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Description

Investment Decision-Making: Assessing Returns, Prioritising and Securing the Choice

Build a robust investment case and defend a costed recommendation before a demanding committee

  • 2 days — 14 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Expert
  • Up to 6 participants

Investment cases often reach committee with inconsistent assumptions: an analysis horizon chosen case by case, a discount rate carried over from an older file, forecast cash flows that are systematically favourable. The committee then compares projects that are not comparable and decides on the sponsor's conviction rather than on the numbers.

Two days to professionalise the appraisal process: building cash flows consistent with the business plan, selecting a justified discount rate, measuring sensitivity to key assumptions, then prioritising competing projects under funding constraints. Participants prepare a complete investment case and present their recommendation.

Learning objectives

  • Build the forecast cash flows of an investment project
  • Determine a discount rate consistent with the project's risk profile
  • Compare projects using standard investment appraisal criteria
  • Measure the sensitivity of the outcome to key assumptions
  • Prioritise competing projects under capital constraints
  • Organise the post-approval monitoring of committed investments

What makes this programme different

Full appraisal of an industrial investment case, from assumptions through to committee review
Sensitivity analysis built on a spreadsheet and interpreted live in session
Oral presentation of a recommendation before a simulated investment committee

Programme

1Framing the project

Separating the project from the company behind it

  • Defining the scope and the analysis horizon
  • Identifying incremental cash flows and excluding sunk costs
  • Treating the working capital requirement generated by the project
  • Incorporating terminal value and end-of-life costs

2Discount rate and appraisal criteria

Quantifying value creation

  • Estimating the cost of the capital employed
  • Adjusting the rate to the specific risk of the project
  • Calculating net present value and internal rate of return
  • Interpreting the discounted payback period
  • Recognising the cases where the internal rate of return is misleading

3Risk and sensitivity

Testing how robust the assumptions are

  • Identifying the assumptions that drive the outcome
  • Building contrasting scenarios
  • Measuring the tipping points of the decision
  • Handling staged projects and abandonment options

4Decision and follow-up

Choosing, then verifying

  • Prioritising projects under funding constraints
  • Drafting the presentation note for the committee
  • Defending the assumptions against challenge
  • Organising post-approval monitoring and lessons learned

Who is it for

Management controllers, finance directors, business unit heads and project managers responsible for preparing investment cases.

Prerequisites

Working knowledge of discounting mechanics and the ability to read financial statements.

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.