Building the Case for HR Modernization

The purpose of the Federal Human Resources Modernization Business Case Playbook is to help users increase the probability of securing modernization activity approval and the supporting funding by preparing better business cases. The playbook provides a guide for federal government decision makers to prepare winning business cases for human resource (HR) modernization activities by focusing on gap identification, outcome selection and cost considerations. 

For the purposes of this playbook the term ‘outcome’ refers to both outcomes [changes to operating conditions] and outputs [results of production] collectively. Each output’s benefit thus is considered as either an improvement to production or change to the operating environment that provides the agency an advantage or efficiency in achieving its mission.

Not all modernization activities will require funding beyond an agency’s operational budget. For example, the adoption of governmentwide human resource service measures, such as those promulgated by the Human Resource Quality Service Management Office (HR QSMO), and advocated by the HR Line of Business may allow agencies to simply shift into a uniform method of performing human resource work to improve its timeliness, efficiency and accuracy, thereby modernizing its human resource services.