FEASIBILITY STUDY

CONTENT

Introduction

The process of analyzing whether the proposal is feasible or not is called feasibility analysis. if it
is not feasible, we need to look after other alternatives. Feasibility study mainly focuses on the
demand of the system that affects the overall development of the information system.

It is an assessment of the practicality of a proposed plan or method. Which helps to find the
strengths and weaknesses of an existing business or proposed venture, opportunities and threats
present in the environment, the resources required to carry through, and ultimately the prospects
for success.

Feasibility study is used for:

1. To determine whether the objectives stated in the assignment brief are reasonably
attainable within the limitation and financial constraints period.
2. To define major problem areas, so that the system analyst can plan the strategy for the
field investigation.
3. To find areas where potential exists for making saving in money, time or effort.
4. To determine the approximate time required for the full investigation and cost.
5. To discover the areas where some specialist knowledge needed for the full investigation.

There are different types of feasibility study... which are includes:

 Technical feasibility
 Organizational feasibility
 Economical feasibility
 Operational feasibility
 Schedule feasibility

Technical feasibility
It measure of the availability of technical resources (hardware components or technical
equipment). It also studies the availability of the technical manpower for the project. [ if the work
performances of the technical manpower are not experienced, the entire system will be certainly
insufficient.]

Economical feasibility
Economical feasibility measures whether finances (investments) are available for proposed
solution, i.e. it looks at the financial aspects (cost/ effectiveness) of the project. This is often
called a cost-benefit analysis.
 Operational feasibility
It is a measure of how well the solution of problems or a specific alternative solution will work in
the organization. It is also measure of how people feel about the system. If the system is not easy
to operate, then operational process would be difficult. The operator of the system should be
given proper training. The system should be made such that the user can interface the system
without any problem.

Schedule feasibility
If a deadline (time-limit) is established, it is called schedule feasibility, i.e. the deadline of the
project is studied under the scheduled feasibility. The scheduled feasibility is also depends upon
available manpower and economical condition as well.

Legal/Ethical Feasibility - What are the legal implications of the project? What sort of ethical
considerations are there? You need to make sure that any project undertaken will meet all legal
and ethical requirements before the project is on the table.
Resource Feasibility - Do you have enough resources, what resources will be required, what
facilities will be required for the project, etc.

Fact finding methods

This involves collection of information about the existing system on which to base analysis in
order to determine whether users current needs are being met.

The following are some of the activities that are involved

1. Functional requirement. The requirement should be established.

2. Determination of the proposed system requirement. This is necessary it may suggest a change
in the existing system requirement.
3. Establish any weakness or problems associated with the present system working methods and
procedures
4. Determination of the organizational growth rate, will assist in determination of the growth of the
volume of transactions to be processed.
5. Determination of the organizations structure objective and the cost associated with the present
system

Fact finding comprises of the following:

 Fact gathering
 Fact recording
 Fact evaluation

Data gathering tools/techniques/methods

The widely used methods for data collection include the following:
 a) Questionnaires
b) Interviews
c) Observations
d) Records inspection/ document reviews
e) Sampling
A. Questionnaires

Questionnaire is a special document that allows the analyst to ask a number of standard prepared
questions set to be asked to a large number people in order to gather information from them.

Suitability:

It is suitable to use when:

 The system analyst is located at a considerable long distance from the respondents
 There is a large number of respondents such that interviewing them will be limited by time
 The questions to be asked are simple and straight forward and require direct answers
 Limited information is required from a large number of people
 Used as a means to verify facts found using other methods

Advantages of Using Questionnaires

I. They provide a cheap means of gathering information from a large number of people.
II. They encourage individual to provide response without fear, intimidation or victimization
III. The respondents can complete the questionnaires at their own convenient time with minimal
interruption from their work
IV. Questionnaires are presented consistently to all participating without bias.

Disadvantages

I. Response is often too slow since the respondents complete and return the forms at their own
convenience
II. They don‘t provide an opportunity for respondents to obtain clarification of questions which may
appear vague or ambiguous
III. The design of questionnaires require an expert who may charge expensively and may not be
economical when administered to a small group of respondents
IV. All forms may not be returned and not all questions may be answered which leads to incomplete
data for analysis

Requirements for preparing a questionnaire

 Questions should be simple and clear

 Forms should be neat
 Questions should be logically organised
 Questions should be objectively oriented and should avoid leading questions
B. Interviews
 This is a face to face conversation between the analyst (the interviewer) and the users
(interviewee). The analysts will obtain answers to questions he asks the interviewee. The
interviewee will give suggestions and recommendations that may assist during the design of the
proposed system.

Purpose for the interviews

i. They act as a method of fact finding to gather information or responses about the existing system
ii. Used for verifying facts gathered through other methods
iii. Used to get the user involved in the development of the new

system Interviews are used in the following circumstances

i. When respondents are few

ii. When respondents are physically available and accessible
iii. When immediate response is required
iv. When the analyst wishes to verify validity of facts collected through other methods
v. When the analyst wishes to seek direct answers, opinions, suggestions and other detailed
information regarding the system to be developed.

Advantages of interviews

i. The response rate tends to be high and immediate

ii. Detailed facts can be obtained from individual respondents
iii. They are a more powerful means of getting information since there is direct contact with the
respondent (body language can easily be seen)
iv. Analyst can frame questions directly to individual depending on their level of understanding
allowing facts to be obtained.

Disadvantages

i. They are costly and time consuming when large groups are involved
ii. Success depends highly on the analysts competence, human relations skills and experience
iii. The respondents may feel that they are being grilled

C. Observations

This is the most effective fact finding technique but requires the analyst to participate in
performing some activities carried out by the user. The analyst may choose to watch users as they
perform their activities and gather the facts intended

Circumstances that require observation

 When validity of facts gathered through other methods are questionable

 When complexity of certain aspects of a system prevent a clear explanation by the respondents or
the user
 Used to confirm that procedures specified in the manuals are being
followed in the case of an existing system
 When there is need to obtain first hand and reliable information

Advantages

 Data gathered is highly reliable thus the method can be used to verify
facts collected through other methods
 There is an opportunity for the analyst to see what happens exactly
including the tasks which are hard to explain clearly in words.
 In accurately described tasks can easily be identified
 Relatively cheap compared to other methods

Disadvantages

 People always feel uncomfortable when being observed and may

behave abnormally thus influencing the analyst conclusion.
 The exercise may take place at odd times thus inconveniencing those involved
 The analyst may observe exceptional activities leaving some critical areas.