INTRODUCTION Show
A feasibility study assesses the operational, technical and economic merits of the proposed project. The feasibility study is intended to be a preliminary review of the facts to see if it is worthy of proceeding to the analysis phase. From the systems analyst perspective, the feasibility analysis is the primary tool for recommending whether to proceed to the next phase or to discontinue the project. The feasibility study is a management-oriented activity. The objective of a feasibility study is to find out if an information system project can be done and to suggest possible alternative solutions. 1. Problems that lend themselves to systems solutions 2. Opportunities for improving through: (a) upgrading systems (b) altering systems (c) installing new systems A feasibility study should provide management with enough information to decide: · Whether the project can be done · Whether the final product will benefit its intended users and organization · What are the alternatives among which a solution will be chosen · Is there a preferred alternative TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY · Is the project feasible within the limits of current technology? · Does the technology exist at all? · Is it available within given resource constraints? · Is it a practical proposition? · Manpower- programmers, testers & debuggers · Software and hardware · Are the current technical resources sufficient for the new system? · Can they be upgraded to provide to provide the level of technology necessary for the new system? · Do we possess the necessary technical expertise, and is the schedule reasonable? · Can the technology be easily applied to current problems? · Does the technology have the capacity to handle the solution? · Do we currently possess the necessary technology? OPERATIONAL FEASIBILITYOperational feasibility is dependent on human resources available for the project and involves projecting whether the system will be used if it is developed and implemented.Operational feasibility is a measure of how well a proposed system solves the problems, and takes advantage of the opportunities identified during scope definition and how it satisfies the requirements identified in the requirements analysis phase of system development. · Does current mode of operation provide adequate throughput and response time? · Does current mode provide end users and managers with timely, pertinent, accurate and useful formatted information? · Does current mode of operation provide cost-effective information services to the business? · Could there be a reduction in cost and or an increase in benefits? · Does current mode of operation offer effective controls to protect against fraud and to guarantee accuracy and security of data and information? · Does current mode of operation make maximum use of available resources, including people, time, and flow of forms? · Does current mode of operation provide reliable services · Are the services flexible and expandable? · Are the current work practices and procedures adequate to support the new system? · If the system is developed, will it be used? · Manpower problems · Labour objections · Manager resistance · Organizational conflicts and policies · Social acceptability · Government regulations · Does management support the project? · Are the users not happy with current business practices? · Will it reduce the time (operation) considerably? · Have the users been involved in the planning and development of the project? · Will the proposed system really benefit the organization? · Does the overall response increase? · Will accessibility of information be lost? · Will the system affect the customers in considerable way? · Legal aspects · How do the end-users feel about their role in the new system? · What end-users or managers may resist or not use the system? · How will the working environment of the end-user change? · Can or will end-users and management adapt to the change? ECONOMIC FEASIBILITYEconomic analysis could also be referred to as cost/benefit analysis. It is the most
frequently used method for evaluating the effectiveness of a new system. In economic analysis the procedure is to determine the benefits and savings that are expected from a candidate system and compare them with costs. If benefits outweigh costs, then the decision is made to design and implement the system. An entrepreneur must accurately weigh the cost versus benefits before taking an action. · Is the system cost effective? · Do benefits outweigh costs? · The cost of doing full system study · The cost of business employee time · Estimated cost of hardware · Estimated cost of software/software development · Is the project possible, given the resource constraints? · What are the savings that will result from the system? · Cost of employees' time for study · Cost of packaged software/software development · Selection among alternative financing arrangements (rent/lease/purchase)
REFERENCES Preliminary Analysis-Case Study: Library Management System Feasibility Jaelson Castro and Mylopoulo. Information Sytems Analysis and Design Retrieved August 13, 2011, from http:/www.cs.toronto.edu/jm/340S/02/PDF/Feasibility.pdf Technical Feasibility, Economic Feasibility, Operational feasibility, Legal Feasibility Retrieved August 13, 2011 from http:www.freetutes.com/systemanalysis/sa3- technical-economic-operational-legal.html Kendall and Kendall. Systems Analysis and Design Skidmore, Steve (1994) Introducing System Analysis. Blackwell Publishers, 25-34p. Which of these is a measure of how reasonable the project timetable is?Time feasibility is a measure of how reasonable the project timetable is.
Which of the following feasibility test measures how well a solution will be accepted in an organizational climate?Cultural (or political) feasibility is a measure of how well the solution will be accepted in the organizational climate..
Which of the following feasibility test measures the costEconomic feasibility
To measure the cost-effectiveness of a project or solution. Which is often called cost-benefit analysis. Costs are impossible to estimate before requirements and technical solutions have been identified.
What type of feasibility evaluates whether an IT system development project is possible with the current technology and expertise?Technical feasibility evaluates the technical complexity of the expert system and often involves determining whether the expert system can be implemented with state-of-the-art techniques and tools.
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