Building the business case

(Or: “Please can I go on Twitter?”)

CyMAL: Amgueddfeydd Archifau a Llyfrgelloedd CymruCyMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales

Alyson TylerLibraries Development Adviser

CyMAL, Welsh Government@libalyson

http://libalyson.wordpress.comhttp://www.slideshare.net/alysontyler

Outline of talk

• What is a business case?

• Why make a business case?

• What to include in one

• Other considerations

• Questions from you

What is a business case?

• A formal request process in a work setting• A request for something e.g. new project, with

supporting information • Usually in document format, or could be as a

verbal presentation (‘pitch’)

• Records justification for why you want to do something

Why make a business case?

– To comply with your employer’s requirements

– To formally request permission to do something– To formally request additional resources– To help you think about a new project and put your ideas

in order– To help identify:

• options and alternatives

• resources required in doing something new/different

• risks and benefits associated with a new project

What to include in a business case?

• Check to see if there is a corporate template for business cases

• Check to see if there is a social media policy

Possible generic sections:– Background & context – description of the situation– Project details including objectives – Benefits– Risks

– Resource implications– Evaluation methods

Creating a social media business case for librarians - what you could include (1/2)

– Social media background and how some libraries are using it

– What channels (presences) you wish to create and why

– Rationale for creating your own/the library channels (separate from corporate ones)

– Objectives for the channel/s– Potential content (sample ideas)

– Audience(s)

Creating a social media business case for librarians - what you could include(2/2)

– Benefits of creating a presence – Risks (and how you will mitigate them) – Timescales

– Resource implications (time, skills, software)– Language/s– Handling comments/messages etc

– Promotion of the channel/s– Evaluation

Here’s one I made earlier…

www.slideshare.net/alysontyler

Other considerations– The law…

• Defamation, libel, obscene or blasphemous material

• Discrimination• FOI requests

• Copyright (e.g. on pictures), data protection• Professional code of conduct

– Check your organisation’s

guidelines on social media

presence and usage

My lap-cat (obligatory cat & computer picture)

Any questions?

Diolch yn fawr

Contact details

alyson.tyler@wales.gsi.gov.uk

@libalyson

http://libalyson.wordpress.com

http://libalysoncym.wordpress.com (Cymraeg)

http://www.slideshare.net/alysontyler

Bibli family pictures © Welsh Government