Business analysts, project managers, business change practitioners and anyone who is involved in managing and measuring business benefits. Benefits Planning and Realisation is also a Business module on the BCS (ISEB) Advanced Diploma in Business Analysis.

The Benefits Planning and Realisation course covers all the key approaches and techniques you need to identify, manage and realise business benefits effectively. This includes categorising and quantifying benefits, planning for benefits delivery and managing the business case through the change process. We’ll also look at the benefits dependency network and how to develop a financial case for business change.
Presented to you by one of the expert training consultants pictured below. Each member of the training team brings substantial experience of managing business benefits to the programme.

Upon the completion of this workshop, candidates will be able to:

• Recognise the context for benefits management 
• Define a benefits management process 
• Identify organisational drivers and business benefits 
• Construct a benefits dependency network 
• Build a business case and classify business benefits 
• Undertake an investment appraisal 
• Recognise the need for stakeholder and change management 
• Explain the tasks required in implementing a benefits management approach 

BCS Certificate in Benefits Planning And Realisation (a three-day course)

Course Content

The context for benefits management (10%)

• Issues with the relationship of IS/IT delivery to benefits
• Characteristics of a benefits management approach
• Value and the value proposition
• Value chains and value networks
  • External value chain analysis
  • Internal value chain analysis
  • Alternative value chain configurations

The benefits management lifecycle (25%)

• The rationale for benefits management
• An overview of the benefits management process
  • Identifying and structuring benefits
  • Planning benefits realisation
  • Executing the benefits plan
  • Reviewing and evaluating the results
  • Establishing the potential for further benefits

Identifying drivers, benefits and establishing a benefits
dependency network (25%)

• Why: Identifying business and organisational drivers
• Establishing investment objectives
• Linking business benefits to drivers
• What: the business benefits
  • Benefit owners
  • Change owners
• How: the benefits dependency network
  • Business changes
  • Enabling changes
  • IS/IT enablers

Building the business case (15%)

• The rationale of the business case
• A structure for analysing and describing benefits
  • Observable benefits
  • Measurable benefits
  • Quantifiable benefits
  • Financial benefits
• Quantifying the benefits & overcoming the measurable to quantifiable barrier
• Financial benefits
  • Cost reductions
  • Revenue increases
• Investment appraisal
  • Payback
  • Discounted cash flow/Net present value
  • Internal rate of return
• Risk assessment
• Completing the business case

Stakeholder and change management (10%)

• Assessing the feasibility of achieving the benefits
• Stakeholder analysis and management techniques
  • Power and influence
  • Benefits and change
• Completing the benefits plan
• Change management strategies

Implementing a benefits management approach (10%)

• Rationale for introducing benefits management
• Initiating and managing a benefits-driven project
• Roles within benefits management
  • The project sponsor
  • The business project manager
  • The project management office
• The benefits plan and the project plan
• Benefits management workshops
• Reviewing and evaluating results/benefits review meeting
• Establishing potential for further benefits
• Monitoring the benefits after implementation
  • embedding the benefits
  • disaggregating benefits
• A maturity model for organisational benefits

The future of benefits management (5%)

• Benefits management and strategy
• Future trends in IS/IT and the implications for benefits management

©Assist Knowledge Development Ltd.

Here's a quick guide to the topics covered on each day of the course.

To give you more of an idea of what you’ll learn and how the course will help you, here’s a quick guide to those three days.

For virtual courses a printed copy of the latest edition of the comprehensive course manual will be sent to your home address in good time for the start of your course. Our delegates tell us that having access to a physical document is beneficial as both a reference document and for taking notes during the course. In addition, a link will be emailed to you to enable you to access an electronic copy of the same comprehensive manual for convenient future reference.

Yes. During this three day course you’ll receive all the training you need to prepare for the BCS Benefits Planning and Realisation Professional certificate examination. A pass means you’re another step closer to achieving the BCS International Advanced Diploma in Business Analysis. One last thing; this course also enables you to develop SFIA skills BENM, level 5.

For delegates attending a classroom, virtual classroom or eLearning course, the exam may be taken remotely using the BCS online proctoring service. This exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions with a pass mark of 26/40.

If this course is part of your BCS Advanced Diploma in Business Analysis programme you have a choice of further modules you can take including Business Architecture, Agile Business Analysis, Data Analysis, Advanced Requirements Engineering, Business Finance, Stakeholder Engagement and Team Leadership. The structure of the certification is shown here.

How do AssistKD’s virtual classroom courses work?

AssistKD’s virtual courses are conducted live and online in a ‘virtual’ classroom space via Microsoft Teams. 
On each day of the course, we ask delegates to log on in time for a 9am start. The courses end at 4.30pm. An hour is ring-fenced for lunch, but timings can vary.

Designed to be interactive, responsive and engaging, our virtual (live) courses are led by trainers who are experts in their fields, with real-life industry experience. 
The benefit of the virtual classroom is that delegates enjoy all the benefits of ‘in-real-time' training, but with no travel requirements or overnight stays. 

Regular comfort breaks, team exercises and break-out sessions keep delegates focused and reinforce learning. 
The courses allow learners to develop their professional toolkits.

Can you attend virtual classroom courses from outside the UK?

Yes, however you will be issued with a digital course manual in advance of the course, not a printed manual. 

When will I receive my joining instructions?

You will receive joining instructions two weeks before the start of your course. One week before the course you will receive detailed instructions on how to log on.

I am concerned about logging on, is there support available?

If you have concerns about logging on and your technology, it is best to address these prior to the day of the course. We can offer you a test call at a time that suits you. To request this please contact support@assistkd.com

I have additional needs, can they be accommodated?

Please provide us with full details of any additional needs in advance of the course so that we can work with you to accommodate them. Please contact enquiries@assistkd.com

When will I receive my course manual?

You will receive your course manual, in both printed and digital form, two weeks before the start of your course.

Can you accommodate a last-minute booking?

Yes, provided there is availability.

Do you offer discounted prices if I am taking more than one course?

Yes, please contact enquires@assistkd.com

What happens if I need to reschedule, do I have to pay twice?

If you need to reschedule, to avoid a cancellation fee please give 10 working days’ notice by contacting enquiries@assistkd.com.

Do the courses run on consecutive days?

Yes. Courses which last for more than one day are delivered on consecutive days from the start date indicated. These are on working days, during Monday to Friday.

Do you offer courses over the weekend?

Our virtual (live) classroom and face-to-face classroom courses run from Monday to Friday only.

Is the exam taken during the actual course?

No. The exam can be taken on a date and time of your choice. You will be provided with exam registration details before the start of your course. We recommend that you take the exam within two weeks of the end of your course, while the knowledge is fresh.

When will I receive my exam results and certificate?

Exams will be taken online you will find out your result immediately on completion. Then, approximately two weeks after the exam this will be confirmed via the BCS portal and you can print out your certificate.