PRINCE2 7 Foundation · Quick refresher
Keep asking “is it worthwhile?”
A business case is a living decision tool.
6 minute study lesson · Principles · Original learning material
What you will understand
- Explain continued business justification.
- Distinguish future value from money already spent.
- Identify evidence that should prompt a fresh viability review.
The idea
A convincing reason to start is only the beginning. The project must continue to justify the resources it will consume as circumstances, costs, benefits and risks change.
The business case brings together the reasoning behind the investment. It supports decisions about whether the project remains desirable, viable and achievable. It should inform governance decisions rather than become a document filed away after approval.
The project executive is accountable for the business case. The project manager helps maintain the information and brings significant changes to the board’s attention. Reviews at management stage boundaries create planned opportunities to test continued justification.
A project can deliver exactly the products originally requested and still cease to be worthwhile if the expected benefits disappear. Money already spent does not by itself justify spending more. A change in the business case requires a decision using current evidence; it does not automatically prescribe cancellation.
An original fictional example
A changed reason to invest
A council plans a new visitor kiosk to reduce queues. Halfway through, a digital appointment service removes most of the queues and the remaining kiosk cost increases.
The decision
Reassess the remaining costs, expected benefits and risks, and present the changed justification to the project board.
Why it makes sense
The relevant question is whether continuing investment is still justified. “We have already started” is not evidence of future value.
A common confusion
The mistaken idea: An approved business case remains valid until the project ends.
The distinction: Approval records a decision made with evidence available at that time. Material new evidence must feed into continued justification.
A reason to start must remain a reason to continue.
Points to remember
- Connect the principle to current evidence about costs, benefits and risk.
- Product delivery and benefit achievement are related but different.
- Avoid assuming that every negative change requires immediate cancellation.
Your takeaway
Use the business case throughout the project. Authorisation should follow an informed view of remaining value and risk.
This independently written explanation is supplementary study material. It is not official examination content. Read about our content and its limitations.