Purpose
Use this business case at idea intake to explain a strategic idea on one page, so the intake review can make a Gate 1 decision. It describes the problem and the outcome, not the solution. The design comes later, at the high-level design review.
Keep it to one page. If it won't fit, the idea probably needs splitting.
The template
Copy the block below into the idea log entry.
# Business case: <working title>
**Idea ID:** <from the idea log> · **Date:** <yyyy-mm-dd>
**Business Executive sponsor:** <name> · **Product Manager:** <name>
## The problem
<Who is affected, what they can't do or what it costs them today. Use numbers where you have them.>
## The outcome we want
<What will be different for them when this is done. One or two sentences.>
## How we'll know it worked
| Measure | Today | Target | Checked by |
| ------- | ----- | ------ | ---------- |
| <measure> | <baseline> | <target> | <date, within 6 months of delivery> |
## Why now
<What happens if we wait a quarter: a regulatory date, a contract, rising cost, risk.>
## What it touches
- Platforms: <list>
- Home Teams: <list>
- Known dependencies or risks: <list>
## Rough value
<A plain estimate of value, such as hours saved per month, cost avoided or revenue protected. A range is fine.>
## Gate 1 decision
<Accepted / Redirected to Discretionary / Declined>, <date>, <reason>
A filled example
# Business case: Online first report of injury for small employers
**Idea ID:** IDEA-0142 · **Date:** 2026-07-02
**Business Executive sponsor:** VP, Claims (fictional) · **Product Manager:** Claims Experience PM (fictional)
## The problem
Employers with fewer than 20 employees report most injuries by phone or fax. Our claims
staff re-key each report, which takes about 25 minutes, and 1 in 8 reports comes back
for missing details. First contact with the injured employee takes 3 working days on average.
## The outcome we want
Small employers report an injury online in under 10 minutes, and we contact the injured
employee the next working day.
## How we'll know it worked
| Measure | Today | Target | Checked by |
| ------- | ----- | ------ | ---------- |
| Share of small-employer reports made online | 22% | 70% | 2027-06-30 |
| Days from report to first contact | 3.0 | 1.0 | 2027-06-30 |
## Why now
The phone line's contract ends next spring, and report volumes rise every summer.
## What it touches
- Platforms: Employer Portal, Claims Intake
- Home Teams: Employer Experience, Claims Platform
- Known dependencies or risks: identity checks for employer users; fax intake is retired afterwards
## Rough value
About 900 staff hours a month saved on re-keying and follow-up, plus faster care for
injured employees.
## Gate 1 decision
Accepted, 2026-07-09. Strong sponsor; moves to high-level design review.
All names and figures in this example are fictional.