To ensure their recommendation can be acted upon, the business analysis professional on the analytics...

According to the Guide to Business Data Analytics, a cost-benefit analysis is a technique that compares the costs and benefits of a project or decision over a period of time. The net benefit is the difference between the total benefits and the total costs. A positive net benefit indicates that the benefits outweigh the costs. However, a positive net benefit in one year does not necessarily mean that the project or decision is financially viable. The business analysis professional should also consider the cumulative net benefit, which is the sum of the net benefits over the entire time horizon. The cumulative net benefit reflects the overall value of the project or decision, taking into account the time value of money and the opportunity cost of capital. A project or decision is only financially feasible if the cumulative net benefit is positive at the end of the time horizon. Therefore, the business analysis professional should disagree with the team and suggest that they review the cumulative net benefit before endorsing the recommendation.

References: Guide to Business Data Analytics, page 55-56; CBDA Exam Blueprint, page 7; [Introduction to Business Data Analytics: A Practitioner View], page 19.