• key aims, objectives and benefits to be gained/ problems to be solved (proposal statement and rationale)
• research undertaken—methods, sources, verification
• data collected to support forecast
• capital and other resource requirements
• proposed timelines
• back-up procedures
• alternatives considered (lease, purchase options, new vs second-hand-repairs vs new equipment— other methods of solving the problem or exploiting the opportunity)
• financial calculations, assumptions underlying calculations
• capital sources, viability of sources and return on investment timeframes
• risk analysis including the impact of not making the change
• evaluations in quantitative and qualitative terms, impact on other sections/ divisions
• environmental considerations including sustainability