From strategy to action: Building the case for a university's transformation

 

Overview

A leading Australian university engaged BDO to develop a suite of comprehensive business cases to guide investment decisions under its new strategic plan. The overarching aim was to identify, analyse, and assess initiatives to deliver the university's most significant financial and non-financial benefits while ensuring alignment with the institution’s strategic priorities.

Grounded in robust financial and economic analysis, the business cases were designed to give the university’s leadership and Board the clarity and confidence needed to make significant investment decisions, balancing ambition with sustainability and practical delivery.

Delivery

BDO applied a structured methodology that combined frameworks with tailored stakeholder engagement. Our approach integrated investment logic mapping, horizon planning, and strategy mapping with independent analysis to ensure each business case was aligned, evidence-based, and practical.

Key elements of delivery included:

• Stakeholder consultation: Engaging senior leaders, faculty representatives, and professional staff through workshops and interviews to validate assumptions and build alignment
• Investment logic mapping and horizon planning: Framing the case for change, clarifying objectives, and sequencing initiatives over time
• Options assessment: Evaluating alternative delivery pathways through structured analysis of costs, benefits, risks, and interdependencies
• Financial and economic appraisal: Conducting robust financial and economic analysis to assess the costs, benefits, and value of each initiative, including scenario testing and sensitivity analysis. Key metrics such as net present value and benefit-cost ratios were calculated to provide leadership with a clear and transparent view of potential returns and investment implications
• Risk rating and analysis: Applying a structured risk matrix to identify key risks, dependencies, and mitigations
• Implementation planning: Designing staged roadmaps with milestones, governance arrangements, and resourcing requirements
• Training and capability uplift: Co-designing and delivering on-the-job training and a two-day training session to strengthen in-house business case capabilities, equipping teams with the skills to develop robust business cases independently in the future.

Alongside the business cases, BDO delivered tailored documentation to support review, presentation, and approval - ensuring decision-makers had materials fit for executive and governance forums.

Outcome

This engagement delivered more than business cases: it provided the university with clarity, confidence, and momentum to act decisively on its most important priorities.

Key impacts included:

• Sharper decision-making: Leadership gained a clear, evidence-based view of costs, risks, and benefits, enabling transparent prioritisation of initiatives
• Compelling case for change: Initiatives were anchored in a clear strategic narrative supported by robust data and analysis, strengthening their credibility and influence
• Confidence in investment: Independent financial and economic modelling gave assurance that proposals were both ambitious and affordable
• Alignment and buy-in: Extensive consultation created shared ownership of the initiatives, ensuring leaders and stakeholders were aligned on the path forward
• Momentum for transformation: With detailed implementation plans and supporting documentation, the university was equipped to move quickly from strategy into delivery.

Through this process, BDO enabled the institution to turn high-level strategic intent into actionable, fundable, and achievable initiatives - giving leadership the confidence to invest in a way that drives meaningful, lasting impact.

How BDO can help

Our strategy and transformation and project and infrastructure advisory teams work with universities and public sector organisations to design and deliver business cases that combine strategic clarity with financial endorsement. By applying structured frameworks and engaging stakeholders throughout the process, we provide clients with the evidence, analysis, and tools they need to make confident investment decisions.

Our services include:

• Investment logic mapping and strategy mapping to define rationale and objectives
• Options assessment and comparative analysis to evaluate pathways and trade-offs
• Financial and economic modelling to test affordability and sustainability
• Risk rating and analysis to identify and mitigate barriers
• Stakeholder engagement programs that validate assumptions and build alignment
• Implementation planning and horizon mapping to sequence actions and set up governance for delivery.

Through this integrated approach, BDO enables clients to develop investment cases that are credible, transparent, and tailored for decision-making, ensuring lasting impact and value.

Contact us to find out how our strategy consulting and project infrastructure advisory teams can assist your organisation.