Cost/benefit analysis
The term Cost benefit analysis is used frequently in business planning and decision support. However, the term itself has no precise definition beyond the idea that both positive and negative impacts are going to be summarized and then weighed against each other.
The term also has no universally agreed spelling. It is written as cost benefit, cost/benefit, or cost-benefit, for instance. Because the term "cost benefit analysis" does not refer to any specific approach or methodology, the business person who is asked to produce one should take care to find out what is expected or needed.
The term covers several varieties of business case analysis, such as:
All of these approaches to cost benefit analysis attempt to predict the financial impacts and other business consequences of an action. All these approaches have the same structural and procedural requirements for building a strong, successful business case. They differ primarily in terms of:
- How they define "cost" and "benefit" in practical terms
- Which costs and benefits are included for analysis
- Which financial metrics are important for decision makers and planners
For practical guidance on cost benefit analysis and other business case issues, see the Business Case Essentials or the Business Case Guide.
Download a free spreadsheet tool that illustrates the calculation of business case financial metrics.
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Business Case Essentials, 3rd edition
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