Lesson 3 - Feasibility study
A feasibility study is a report based on an initial look at an existing information processing system, to decide how it might be computerised or improved according to a business need.
A feasibility study has to answer the following questions:
What will the new system do?
Can the need for the new system be justified?
Is it technically possible to create the system?
Is it economically possible to create the system?
A feasibility study requires the following sections:
Note that the sections detailed below are not the same as in your course text book, I have adapted the sections to allow for the assignment you will complete and to make sure that all of the criteria for a distinction is covered if students want to aim for this grade.
Section 1 - Statement of purpose for the system:
1. Brief description of the current system
- Purpose – what is the current system used for
- Who uses it (users)
- Input (what information goes into the system)
- Processes (calculations, saving/updating/deleting of information)
- Outputs (what information is produced by the system, reports, screen information)
- List of problems with current system
Section 2 - Definition of system scope for the new system:
1. What is the budget for the development?
2. What are the timescales for the development?
3. Other systems that might be affected by the development?
4. What is the scope of the system?
Section 3 - Statement of user requirements for the new system:
Statement of the main things the users would like the new system to do.
Section 4 - Possible solutions for the new system
Detail the possible solution for the users.