly demonstrate how they will deliver public value. When framing benefits, it’s essential to articulate both short-term impacts and long-term gains.

For Lower Murray Water, the benefits went beyond fixing infrastructure. We framed the solution regarding long-term water security, reduced operational costs, and enhanced environmental outcomes. This approach showed the lasting value of the investment​​.

IMS Tip: Use the Benefit Definition Workshop to ensure the benefits are measurable, meaningful, and tied directly to the investment. Linking these benefits to KPIs helps solidify the business case​.

The IMS stresses the importance of considering multiple options. Many organisations look for problems to solve a solution instead of the other way around. This process ensures that decision-makers understand the range of possible solutions and why the preferred option offers the best value for money.

In the Lower Murray Water project, we explored alternatives such as upgrading existing systems or focusing on water conservation. A thorough options analysis helped demonstrate why long-term infrastructure investment was the best solution​​.

IMS Tip: The Options Analysis in IMS provides a structured way to explore a broad range of solutions, before narrowing down to the preferred approach. This ensures that your business case isn’t just based on the first idea but reflects a strategic, thoughtful choice​.

Finally, it presents a solution that is both realistic and thoroughly planned. The IMS guides you to break down the solution into clear stages, each with specific deliverables, timelines, and budgets. This is where the Commercial, Financial, and Management Cases come into play, ensuring the project is viable, affordable, and deliverable.

For Lower Murray Water, we crafted a detailed implementation plan, including timelines, risk management strategies, and a cost-benefit analysis. This made it easy for decision-makers to see how the project would progress from concept to completion.

IMS Tip: Use the Solution Definition Workshop to map out the detailed steps in delivering your solution. This ensures that risks, costs, and timelines are clearly laid out, making it easier for funders to commit​.