Cost bogies are more than just a dollar amount. Along with the projected cost, there is the risk of making it. The corporation does not want to go through an effort, and have the reduction eliminated by risk.
So when you show you have met your bogies, you also need to communicate the risk. For instance, the number of units to be sold is a risk. Several of the approaches are probably a risk also. The people making the decision are trying to decide whether the risk is worth the investment. That is why, on a low risk project, there may be a low hurdle, or upon viewing the risks, the board may tell you to go back and come in with some more definite numbers.
Typically you need to show a 2:1 payback for any engineering expenditure to improve the product, and a new development should pay back by at least that amount. If you can show this, you can go forward in a Meritocracy. In the Colonial system, all you need is a green light from the Governor.