--- title: "PDLC and feasibility study" subject: "ICT Project Management" chapter: 1 key: "semester_7/ict_project_management:pdlc-feasibility-study" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/pdlc-feasibility-study site: BCT Engineering --- # PDLC and feasibility study ICT Project Management · Chapter 1: Introduction - Asked in: year not given - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/pdlc-feasibility-study - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/ict_project_management/chapter-1 ## Question What do you mean by Project Development Life cycle? How is the feasibility study carried out in it? ## Short answer The feasibility study happens in the formulation phase of the Project Development Life Cycle. It defines the problem, collects data, identifies alternatives, and analyzes technical, economic, operational, schedule, and legal feasibility. It evaluates risks, compares options, and gives a go/no-go recommendation in a feasibility report. ## Answer The **Project Development Life Cycle (PDLC)** is the sequence of phases that a project follows from idea to operation: identification, formulation (feasibility), appraisal, planning, implementation and termination/operation. The **feasibility study** is carried out in the formulation phase to decide whether the project is worth doing. ```text Idea -> Pre-feasibility -> Feasibility -> Appraisal -> Planning -> Implementation -> Close/Operate ``` #### How a feasibility study is carried out 1. **Define the problem and objectives** from the project idea or need. 2. **Collect data**: interviews, surveys, market data, existing system study, expert opinion. 3. **Identify alternatives**: different technologies, vendors, locations or build-versus-buy choices. 4. **Analyse each type of feasibility** | Type | Question | |---|---| | Technical | Is the technology and skill available? | | Economic / financial | Do the benefits exceed costs? Use payback, NPV, ROI, IRR | | Operational | Will users accept it and will it fit procedures? | | Schedule | Can it finish within the time allowed? | | Legal | Does it follow laws, licences and regulations? | | Market / social / environmental | Is there demand, and what is the impact? | 5. **Evaluate risks** and assumptions. 6. **Compare alternatives** and choose the best. 7. **Prepare the feasibility report** with findings, cost estimate, schedule, risks and a clear recommendation: go, no-go or revise. 8. **Present to decision makers** (sponsor, steering committee) for approval. #### Importance Prevents investing in a project that will fail, gives early estimates and forms the base of the project charter and plan. **Example:** For an online exam system at a university, technical feasibility checks servers and bandwidth, economic feasibility compares licence costs with the saving in printing and invigilation, and operational feasibility checks teacher and student readiness. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. In which phase of the PDLC is the feasibility study carried out? A. Termination B. Implementation C. Operation D. Formulation Answer: D. Feasibility is studied in the formulation phase to decide whether the project is worth doing. (Key point: Where feasibility occurs) 2. Economic/financial feasibility asks: A. Is the technology available? B. Do the benefits exceed the costs (payback, NPV, ROI, IRR)? C. Will users accept it? D. Does it follow laws? Answer: B. Economic feasibility compares benefits with costs using measures such as payback, NPV, ROI and IRR. (Key point: Economic feasibility) 3. Which question belongs to operational feasibility? A. Can it finish in time? B. Is the licence legal? C. Will users accept it and will it fit procedures? D. Is the server powerful enough? Answer: C. Operational feasibility checks user acceptance and fit with procedures. (Key point: Operational feasibility) 4. The feasibility report ends with: A. A final user manual B. A clear recommendation: go, no-go or revise C. The signed handover D. A lessons-learned list Answer: B. It presents findings, cost, schedule, risks and a go/no-go/revise recommendation to decision makers. (Key point: Outcome of study) ## Related in ICT Project Management - [Project development life cycle phases](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aproject-development-life-cycle) — ICT Project Management, chapter 1 - [Product versus project life cycle](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aproduct-vs-project-life-cycle) — ICT Project Management, chapter 4 - [System development life cycle](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Asdlc) — ICT Project Management, chapter 4 - [Test life cycle in quality control](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Atest-life-cycle) — ICT Project Management, chapter 10 - [Project life cycles in detail](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aproject-life-cycles) — ICT Project Management, chapter 4 - [Characteristics of project life cycles](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aproject-life-cycle-characteristics) — ICT Project Management, chapter 4 ## Related in other subjects - [Project life cycle phases and activities](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Alife-cycle-phases-activities) — Project Engineering, chapter 1, asked 5× - [Proposal; feasibility study of a road project](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aproposal-questions-feasibility-road) — Project Engineering, chapter 2 - [Multimedia application development life cycle](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fmultimedia_system%3Aapp-development-life-cycle) — Multimedia System, chapter 1, asked 4× - [Development phases; pre-feasibility factors](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fhydropower_engineering%3Adev-phases-prefeasibility-factors) — Hydropower Engineering, chapter 2