Feasibility Study
All projects are feasible given unlimited infinite and resources time! Unfortunately, the development of a product or computer-based system is more like plagued through a scarcity of difficult and resources if not downright unrealistic delivery dates. It is both prudent and necessary to evaluate the feasibility of a project at the earliest possible time. Years or Months of effort 1000 for millions of dollars and untold professional embarrassment can be averted if an ill-conceived system is recognized early in the definition stage.
Risk and Feasibility analysis are associated in many ways. If project risk is huge the feasibility of producing quality software is decrease. In the duration of product engineering moreover, we concentrate our attention on 4 primary fields of interest:
Economic feasibility. An evaluation of development cost weighed beside the ultimate advantages or income derived from the established product or system.
Technical Feasibility. A study of function, constraints and performance which may affect the ability to get an acceptable system.
Legal feasibility. A determination of any infringement liability or violation which could result from development of the system.
Alternative the evaluation of alternative approaches to the development of the product or system.
A feasibility study is not warranted for systems in which economic justification is obvious technical risk is low, few legal problems are expected and no reasonable alternative exists. However if any of the preceding conditions fail a study of that field should be conducted.
Economic justification is commonly the bottom-line consideration for most systems notable exceptions sometimes include systems mandated, national defence systems, by law and high-technology applications like as the space program. Economic justification includes a wide variety of concerns which include cost- benefits analysis long-term corporate income strategies impact on other products cost or profit centres of resources required for potential and development market growth.
The Technical feasibility is frequently the hardest area to assess at this level of the product engineering procedure because goal performance and functions are somewhat hazy anything seems possible if the right assumptions are made. It is essential in which the procedure of definition and analysis be conducted in parallel with an assessment of technical feasibility. By this way concrete specification may be judged as they are determined.
The considerations which are commonly related with technical feasibility include:
Development risk. Can the system parts be designed so which necessary performance and function are achieved within the constraints uncovered during analysis?
Resource availability. Are skilled staffs available to establish the system parts in question? Are other necessary resources software and hardware available to develop the system?
Technology. Has the relevant technology progressed to a state which will support the system?
The Developers of computer-based systems are optimists through nature. Moreover, in the duration of evaluation of technical feasibility a cynical if not pessimistic attitude should prevail. The Misjudgement at this level can be disastrous.
Legal possibility encompasses a wide range of concerns which include liability, contracts, myriad, infringement and other traps frequently unknown to technical staff. The integrated reader should look.
The degree to those alternatives is considered is often limited through time and cost constraints Moreover a legitimate but unsponsored variation should not be buried.
The feasibility study may be documented as a divide report to included and upper management as an appendix to the system requirement.
The feasibility study is reviewed 1st through project management to assess content reliability and through upper management to assess project status. The study should result in a go or no-go decision. It should be noted that other go or no-go decisions will be made during the specification, planning and development levels of both software and hardware engineering.