In PRINCE2 2009 “Components” have been replaced by “Themes”. All of our PRINCE2 Foundation courses and PRINCE2 Practitioner courses are now delivered using the PRINCE2 2009 manual. To learn more about the changes in PRINCE2 2009, visit our PRINCE2 2009 Update and PRINCE2 2009 FAQ pages.
PRINCE2 Themes – Business Case
The purpose of the Business Case theme is to establish mechanisms to judge whether the project is (and remains) desirable, viable and achievable as a means to support decision making in its (continued) investment.
It is a PRINCE2 principle that a project must have continued business justification. The business justification is the reason for the project. Without it no project should start. If business justification is valid at the start of a project, but disappears once it is under way, the project should be stopped or changed.
In PRINCE2, the business justification is documented in a Business Case describing the reasons for the project based on estimated costs, risks and the expected benefits.
The reasons for undertaking the project must drive decision making. When projects face changes or risks, the impact analysis should focus on the Business Case, remembering that the project is only a means to an end and not the end itself.
