# Cost-Benefit Analysis Workshop Course

Canonical URL: <https://training.sdfm.org/courses/costbenefit-analysis-workshop>

## Overview

Receive a solid foundation in the planning framework for cost-benefit studies, including cost types and behaviors, present-value concept, cost-effectiveness versus cost-benefit, internal rate of return, OMB Circular A-94, and more. Cover the fundamentals to perform basic cost-benefit studies and understand complex studies. This course is part of the Master Certificate in Federal Financial Management.

## What you'll learn

- Describe the purpose and objective of cost-benefit analysis.
- Explain and utilize the concepts of cost, present value and discount.
- Effectively use cost-benefit analysis.
- Present findings and recommendations.

## Curriculum

#### Module 1: Foundations of Cost-Benefit Analysis

- Lesson 1: Introduction to cost-benefit analysis
- Lesson 2: Parameters of the cost-benefit analysis
- Lesson 3: Guidelines for valuing benefits and costs
- Lesson 4: Identifying, defining, and structuring fair alternatives

#### Module 2: Assessing the Financial Consequences

- Lesson 1: Time value of money
- Lesson 2: Arithmetic of cost-benefit analysis
- Lesson 3: Computing financial consequences

#### Module 3: Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

- Lesson 1: Cost-effectiveness analysis

#### Module 4: Business Case Analysis

- Lesson 1: Introduction to comprehensive economic analysis
- Lesson 2: Treatment of non-financial consequences
- Lesson 3: Treatment of risks
- Lesson 4: Comparing and prioritizing investment options
- Lesson 5: Performing sensitivity analysis

## Schedule
- Jul 13, 2026 – Jul 15, 2026 — Live Online
- Aug 25, 2026 – Aug 27, 2026 — Live Online
- Nov 30, 2026 – Dec 2, 2026 — Live Online

## Instructors

### Bruce Gay — Instructor

Bruce is an engaging trainers and program manager who brings 25+ years practical experience to deliver effective and experiential training to students. Able to engage adult learners with a range of backgrounds and professional experiences. Successful at building effective stakeholder relationships and coordinating multi-disciplinary teams for solution delivery.

Bruce has over 25 years of project and program management experience across multiple industries. He has a Masters degree from The George Washington University and a B.A. from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. 

Bruce currently runs his own freelance training and consulting business, helping project managers and team leaders improve their business skills, become better leaders, and achieve professional greatness. 

Bruce is a well-received speaker in the areas of design thinking, project management, cross-team collaboration, and AI tools for projects, and has presented at regional and international conferences.

### Steve Pesklo — Instructor

Steve is an energetic trainer who focuses on applying technical concepts to everyday work practices. He is the founder and president of SoftLake Solutions, a company that specializes in providing data and AI applications to identify fraud for Internal Audit, Criminal Investigations, Forensic Accounting, Privacy, and Compliance.

Steve brings a large amount of experience across multiple industries and government agencies. He is an expert in implementing large data analysis projects across the world, including Inland Revenue in the UK and Argentina, New Zealand, Africa and across Europe. Previously, he was the manager of Data Architecture and Data Services for a large mortgage company. He is a frequent speaker on data analytics and project management topics and speaks fluent German. He has been teaching at the Graduate School for over 10 years.

Steve has an M.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas and a B.S. in Computer Science from California Lutheran University and the Universität Salzburg in Austria. He is certified as a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Project Management Professional (PMP), and a Certified ScrumMaster (CSM).

### Joe Mlakar — Instructor

Joe has over 27 years of Federal Government and military service and has been a part-time instructor with Graduate School USA since 2023. He enjoys using his technical knowledge in Operations Research to teach his students to provide organization and structure to complex processes, and apply advanced analytical techniques to help leaders make better decisions. Joe is based in Fort Collins, Colorado.

## Pricing

**Tuition:** $1249