What does the commercial case primarily ensure about the preferred option?

The commercial case is a critical component of the business case framework, primarily aimed at ensuring that the preferred option leads to a viable procurement and well-structured deal. This means that the commercial case evaluates the feasibility of procurement strategies, the potential supplier market, and outlines how the deal can be effectively negotiated and executed to meet the project's objectives.

This aspect is vital because it ensures that the chosen option is not only beneficial in terms of meeting the project's goals but also can be practically acquired within set parameters such as cost, quality, and delivery times. A robust commercial case will assess risks, rewards, and the overall market landscape to confirm that the selected choice can be actioned successfully in a manner that supports sustainable business outcomes.

In contrast, while stakeholder backing, cost considerations, and resource availability are all important elements of a project’s success, they do not define the core purpose of the commercial case itself. Stakeholder backing can be influenced by various factors beyond just the commercial viability, the lowest cost option might not represent the best value for money when quality or delivery timelines are taken into account, and implementation without additional resources would be more relevant to financial or operational cases rather than focusing on the commercial aspects alone. Thus, the primary focus of the commercial case aligns closely