The answer is alternatives considered. This critical element is often missing from a business case because the document must justify why the recommended approach is the best option, which requires evaluating at least one alternative—such as build vs. buy or different technical solutions. Without a comparison of alternatives considered, stakeholders cannot assess whether the proposed solution is optimal or cost-effective, making the business case incomplete. On the Certified Associate in Project Management CAPM exam, this concept tests your understanding of the business case’s role in project selection; it frequently appears in questions asking you to identify missing components from a given exhibit. A common trap is to overlook the need for documented trade-offs, focusing only on costs or benefits. Memory tip: think “ABC” for a strong business case—Alternatives, Benefits, Costs.
CAPM Business Analysis Frameworks Practice Question
This CAPM practice question tests your understanding of business analysis frameworks. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
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Business Case Summary
- Problem: High operational costs
- Proposed Solution: Automate manual processes
- Estimated Cost: $2M
- Expected Benefits: $3M annual savings
- Timeframe: 18 months
- Risks: Implementation complexity, staff resistance
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Refer to the exhibit. Which critical element is missing from this business case?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Alternatives considered
The business case is missing a comparison of alternatives considered. A business case must justify why the selected approach is the best option, which requires evaluating at least one alternative (e.g., build vs. buy, different technical solutions). Without this, stakeholders cannot assess whether the recommended solution is optimal or cost-effective.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Project sponsor
Why it's wrong here
Sponsor is not typically part of business case summary; it may appear elsewhere.
✗
Detailed schedule
Why it's wrong here
Timeframe is given; detailed schedule is not expected in a summary.
✓
Alternatives considered
Why this is correct
Alternatives analysis is essential to demonstrate that other options were evaluated.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Risk mitigation plan
Why it's wrong here
Risks are listed, but mitigation can be part of the full business case.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
PMI often tests the misconception that a business case is just a high-level summary, but PMI requires it to include alternatives considered to demonstrate objective decision-making.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In PMI's Business Analysis for Practitioners, the business case must include a cost-benefit analysis, alignment with strategic goals, and a comparison of alternatives (e.g., make vs. buy, different vendors, or technical approaches). This ensures the recommended solution is justified against other viable options, preventing bias or hidden assumptions. Real-world example: a company proposing a cloud migration must compare it against on-premises upgrades, hybrid models, or doing nothing, with quantifiable metrics like TCO and ROI.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Business Analysis Frameworks — This question tests Business Analysis Frameworks — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Alternatives considered — The business case is missing a comparison of alternatives considered. A business case must justify why the selected approach is the best option, which requires evaluating at least one alternative (e.g., build vs. buy, different technical solutions). Without this, stakeholders cannot assess whether the recommended solution is optimal or cost-effective.
What should I do if I get this CAPM question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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