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Short note: feasibility study

Short answer

A feasibility study is a preliminary study that recommends whether to go ahead, modify, or stop a project. It answers whether the system contributes to objectives, can be built with current technology, and fits budget and schedule. Types are technical, economic, legal, operational, and schedule.

Write a short note on feasibility study.

A feasibility study is a short preliminary study, carried out at the start of requirements engineering, to decide whether a proposed system is worth developing. Its result, the feasibility report, recommends whether to go ahead, modify the proposal or stop.

It answers questions such as (Sommerville):

  • Does the system contribute to the overall objectives of the organisation?
  • Can it be built with current technology, within budget and schedule?
  • Can it be integrated with the other systems already in use?

Types of feasibility (TELOS):

TypeKey question
TechnicalCan it be built with available technology and skills?
EconomicDo benefits exceed costs (payback, ROI)?
LegalDoes it conflict with laws, licences, privacy?
OperationalWill users accept it; does it fit work processes?
ScheduleCan it be finished in the required time?

Process: gather information from managers, users and technical staff; study the current system; identify alternative solutions; evaluate each for feasibility; write the report with a recommendation.

A good feasibility study prevents money being wasted on projects that cannot succeed and identifies key risks early.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Sonnet 5.5

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