MARTÍN GILSTRATEGY & INTELLIGENCE

MGS Executive Toolkit Collection · ET-009

Decision support tool

Investment and CAPEX Assessment

Decide whether an investment deserves capital before sunk costs shape the answer.

Assess investments by need, total cost, cash impact, return, risk and approval conditions.

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Editable XLSX file compatible with Excel, Numbers and Google Sheets.

When to use itBefore committing resources or closing a difficult-to-reverse decision.
What to prepareVerifiable evidence, owners, limits and alternatives.
What you will obtainCompare value, urgency and risk using one decision framework.

What problem it helps solve

Assess investments by need, total cost, cash impact, return, risk and approval conditions.

Questions to answer before deciding

  • What problem or opportunity makes the investment necessary?
  • Does the estimate include implementation, training and maintenance?
  • When will cash leave the business?
  • What measurable benefit is expected?
  • Which assumptions change the conclusion?

How the result is interpreted

The 0–100 result is calculated only from confirmed rows. Document completeness is shown separately so that a completed worksheet is not confused with a favourable decision.

What it does not replace

The tool structures a decision. It does not replace financial, legal, tax, technical or human review when specialist verification is required.

User guide

How to use the tool

1

Define the scope

Specify the decision or situation being assessed.

2

Record evidence

Use verifiable data and documents.

3

Score from 1 to 5

Use one consistent and justified scale.

4

Close with accountability

Assign a condition and owner before confirming a row.

Within the framework

Decide

This tool forms part of the MGS Strategic Intelligence Framework™ and should be interpreted together with evidence, limits and the review mechanism.

Further reading

  1. Porter, M. E. (1980). Competitive Strategy. Free Press.
  2. Porter, M. E. (1985). Competitive Advantage. Free Press.
  3. Mintzberg, H. (1994). The Rise and Fall of Strategic Planning. Free Press.
  4. Kaplan, R. S. y Norton, D. P. (1996). The Balanced Scorecard. Harvard Business School Press.
  5. Christensen, C. M. (1997). The Innovator’s Dilemma. Harvard Business School Press.

Review methodology criteria, scoring and limitations.

Next step

When the tool identifies material exposure

Convert material gaps into a decision question, a verifiable scope and an expected outcome.

Discuss the situationKnowledge Centre