The Feasibility study is an analysis of possible alternative solutions to a problem and a recommendation on the best alternative. It can decide whether a process be carried out by a new system more efficiently than the existing one.
The feasibility study should examine three main areas; - market issues, - technical and organizational requirements, - financial overview. The results of this study are used to make a decision whether to proceed with the project, or table it. If it indeed leads to a project being approved, it will - before the real work of the proposed project starts - be used to ascertain the likelihood of the project's success.
A feasibility study should provide management with enough information to decide:
1. Whether the project can be done;
2. Whether the final product will benefit its intended users;
3. What are the alternatives among which a solution will be chosen (during subsequent phases)?
4. Is there a preferred alternative?
Content of a feasibility study
Things to be studied in the feasibility study:
The present organizational system
Stakeholders, users, policies, functions, objectives...
Problems with the present system
Inconsistencies, inadequacies in functionality, performance
Possible solution alternatives
● Sticking with the current system" is always an alternative
Different business processes for solving the problems
Different levels/types of computerization for the solutions
Advantages and disadvantages of the alternatives
Needs Analysis
A needs analysis should be the first undertaking of a feasibility study as it clearly defines the project outline and the clients' requirements. Once these questions have been answered the person/s undertaking the feasibility study will have outlined the project needs definition. The following questions need to be asked to define the project needs definition: What is the end deliverable? What purpose will it serve? What