Writing a Compelling Business Case

The programme duration is 2 days.

Purpose

Good communication is an essential skill in being personally effective, whether you're dealing with customers, colleagues or suppliers. Effective writing skills is a vital part of your communications armoury. This workshop equips you with the ability to write powerful, effective proposals and reports - without wasting time, and getting you the desired results.

Outcomes

• To create an awareness of the cognitive skills which ensure good proposals and reports - the elements of any sound business case
• To emphasize the effectiveness of user-friendly business English and to review the principles of putting complex concepts into writing which can be easily understood
• To polish your creativity and deductive reasoning and apply these to planning, structuring, writing and editing proposals and reports to create a compelling business case
• To build your confidence and competence through practical exercises in proposal and report writing and to consolidate this with feedback
• To promote clear, unambiguous, appropriate communication in plain language
• To identify barriers to communication and find appropriate solutions
• To guide you to find ways of improving communication
• To increase your confidence in your own writing ability

Target group

Delivery and content is adapted to the level and needs of the delegates. This programme is ideal for Business Analysts in the Banking Industry who write reports and proposals on product development, research and present their findings, outcomes and recommendations to meet the needs of clients at forums. For maximum effectiveness, no more than 8 delegates are accommodated per programme.

Methodology

Our facilitators use PowerPoint visual presentations, role-play and case studies taken from the work environment. The programme is participative. A certificate of attendance is awarded upon completion of the programme and assessment against SAQA Unit Standards can be arranged separately.

Outline

Introduction and Context

Objectives & definitions: What is a business case?

Produce powerful proposals and comprehensive reports in the workplace

Module 1: Persuasive Proposals

• Identifying the intended audience for the communication
• Identifying the purpose & function of text
• Preliminary steps in the planning of the proposal
• Components of a proposal
• Background information and how it affects the selection of appropriate methods, structure / format and layout for the purpose
• Barriers to effective communication

Module 2: Comprehensive Reports

• What is a report?
• The purpose of the report. What are research reports and why would I write one?
• Where should I begin?
• Who is my audience and what will they expect?
• Understanding the sections of the report
• General technical writing guidelines
• Characteristics of an effective report

Module 3: Strategies to ensure that your proposals and reports are well received and appreciated

1. Organizing and structuring text appropriately
   • Elements of Craft
   • Seven deadly sins of writing
   • Eliminating barriers to effective communication
2. The importance of revising and editing
   Recognizing errors and checking for accuracy
   Drafting and editing a technical text - handout: An executive's guide
   
   • Some common writing faults to avoid
   • Appropriate style & tone, writing good paragraphs
   • Grammar, Syntax & Terminology
   • Logical sequence
3. Attractive information packaging: Writing positively and persuasively
   • Word "crafting" in powerful combinations,
   • Expressive, creative words that stick in people's minds

Conclusion and application