Just as there is no one-size-fits-all business case, there is no one best way to use this Guide to building a business case. There are at least three ways to use the Guide.

One is as a tutorial, primarily for those new architects with limited experience in designing and presenting a business case. In using the Guide as a tutorial, start at the beginning and work through the sections in order to get an overall picture of the various tasks to be completed for any particular business case situation. New architects could begin their business case development as they work through the sections, so that they have some of the work completed by the time they have finished the Guide. They could then use the examples and materials in the appendices to move the case closer to completion.

A second way to use the Guide, appropriate for more experienced architects, is as a reference tool, selecting material in whatever sequence is useful. These architects may come to the task of building a business case with a variety of experiences and skills in the Guide topics. For these more experienced users, the Guide can serve as a general reference tool or as a source of links to related materials and examples.

A third way to use the Guide applies to even more experienced architects who have no need for general guidance in building a business case. For them, the Guide can have a different use-as a source of links to examples, supporting material, and to other architects who are working on similar information integration agendas. Since we view integration as an ongoing process, one successful business case will likely lead to others. Experienced architects and builders will therefore have an ongoing need for new information and can benefit from examples and access to colleagues facing similar challenges. The Guide includes extensive examples and links to print and electronic sources, as well as to organizations that provide support and material for these kinds of objectives.

TABLE 1 HELPFUL ANALYTICAL CASE-BUILDING TOOLS

Helpful case-building tools

Type of Analysis	Tools
To know where you are today: assessing your current situation and comparing it to others	Environmental Scanning Self-Assessment Current/Best Practices Research Benchmarking News Analysis
To know where you want to go: articulating a vision and choosing specific objectives	Hopes & Fears Exercise Visioning Strategic Framework Consensus Building, Collaboration, & Decision Making
To know the market for your ideas: identifying and understanding your audience	Positioning Charts Stakeholder Analysis Partisan Analysis
To know how to get from here to there: identifying and evaluating options	MAU Models SWOT Analysis Cost-Benefit/Cost-Performance Analysis Risk Analysis
To know how to organize your argument: prioritizing and planning	Prioritizing Methods Strategic Planning Methods
These tools are adapted from the Center for Technology in Government's Making Smart IT Choices .

1 These tools are adapted from The Center for Technology in Government"s Making Smart IT Choices which can be accessed on the Internet at www.ctg.albany.edu/ resources/smartit.pdf.