A global manufacturing company with $12B in annual revenue faced growing challenges managing its extended workforce.
Challenge Area
Initial State
Business Impact
Program Scope
12,000+ contingent workers across 45 countries
Global complexity requiring enterprise solution
Technology
7 disconnected regional systems
Fragmented data and inconsistent processes
Visibility
Limited insight into $620M annual spend
Financial leakage and missed opportunities
Compliance
Exposure in multiple jurisdictions
Regulatory risk and audit findings
Talent Access
55-day average time-to-fill for critical roles
Project delays and competitive disadvantage
Business Case Development
The company's Global Contingent Workforce Director led development of a comprehensive business case following the Master Business Case Framework:
Framework Component
Key Elements
Approach
Strategic Context & Problem Statement
• Connection to operational excellence• Quantified inefficiencies• Future state vision
• Data analysis• Stakeholder interviews• Benchmark comparison
Solution Overview & Approach
• Global VMS implementation• Standardized processes• Phased regional approach
• Technology evaluation• QuantumWork Advisory partnership• Implementation planning
Benefits Quantification
• $42M in first-year savings (6.8%)• 35% time-to-fill reduction• 22,000 manual hours eliminated
• Baseline data collection• QWA benchmark application• ROI modeling
Implementation Roadmap
• 26-week implementation plan• Change management for 1,800+ users• Resource and governance model
• QWA methodology• Phased regional approach• Dedicated program team
Risk Assessment
• Integration complexity focus• Regional adoption strategies• Implementation contingencies
• Risk workshop• Mitigation planning• Governance model
Communication Strategy
The director created multiple communication vehicles:
Audience
Communication Vehicle
Key Focus
C-Suite
Executive summary (1-page)
Strategic value and ROI
Functional Leaders
Functional briefs (HR, Procurement, Finance, IT)
Function-specific benefits
Financial Stakeholders
ROI dashboard
Financial metrics and sensitivity
Operational Leaders
Implementation roadmap
Execution plan and resource needs
Results Achieved
After securing approval and engaging QuantumWork Advisory to lead the transformation, the company achieved:
Benefit Area
Target
Actual Results
Cost Savings
$42M (6.8% of spend)
$38.5M (6.2% of spend)
Time-to-Fill
35% reduction
41% reduction
Process Efficiency
22,000 hours eliminated
25,000+ hours eliminated
Full documentation
100% audit readiness achieved
Global program analytics
Real-time dashboard deployment
The project achieved full ROI within 8 months and continued to deliver incremental value through ongoing program optimization.
As you prepare to develop your own extended workforce transformation business case, use this checklist developed by QuantumWork Advisory"s implementation experts to ensure comprehensive coverage:
Preparation Phase
Activity
Resources
Assemble your team
• Program stakeholders• Data analysts• Financial resources• Executive sponsor
• Cross-functional representation• Dedicated time allocation• Executive support
Gather baseline data
• Current program spend• Process efficiency metrics• Compliance status• Technology landscape
• Spend analysis reports• Process mapping sessions• Risk assessment• Systems inventory
Conduct stakeholder interviews
• Pain points and challenges• Vision for future state• Resource availability• Potential resistance points
• Interview protocols• Facilitated workshops• Survey instruments• Feedback synthesis
Benchmark against peers
• Industry standards• Successful approaches• Typical ROI timelines• Common challenges
• QuantumWork Advisory benchmarks• Industry research• Peer networking• Case studies
Development Phase
Define the problem
• Quantify current limitations• Connect to strategic impact• Establish urgency• Articulate future vision
• Gap analysis• Impact assessment• Comparative metrics• Vision statement
Design the solution
• Evaluate technology options• Define process changes• Determine organizational model• Plan implementation approach
• Requirements definition• Solution evaluation• Design workshops• QuantumWork Advisory methodology
Quantify the benefits
• Calculate hard savings• Estimate productivity gains• Value risk reduction• Identify strategic advantages
• ROI modeling templates• Benchmark data• Scenario analysis• Financial validation
Develop implementation plan
• Create phased roadmap• Define resource requirements• Design change management• Establish governance
• Project planning tools• Resource loading templates• Change impact assessment• Governance framework
Assess risks and mitigations
• Develop Identify implementation risks• Evaluate adoption challenges• Address benefit realization• Develop contingencies
• Risk assessment matrix• Mitigation planning• Early warning indicators• Contingency measures
Communication Phase
Create multiple vehicles
• Executive summary• Stakeholder-specific briefs• Comprehensive document• Presentation materials
• Communication templates• Visualization tools• Narrative frameworks• QuantumWork Advisory examples
Tailor to audience needs
• Customize for stakeholders• Prepare for questions• Develop supporting materials• Create visual aids
• Stakeholder analysis• Q&A preparation• Data appendices• Visualization resources
process Establish decision
• Identify approval requirements• Map decision timeline• Schedule presentations• Prepare for formal process
planning• Decision documentation • Approval workflow• Decision authority matrix• Presentation
By following this structured approach to business case development, you create a compelling narrative for investment that addresses both rational financial analysis and the emotional case for change. The result is a powerful tool for securing the resources needed to transform your extended workforce management capabilities.
Benchmarking
Developing a fact-based analysis of your industry peers and competitors provides a critical foundation for your business case. QuantumWork Advisory"s proprietary benchmark data offers valuable insights into program performance across industries:
Program Dimension
Bottom Quartile
Median
Top Quartile
Top Performers
Cost Efficiency
<2% savings
4-6% savings
8-10% savings
12-15% savings
>45 days
30-45 days
20-30 days
<20 days
Compliance Documentation
<75% complete
75-90% complete
90-97% complete
>97% complete
Program Adoption
<70% spend
70-85% spend
85-95% spend
>95% spend
Process Automation
<25% automated
25-50% automated
50-75% automated
>75% automated
Our benchmark analysis typically reveals substantial performance gaps between organizations with mature, technology-enabled programs and those operating with manual or fragmented approaches:
Performance Dimension
Basic Programs
Intermediate Programs
Advanced Programs
Average Rate Premium
15-25% above market
5-15% above market
At or below market
Manual Processing Hours
>50 hours per $1M spend
25-50 hours per $1M spend
<25 hours per $1M spend
Compliance Issues
1 per 15 engagements
1 per 50 engagements
1 per 150+ engagements
Analytics Capability
Basic reporting
Performance tracking
Predictive analytics
Strategic Alignment
Transactional focus
Process excellence
Strategic enablement
These benchmarks provide invaluable context for your business case, establishing realistic targets and validating benefit projections based on actual results achieved by comparable organizations.
Pitfalls to Avoid
Based on QuantumWork Advisory"s experience supporting hundreds of business case developments, we"ve identified common pitfalls that can undermine otherwise promising investment proposals:
Pitfall
Description
Prevention Strategy
Focusing solely on technology
than a strategic program transformation Presenting the business case as a technology implementation rather
Frame the initiative as a business transformation enabled by technology rather than a system implementation
Overemphasizing cost savings
Building a case exclusively on financial returns without addressing strategic advantages
Balance financial benefits with strategic value, including talent access, risk reduction, and competitive advantage
Underestimating change impact
Failing to account for the organizational change management required for successful adoption
plan and budget allocation Include comprehensive change management in both implementation
Neglecting stakeholder diversity
Creating a one-size-fits-all business case that doesn"t address varied stakeholder concerns
Develop stakeholder-specific messaging that addresses each group"s primary motivations and concerns
Insufficient executive sponsorship
Pursuing approval without adequate executive support and active championing
Secure executive sponsorship early and involve sponsors in business case development and presentation
Unrealistic timeline/resource estimates
Setting expectations for rapid implementation without adequate resources
Develop realistic implementation timelines based on benchmark data and organizational readiness
Weak connection to strategic priorities
Failing to link the program transformation to enterprise strategic objectives
and strategic execution Explicitly connect extended workforce capabilities to competitive advantage
By proactively addressing these common pitfalls, you significantly increase your likelihood of business case approval and subsequent implementation success.
