11-05-2025

Client Case: City of Amsterdam

Prioritization within the I-domain of the City of Amsterdam

The City of Amsterdam is one of the largest municipalities in the Netherlands, serving over 900,000 residents. Within the Directorate of Digitalization, specifically in the I-domain, there was a growing need for a uniform approach to prioritizing project proposals — so-called Epics (large-scale initiatives within agile environments). Clear guidelines for weighing value, risks, and required resources were lacking, leading to uncertainty in decision-making and prioritization.

The Challenge

How can we enable the I-domain of the City of Amsterdam to make well-informed decisions and better prioritize Epics using a standardized business case methodology?

Our Approach

To develop a widely supported and practical standard methodology for business cases, we began with extensive desk research on the municipality's intranet. We also conducted interviews with key stakeholders and organized multiple feedback rounds with the relevant expert groups. This ensured a well-founded and broadly supported methodology.

For the domains SLIM, Sustainability, and Areas, we followed a similar approach. We performed a benchmark with a comparable initiative in the municipality of Enschede and conducted a feasibility analysis. Through interviews and a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis, we gained insights into the feasibility and impact of applying the methodology within these domains.

Finally, we developed a concrete implementation plan. This included design choices, project activities, a detailed timeline, and a handover plan. This ensures a structured transfer of ownership of the methodology to the organization.

Result

The recommendation is to apply the standardized business case methodology structurally within the assignment-oriented and agile working approach of the I-domain in the City of Amsterdam. The methodology contributes to better substantiation, clearer decision-making, and more effective prioritization of Epics.

This recommendation aligns with the need for a uniform approach that provides insight into the value, risks, and financial implications of projects. Thanks to this approach, well-considered decisions can be made, and the execution of projects can be more effectively managed.