Tool details

Simple Cost-benefit Analysis

Perform a simple cost–benefit analysis of your initiatives.

Tool category:

Ideation
Prioritize

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When to use

When you have several ideas that you need to prioritise, this analysis will provide a basis for prioritising the implementation of your initiatives.

Why you should

When looking at the cost-benefit value you will get a clearer picture of wich initiatives will give you the most value for the cost.

What you get

This analysis will provide a good basis for prioritising the implementation of your initiatives.

Steps to take

1

Because actual data may be difficult to find at this point, you can use a simple ten-point scoring system to quantify the anticipated costs and benefits of your initiatives. If you have data to use in your analysis, you should feel free to employ a more sophisticated methodology.

2

Divide the Benefit score by the Cost score. This will give you the Benefit Cost Ratio.

3

You should then rank your initiatives from highest Benefit Cost Ratio to lowest.

Further reading

Use your best judgement when scoring your initiatives. A score of 1 would indicate a very low cost or benefit and a score of 10 means a very high cost or benefit.