Project Management

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Are your projects initiated without a business case?

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Simon Buehring Managing Director| Knowledge Train Limited London, United Kingdom
The PMBOK® Guide 6th Edition has introduced the project business case as an input into the project charter. In my opinion this is a very welcome addition, along with the project benefits management plan.
I'm interested to know if your projects always get initiated with a business case.
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John A. Williams Owner| JAW Consultancy | The Pragmaticioner Nootdorp, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
I will never accept a project without a business case. What would a project without a business case serve except a learning experience?!
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MANSOUR THABET ALQUBATY System Controller| Teleyemen Sana'A, N/A, Yemen
Agree with Jhon.

At least Business case (which is the base).
BR,
Mansour
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Drew Craig Sr. Agile & Product Coach| Vanguard Philadelphia, Pa, United States
Yes, absolutely. Of course. Without business justification, what is the purpose?
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Rami Kaibni
Community Champion
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten Associates New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
A business case is a must. The project charter and business case are very important documents that must be in place and signed by the sponsor or client before the project kicks off.
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Kiron Bondale Retired | Mentor| Retired Welland, Ontario, Canada
Simon -

This is one of the litmus tests of effective portfolio intake - if projects receive funding without some sort of formal justification, politics rather than process are driving decisions...

Kiron
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Simon Buehring Managing Director| Knowledge Train Limited London, United Kingdom
I agree with everyone here. I'm just pondering what was the expereince of project managers prior to the latest PMBOK. It's only in the 6th Ed. that the project business case was mentioned. Prior to that there was no mention of it.
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Eric Simms Senior Program Manager Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Some of my projects are handed to me by upper Management, and there is nary a formal business case in sight. Some of these projects are obviously useful, while others seem like someone's pet projects.
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Thomas Walenta Global Project Economy Expert Hackenheim, Germany
I have seen many projects without a viable business case and even more with flawed justifications and fluffy sponsors. In some of these cases the project manager is used as a scapegoat, trying to make some sense out if it.
Just look at major project disasters in public construction.
A business case must state the expected benefits and these are to be monitored even after the project. Rarely happens. One reason is that project managers are gone once benefits are expected to deliver value.
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Kiron Bondale Retired | Mentor| Retired Welland, Ontario, Canada
Simon -

The Fifth Edition also had a business case and Project SoW as inputs into the development of the project charter. The change in the Sixth Edition was the elimination of the Project SoW as a key input.

Kiron
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Stéphane Parent Self Employed / Semi-retired| Leader Maker Prince Edward Island, Canada
Government often have political impetus behind initiatives and projects. It's not unusual for government projects to be launched without a business case.
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