The NSW Treasury Guidelines for Capital Business Cases provides:
1. Four central elements:
◼ the case for change (section 3).
◼ analysis of the proposal (section 4).
◼ implementation of the proposal (section 5).
◼ templates for preparing:
o Preliminary business cases - which are to demonstrate the rationale for a service need before project planning proceeds too far (Appendix 1) and
o Final business cases - which are to demonstrate the case for change, value for money and capacity of the agency to implement the project (Appendix 2).
2. Guidance on when to prepare a business case and the standard of evidence required
3. Key principles for preparing a business case and
4. Guidance on what to address when preparing a business case, which is drawn from existing NSW Government policy papers, guidelines and circulars.
These Guidelines integrate the following documents which are the foundation for preparing a business case:
◼ NSW Treasury Policy Paper TPP07-5 NSW Government Guidelines for Economic Appraisal July 2007 (mandatory application).
◼ NSW Treasury Policy Paper TPP07-6 Economic Appraisal Principles and Procedures Simplified July 2007(mandatory application).
◼ NSW Treasury Circular TC 06/02 Treasury Review of Financial Impact Statements (mandatory application).
◼ NSW Treasury Policy Paper TPP07-4 Commercial Policy Framework: Guidelines for Financial Appraisal (mandatory if applicable).
◼ NSW Treasury Policy Paper TPP 04-1 NSW Government Procurement Policy (mandatory application).
◼ NSW Treasury Policy Paper TPP08-2 Total Asset Management (TAM) requirements for updating the NSW State Infrastructure Strategy (SIS).
◼ NSW Treasury Circular NSW TC 08/07 Revised Project Size/Risk Thresholds for the Submission of Business Cases and Gateway Reports.
◼ NSW Treasury Policy Paper TPP06-10 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capital Investment Process.
◼ Premier's Memorandum 2007-20 State Plan Priority F4: Embedding the Principle of Prevention and Early Intervention.
To complete a business case these documents must be referred to and a check made for any updates which may impact on preparing or what is required to support a business case. Agencies should refer to these Guidelines at the earliest stages of project planning to appreciate the full requirements to complete business cases.
Where proposals require the introduction or amendment of a regulatory framework, agencies must comply with the requirements of the Guide to Better Regulation, including the identification of options and of the costs and benefits of each option. The Guide can be found at www.betterregulation.nsw.gov.au or by contacting the Department of Premier and Cabinet.