Harvard ManageMentor — BUSINESS CASE DEVELOPMENT TOOLS

Worksheet for Identifying Alternatives

Use this worksheet to identify alternatives for seizing an opportunity. Before you can identify alternatives,
you’ll need to first define your opportunity and identify the business objectives and metrics you’ll want to use.
See Steps for Analyzing Alternatives and Steps for Choosing a Final Recommendation for help with comparing
your options and making a recommendation.

Part I: Defining the Opportunity

Define the opportunity
Briefly describe the problem you want to solve or opportunity you want to seize.

Draft an opportunity statement

Describe the benefits that will come from solving the problem or seizing the opportunity. For example, answer the
question, “How will my group/unit/company benefit from spending resources to address this issue?” Be sure to avoid the
common mistake of defining the opportunity in terms of a preferred solution.

Part II: Identifying Objectives and Metrics

Identify relevant business objectives
List the key business objectives for your organization that are most relevant to the opportunity listed above. To find out
what your company considers important, examine the key business metrics it tracks (e.g., customer loyalty, environmental
responsibility, etc.)

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6.
Prioritize your objectives
Narrow your list to three or four objectives by considering your stakeholders. Which objectives are they most likely to
consider important, based on their needs and interests? Which objectives do they tend to use as the basis for decision
making?
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2.

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4.

Identify metrics for each objective

Identify metrics that map to each of your objectives. Once you’ve determined your alternatives, you’ll use these metrics to
measure the impact of each of your options. Sample metrics include: customer satisfaction, customer retention, employee
satisfaction, turnover, cycle time, costs, etc.
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2.

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Part III: Generating Alternatives

Generate a list of alternatives
What are the alternative courses of action for realizing your opportunity—and meeting key business objectives?
Remember that the status quo should always be considered as an option. To ensure that you consider a full set of
alternatives, convene a group of stakeholders for a brainstorming session.

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5. Status quo option

Narrow your list of alternatives

List your best two or three options, in addition to the status quo. Use your best judgment to come up with a reasonable set
of options that will likely address your business objectives and stakeholders’ needs.

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2.

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4. Status quo option

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