Comments on: Business cases that work Part 1/2 http://www.b2bproductmakers.com/2009/09/business-cases-that-work/ Turning Ideas into Products Mon, 05 Sep 2011 20:45:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Thierry Roullier http://www.b2bproductmakers.com/2009/09/business-cases-that-work/comment-page-1/#comment-63 Thierry Roullier Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:40:35 +0000 http://www.b2bproductmakers.com/?p=65#comment-63 Thank you for your comments and compliment. I want to stick to my 90 days, because if it takes less time, costs figures will be an approximation at best. Depending of the level of investment and the size of the company 60-90 days is what you need to get figures and approvals. If your management is not willing to give you the time, they don't think your business case will make a difference. Then why do it? Regarding your last comment, it seems that both of us have felt a lot of pain on this topic. I place my personal integrity above everything else and the assumptions/risk sections are what keeps everyone honest. If management decides to ignore those, it is not in the control of the Product Manager, bu it is their loss. Plan for the worst and hope for the best! Thank you for your comments and compliment.

I want to stick to my 90 days, because if it takes less time, costs figures will be an approximation at best. Depending of the level of investment and the size of the company 60-90 days is what you need to get figures and approvals. If your management is not willing to give you the time, they don’t think your business case will make a difference. Then why do it?

Regarding your last comment, it seems that both of us have felt a lot of pain on this topic. I place my personal integrity above everything else and the assumptions/risk sections are what keeps everyone honest. If management decides to ignore those, it is not in the control of the Product Manager, bu it is their loss. Plan for the worst and hope for the best!

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]]> By: Rob Kidd http://www.b2bproductmakers.com/2009/09/business-cases-that-work/comment-page-1/#comment-62 Rob Kidd Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:08:42 +0000 http://www.b2bproductmakers.com/?p=65#comment-62 Thierry: Great post! 90 days - in most case would be a luxury, the "carve-outs" are important - management in some cases believe this should happen over night "after all they came up with the idea in only a short time" you should be able to quantify just as fast Make it short - critical and with only the key stuff, use a file of working papers to back up recommendations and conclusions, similar to audit working papers Don't do it in a vacuum: Getting sign-off is key but in the finally analysis only the perception of audience matters (company execs, customers, etc.)- so much for sign-off Risks and assumption - definitely critical but should the powers that be have already made a decision and fail to accept rationally derived fact based recommendation se le vie - if things don't go well the product manager usually gets "shot" despite this CYA Hope this is not too skeptical but I have practical experience to support it. Cheers Rob Thierry:

Great post!

90 days – in most case would be a luxury, the “carve-outs” are important – management in some cases believe this should happen over night “after all they came up with the idea in only a short time” you should be able to quantify just as fast

Make it short – critical and with only the key stuff, use a file of working papers to back up recommendations and conclusions, similar to audit working papers

Don’t do it in a vacuum: Getting sign-off is key but in the finally analysis only the perception of audience matters (company execs, customers, etc.)- so much for sign-off

Risks and assumption – definitely critical but should the powers that be have already made a decision and fail to accept rationally derived fact based recommendation se le vie – if things don’t go well the product manager usually gets “shot” despite this CYA

Hope this is not too skeptical but I have practical experience to support it.

Cheers

Rob

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]]> By: Thierry Roullier http://www.b2bproductmakers.com/2009/09/business-cases-that-work/comment-page-1/#comment-52 Thierry Roullier Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:55:02 +0000 http://www.b2bproductmakers.com/?p=65#comment-52 Thank you for the compliment Mike. In the case of pre-made decision, I would argue that the role of the PM is then to point out the risks, issues and assumptions of the business case. Documentation work as you state, but also trying to communicate the most important issues to the executive committee: "you want me to do this, Great but this is what I need to be successful and this is why". However I have found that this crowd often changes or has a selective memory! Thank you for the compliment Mike.

In the case of pre-made decision, I would argue that the role of the PM is then to point out the risks, issues and assumptions of the business case. Documentation work as you state, but also trying to communicate the most important issues to the executive committee: “you want me to do this, Great but this is what I need to be successful and this is why”.

However I have found that this crowd often changes or has a selective memory!

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]]> By: Mike Giuggio http://www.b2bproductmakers.com/2009/09/business-cases-that-work/comment-page-1/#comment-51 Mike Giuggio Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:13:45 +0000 http://www.b2bproductmakers.com/?p=65#comment-51 I am increasingly returning to your blog. Good work. I could argue on the specifications a but but agree. As for pre-made business decisions: I would state that there is always questions and justifications that occur throughout a lifecycle, even if the business decision has been made prior to life. You often (if not always need) a guiding principle document/collection that becomes the common mantra and solid justification that is needed to help guide it through. I am increasingly returning to your blog. Good work.
I could argue on the specifications a but but agree. As for pre-made business decisions: I would state that there is always questions and justifications that occur throughout a lifecycle, even if the business decision has been made prior to life. You often (if not always need) a guiding principle document/collection that becomes the common mantra and solid justification that is needed to help guide it through.

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]]> By: Thierry Roullier http://www.b2bproductmakers.com/2009/09/business-cases-that-work/comment-page-1/#comment-49 Thierry Roullier Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:10:57 +0000 http://www.b2bproductmakers.com/?p=65#comment-49 Hello Magnus. I love Sweden and the islands when you approach Stockholm from the sea... You are absolutely right. When everything changes, it is the role of the PM to lead the discussion and limit the number of assumptions or estimate changes. Your comment is a great into to my next posts which will deal with Monte-Carlo, sensitivity and break-even analysis. Hello Magnus. I love Sweden and the islands when you approach Stockholm from the sea…

You are absolutely right. When everything changes, it is the role of the PM to lead the discussion and limit the number of assumptions or estimate changes.

Your comment is a great into to my next posts which will deal with Monte-Carlo, sensitivity and break-even analysis.

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]]> By: Magnus Billgren http://www.b2bproductmakers.com/2009/09/business-cases-that-work/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Magnus Billgren Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:52:53 +0000 http://www.b2bproductmakers.com/?p=65#comment-48 Many times decisions are made before the business case is presented. You are often in discussions and meetings cioncerning the project before the real presentation. It is necessary to have a consitency in these discussions. When numbers and estimations change rapidly and extensively the project/product manager's credibility is decreased. One way of doing it is to work with scenarios or to make a small simulation program (in excel) for others to work with. This will also identify critical succes factors. Magnus Billgren Product Manager Specialist Many times decisions are made before the business case is presented. You are often in discussions and meetings cioncerning the project before the real presentation. It is necessary to have a consitency in these discussions. When numbers and estimations change rapidly and extensively the project/product manager’s credibility is decreased.

One way of doing it is to work with scenarios or to make a small simulation program (in excel) for others to work with. This will also identify critical succes factors.

Magnus Billgren
Product Manager Specialist

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]]> By: Thierry Roullier http://www.b2bproductmakers.com/2009/09/business-cases-that-work/comment-page-1/#comment-20 Thierry Roullier Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:55:21 +0000 http://www.b2bproductmakers.com/?p=65#comment-20 Hello, Thank you for your comment. You have a great blog. As for the 30 days, I am sure one can pull this off, depending the size of the investment and the type of company. However, if you want to gather information from withing the company, talk to analysts and customers, produce not only a document, but also a presentation as well as getting the consensus to have a reasonable chance of getting a go ahead, 30 days seems way short. Please continue to provide feedback. Thanks Hello, Thank you for your comment. You have a great blog. As for the 30 days, I am sure one can pull this off, depending the size of the investment and the type of company. However, if you want to gather information from withing the company, talk to analysts and customers, produce not only a document, but also a presentation as well as getting the consensus to have a reasonable chance of getting a go ahead, 30 days seems way short.

Please continue to provide feedback. Thanks

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]]> By: Business Cases « Grey Product Management http://www.b2bproductmakers.com/2009/09/business-cases-that-work/comment-page-1/#comment-19 Business Cases « Grey Product Management Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:18:41 +0000 http://www.b2bproductmakers.com/?p=65#comment-19 [...] I’ll not discuss how should be done, I just have some remarks in regards to this subject and a post on a blog that I have just [...] [...] I’ll not discuss how should be done, I just have some remarks in regards to this subject and a post on a blog that I have just [...]

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