EDG Positioning Strategy: How to Frame Your Project as Transformation (Not BAU)

EDG Positioning Strategy: How to Frame Your Project as Transformation (Not BAU)

One of the most misunderstood aspects of EDG is this:

Many companies think upgrading, improving, or implementing something new automatically qualifies as “transformation.”

It doesn’t.

From an assessor’s perspective, most rejected applications fall into one category:

business-as-usual (BAU).

Why This Matters

EDG is not designed to fund routine improvements.

It is designed to support step-change transformation.

If your project looks like:

• system upgrades
• process improvements
• vendor implementation
• capability enhancement without strategic shift

…it is very likely to be classified as BAU.

And BAU projects are rarely supported.

What Most Companies Get Wrong

Most SMEs unintentionally position their projects as BAU by:

• Describing features instead of business impact
• Framing the project as “we want to improve efficiency”
• Focusing too heavily on tools or systems
• Letting vendors define the scope
• Not articulating a clear before-and-after state

This creates a proposal that feels operational—not transformational.

What Assessors Actually Look For

To determine whether a project is transformational, assessors evaluate:

1. Magnitude of change
Does the project fundamentally change how the business operates?

2. Capability shift
Is the company building new capabilities, or just improving existing ones?

3. Strategic intent
Is the project linked to long-term growth, competitiveness, or market expansion?

4. Business model impact
Does the project enable new revenue streams, markets, or ways of operating?

If these elements are not clearly demonstrated, the project is often classified as BAU—even if the investment is significant.

How to Position Your Project Correctly

To avoid BAU classification, your application must clearly show transformation.

1. Define the “before” state clearly
Explain current limitations, inefficiencies, or capability gaps in concrete terms.

2. Show a step-change, not incremental improvement
Position the project as enabling something previously not possible.

3. Focus on business impact, not tools
Instead of describing what you are implementing, explain what it enables.

4. Link to strategic outcomes
Tie the project to growth, expansion, or competitiveness—not just efficiency.

5. Demonstrate capability building
Highlight how the project strengthens internal capabilities—not just external support.

Strategic Insight

A useful way to test your application:

If your project can be described as:

“We are improving how we currently operate”

…it is likely BAU.

But if it can be described as:

“We are enabling a new way of operating that was not previously possible”

…it is much closer to transformation.

That distinction often determines approval.

Call us now

If you are unsure whether your project may be classified as BAU, it is better to address this before submission.

We help companies position their projects clearly as transformation—ensuring alignment with how assessors evaluate impact and intent.

Reach out to us for a discussion.

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