An Open GenAI Business Case Analysis Best Practice: A Methodology for Data Program Transformation

Target Audience for Methodology – Executive and Senior Analysts

Here is a breakdown of how the document meets the needs of the executive and analyst audience.

For the Executive Sponsor (The “Why”) – An executive sponsor requires a high-level strategic view focused on business value, return on investment, and sound governance. The method and resulting outputs provides the strategic justification, financial rationale, and governance framework necessary for an executive to confidently understand, champion, and sponsor the proposed GenAI initiative. E.g. 

  • Clear, High-Level Summaries: The document begins with a concise Executive Summary that provides a complete overview of the methodology and its benefits. The “Methodology at a Glance” summary and the “Phased Methodology Overview” table we added offer an even quicker, at-a-glance understanding for a busy executive.
  • Focus on Business Value and ROI: The process is explicitly “Mission-Driven”. Phase 4 culminates in a “Modernization Blueprint” with the primary goal of justifying the investment. The Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) Worksheet is specifically designed to calculate financial metrics like ROI, directly addressing the executive’s need for financial justification.
  • Robust Governance and Risk Management: This is critical for a sponsor. Phase 5 is entirely dedicated to “Governance and Continuous Improvement” , outlining the need for a formal governance body , performance measurement , and a continuous improvement loop. The document specifically notes that for major initiatives to succeed, “Business sponsorship is paramount, not IT as lead”, which aligns perfectly with an executive’s perspective on ownership and accountability.
  • Strategic Roadmapping: The methodology requires the creation of a clear Implementation Roadmap and provides a template for detailed, phased
     Action Plans. This assures an executive that there is a clear, strategic, and manageable plan for execution, not just a one-time technical analysis.

For the Senior Analyst (The “How”) – To perform this analysis and product the outputs, a senior analyst requires a detailed, logical, and repeatable process with practical tools. The method provides a complete and actionable playbook that a senior analyst can use to execute a thorough and defensible GenAI business case from start to finish. The document provides this through:

  • A Structured, Phased Methodology: The document is built around five distinct phases, from Initiation to Governance. Each phase includes a clear
     Objective, Key Activities, Inputs, and Outputs , giving the analyst a clear, step-by-step process to follow.
  • A Comprehensive Toolkit of Templates: Appendix B is the analyst’s core toolkit. It contains seven detailed templates and checklists that provide the practical structure needed for key activities , including the Stakeholder Analysis Matrix , Use Case Prioritization Matrix , Data Readiness Checklist , and Risk Assessment Matrix.
  • Clear Guidance on Technical and Data Analysis: The document provides specific guidance on performing critical technical analysis, such as conducting a Data Readiness Assessment , evaluating specific GenAI components like RAG and GANs , and performing a comprehensive risk analysis.

A Real-World Case Study: Appendix C grounds the entire methodology in a real-world example by analyzing the OGC Wildland Fire reports. This gives the analyst confidence that the process is not just theoretical but is based on successful, practical application.