Business Case vs Business Plan

Business analyst are in charge to help the organization to create the business plan. Most of the people forgot what business really is. Business is not a trivial word. Business is a three axis function that you have to define and then a business is defined. Is a matter of strategy because a business is the field of action where one of the strategies (business strategy) will be performed. Business case is the mean to convince people to invest into an initiative. To put business strategy into action you could have several initiatives in place. So, what roles to participate into the process is up to each organization. Portfolio and Program managers are most requested in business plan. Project manager are most requested on business case while other project manager could be assigned to the project when the business case is approved.

Our Initiative Plan person would create the project business case because it is pre-project and pre-funding approval. I am curious if anyone has PM's involved at this pre-project level. I would think that they could help in formulating project cost estimates but the line of business expert or Initiative Plan owner may or may not want the PM's "assistance". The other issue is since this work is pre-project, there is no active project for the PM to charge their time to yet.

I have seen PM's in charge of the pre-projects and sometimes the same PMs that are doing the project later, one benefit being consistency. Some say in the contrary, we follow taylorism and bring in a new 'delivery' PM.

A pre-project may take longer as the project itself, if there is deep analysis done, RfPs issued and vendor selection and contract negotiations done and it results often in a business plan (course of action) which is approved even before a detailed business case (cost/benefits) is done.

Very informative discussion since I have never experienced writing a business plan.
Just had a look at what wikipedia had to say:

"A business plan is a formal statement of business goals, reasons they are attainable, and plans for reaching them. It may also contain background information about the organization or team attempting to reach those goals.

Business plans may target changes in perception and branding by the customer, client, taxpayer, or larger community. When the existing business is to assume a major change or when planning a new venture, a 3 to 5 year business plan is required, since investors will look for their investment return in that time frame."

I always consider Business Plan to be at the organization level and the Business Case for an investment in a project.

I always consider Business Plan to be at the organization level and the Business Case for an investment in a project.

All-
In the Construction Industry it would be highly unusual for a PM to write a business case or Plan. The mechanics of the way we work requires our participation After Contract Award. Business Case/Plans occur much earlier during the Process of Project promulgation by the Owner/Client.
The PM in our Industry already has financing and is the Planner and Executor of the Project. Minor analysis is only required during Change Management propositions.
I laugh every time I see the "Charter" topic regarding the Construction Industry Project Manager's purview. It simply is not a consideration.

M