Business Case Seminars: Sydney, Australia, November 2009

Day 1: Business Case Essentials: Seminar and Workshop, 23 November 2009
Day 2: Advanced Analytics: Master Class, Seminar and Workshop, 24 November 2009

(For information on Perth seminars during November, please click here).

Presented by Solution Matrix Ltd. in partnership with Solution Matrix Pacific Ltd.

The Business Case is no Longer Optional

It's no secret that the current business climate is rapidly losing its tolerance for management errors while the need for rock-solid accountability is increasing. Most important business decisions today require a business case. Everyone talks about the "business case," but surprisingly few know what this means or what makes the difference between a strong case and a weak case.

Join more than 14,000 other professionals who have taken the same training at Optus, Boeing, Cisco, Ericsson, McDonald's, Microsoft, IBM, Peoplesoft, the State Government of Victoria, and dozens of other organisations. Learn and practice the proven approach presented in the white paper Business Case Essentials and the best selling Business Case Guide. (See seminar agenda below).

Previous offerings of these seminars have been sold out. Early registration is advised to ensure a place in class. 'Business Caes Essentials' and 'Advanced Analytics' are limited to 24 participants each.

Who Should Attend

Since 1994, Solution Matrix Ltd. has helped thousands of business people and others to understand the essentials and deliver business case results that score high in credibility, accuracy, and practical value. These seminars designed for

Those responsible for project, programme, or product proposals
Managers with a need to bring consistency, discipline, and accountability to decision making and planning in their organisations
Consultants who advise clients in decision making and planning
Those who propose or plan major IT acquisitions or changes
Government and Non-profit employees who must demonstrate accountability and good business practice
Business people responsible for capital spending decisions
Sales people and sales managers who need to show customers that a decision to buy is a good business decision

What You Will Learn

"Business Case Essentials' features 'hands on' workshops with real business case examples. Most participants have little or no prior experience in finance or business planning. During the course they build the benefits rationale, cost model, and financial analysis at the heart of a professional quality business case. At this seminar you will learn:

The essential building blocks that every business case must have
What to look for in case reports that makes the difference between a strong case and a weak case
The difference between the case for decision support and the case for business planning
How to build credibility as you build your case
How to legitimise and measure the full range of business benefits—even the so-called "intangibles"
How to build a financial modeling system for asking 'what if' questions, finding which assumptions that drive results, and measuring risk and uncertainty in your projections
How to package and present business case results for maximum impact

The ''Advanced Analytics: Master Class' provides additional in-depth practical guidance and hands-on experience in:

Building the financial model that 'makes the case' supporting project proposals, programme proposals, product proposals, or capital acquisition proposals
Estimating costs and benefits realistically and credibly
Implementing important financial metrics in your financial results (including NPV, IRR, Payback Period, and IRR).
Shortcuts and risks in spreadsheet modeling
Using Monte Carlos simulation to ask 'What If?' questions, measure risk, and reduce uncertainty in projected business results
Quantitative methods for bringing non-financial benefits and costs into the business case
Taking the 'Soft' out of 'Soft Benefits'

Venue

The business case seminars will be held at the Executive Centre in Sydney (Level 31, ABN-AMRO Tower, 88 Phillip Street, Sydney). Seminar hours will be 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM (with a one-hour lunch break) on each seminar day. Arrival by 8.45 each morning is requested. Further details will be e-mailed to participants upon registration. Lunchs and refreshments are included in the seminar fee.

Sydney, Australia's largest city and international gateway located in the state of New South Wales, is one of the world’s most exciting destinations for meetings and conventions. Voted World’s Best City eight times in 10 years, by Travel + Leisure magazine. Find information about Sydney hotels and other attractions at the Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau, at http://www.scvb.com.au/. The Sydney airport code is SYD.

Seminar Leader

"Business Case Essentials' and "Advamced Analytics' are led by Dr. Marty J. Schmidt, President and Founder of Solution Matrix Ltd. Dr Schmidt has twenty years business experience, managing software development, international marketing and sales support, and, (since 1987) management consulting on business issues. He is a recognised authority on the application of cost/benefit analysis and business case development.

Dr. Schmidt also taught graduate and undergraduate statistics at the University of New Hampshire, is the author of a college textbook on statistics, and publishes often on professional management and business issues (e.g., The Business Case Guide, 2nd ed., ISBN 1-929500-01-7). He holds the Ph.D. degree from Purdue University and the M.B.A. from Babson College. Click for more information on Solution Matrix Ltd. and our clients.

Co-Facilitator

Sharing seminar leadership with Dr. Schmidt will be Jeff Jackson, CA, CMA, FNIZM, AMP86. Jeff is \Managing Director of Solution Matrix Pacific Ltd, a consulting firm specialising in strategic performance management. Jeff has many years business and industry experience as Chief Exexcutive and Director of a number of New Zealand companies involved in agribusiness, textiles, energy, biotechnology and human capital. Jeff is a Chartered Accountant, a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management, and a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Programme. He is also a Strategy Coach for the Institute of Strategic Leadership and lecures on Corporate Goverfnance for the University of Otago EMBA Programme.

Price

Business Case Essentials and Advanced Analytics, Master Class. 2 days, 23-24 November, 2009, AUS$1,995 per person including GST (or US$1650 including GST).

Seminar fees include:

Clasroom training
All training materials
One copy Business Case Guide, 2nd ed (PDF edition)
One copy Business Case Essentials, 3rd ed (PDF edition)
Financial Metrics Pro (MS Excel)
Financial Modeling Pro (MS Excel)
Lunch and refreshments each training day

Download your copies of the Business Case Guide and other resources immediately after registering!

Team Discount: When five participants from the same organisation register with payment at the same time, the fifth participant attends free. Send requests for a free fifth participant by email to smatrix@solutionmatrix.com. Please identify the participant, his or her contact information, organisation, and names of the other four registered participants.

No Hassle Money-Back Guarantee: If you are not completely satisfied with Business Case Essentials or Advanced Analytics please let us know in writing within 15 days after seminar completion, and we will refund 100% of your seminar fee. Reservations may be cancelled up to 15 days before the seminar, subject to a AUS$ 200 cancellation fee. Substitutions may be made at any time up to the start of the seminar

Registration for the November Seminars in Sydney

The link below takes you to our secure online shopping cart page, where you will be asked to provide the name of the registered participant, contact information, and credit card details to complete payment of the seminar fee.

Register online for Business Case Essentials and Advanced Analytics, 23-24 November 2009

To register by mail or fax click for printable registration form

For more information please contact:

Jeff Jackson, Managing Director, Solution Matrix Pacific, Auckland NZ
jeff@solutionmatrixpacific.com Ph +64 9 366 2250
Marty Schmidt, President, Solution Matrix Ltd., Boston, USA
mschmidt@solutionmatrix.com Ph +1 617 267 9607