SBAR - Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendations
Summarizing the business case and the need for change
When discussing the need for a project and advising on best practice, try to summarize your recommendation using an SBAR.
SBAR is an acronym that stands for situation, background, analysis, and recommendation. We have found that this format is useful for creating and communicating a project’s business case.
S = Situation – The situation component of the document is used to clearly explain what the problem is.
B = Background – The background section allows the author to provide details on how long the problem has been occurring, where the problem is occurring, and how is being impacted.
A = Assessment – The assessment section is used to share the analysis that has been performed to measure and capture the impact of the problem on the business, the customer, and the operator. The assessment section also allows the author to highlight any business risk, as well as highlight the benefit that can be realized should the project be successful. The assessment section can also be used to highlight how the project aligns with the organization’s goals.
R = Recommendation – In regard to process improvement, the recommendation section is typically used to discuss the project approach, project timeline, ideal project team (project manager, owner, sponsor, SMEs, etc.) and importance of prioritizing the project.
To download the customizable SBAR template (in Microsoft Word), please add the SBAR template to your cart and hit check out.
Because of its simplicity and conciseness, the SBAR format has been popular among leaders when summarize the business case for projects that are not overly complex. To learn more about using an SBAR to summarize the need for change either through a project, or another catalyst, please refer to our summary video.
Download the Free "SBAR" Template (PDF)
Purchase the template to customize for your own organization
All of our tools and templates are available in Word or PowerPoint format to allow organizations to purchase and customize the templates to their brand standards.
The SBAR template is a great tool for creating and communicating the business case for a project idea or other change initiative. If you aren’t currently using a standard template for suggesting improvement opportunities to decision makers, please consider adopting use of an SBAR.
Suggesting and approving project requests is a critical step in ensuring an organization is working on the right change efforts. This topic is a core concept of leading and sponsoring change. To learn more about sponsoring projects, please visit our Introduction to Project Sponsorship Certification Course.
The project sponsor plays a critical role in the success of an organization’s change initiatives. To get the total value out of its change initiatives, the organization must invest in leadership the skills they will need to help govern project activities. Effective project sponsorship helps ensure that the organization is working on the right projects and that the project teams have adequate support.
Need help completing your SBAR?
Schedule a 30 minute coach call today and let’s talk through the details.
Never Miss an Improvement Nerds Episode
Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest articles, tools, templates, podcasts, and improvement tips. All delivered right to your inbox!
Let’s nerd out!