CBA Loop App: A Practical Guide to Iterative Cost-Benefit Analysis

Overview

The CBA Loop App is a conceptual software tool designed to support iterative cost-benefit analysis. It helps teams capture costs and benefits, test assumptions, and visualize tradeoffs as projects evolve.

What is a CBA loop?

A CBA loop is an ongoing cycle of planning, collecting data, evaluating outcomes, and adjusting actions to maximize value while managing risk.

Who is it for?

Cross-functional teams in product development, operations, policy, and procurement can use a CBA loop to align on value and tradeoffs.

Key features

Data capture and inputs

Users enter costs, benefits, timelines, risks, and assumptions.

Scenario planning

Create multiple what-if scenarios to compare options under different assumptions.

Visualization and dashboards

Charts and dashboards summarize net value, payback, and sensitivity to inputs.

Loop automation and reminders

Reminders prompt re-evaluation after milestones or when data changes.

Collaboration and commentary

Teams comment, assign owners, and track decisions.

How it works

Step-by-step workflow

• Define the objective and scope.
• Gather data from relevant sources.
• Run scenario analyses with transparent assumptions.
• Compare options using a shared value metric.
• Decide, implement, and monitor results.
• Re-enter the loop as new data arrives.

Data sources and integration

Connects with common data sources and exports results for reports.

Decision criteria

Clear criteria help teams choose options beyond just the numeric ROI.

Use cases

Product development

Assess features or experiments by value and cost over time.

Process improvement

Evaluate efficiency gains and implementation costs.

Public policy and procurement

Weigh costs and benefits of policy options or vendor selections.

Getting started

Quick-start guide

Sign up, create a new analysis, and add your first data points.

Best practices

Document assumptions, keep the loop simple, and re-check results periodically.

Common pitfalls

Overcomplicating models or ignoring external factors.