Information Systems Analysis and Design CSC340 VI The Feasibility Study What is a feasibility feasibility study study What to study and conclude conclude Benefits and costs costs Cost Benefit analysis analysis Accounting methods Comparing alternatives alternatives Do it 2002 Jaelson Castro and John Mylopoulos The Feasibility Study 1 Information Systems Analysis and Design CSC340 The Feasibility Study Phase The objectives of a feasibility study are to find out if an information system project can be done is it possible is it justified and to suggest possible alternative solutions 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 What are the alternatives among which a solution will be chosen during subsequent phases Is there a preferred alternative After a feasibility study management makes a go no go decision A feasibility study is a management oriented activity 2002 Jaelson Castro and John Mylopoulos The Feasibility Study 2 Page Information Systems Analysis and Design CSC340 What to Study What to Conclude I Things to be studied during the feasibility study phase The present organizational system including users policies functions objectives Problems with the present system inconsistencies inadequacies in functionality performance Objectives and other requirements for the new system what needs to change Constraints including nonfunctional requirements on the system preliminary pass Possible alternatives the current system is always one of those Advantages and disadvantages of the alternatives I Things to conclude Feasibility of the project and the preferred alternative 2002 Jaelson Castro and John Mylopoulos The Feasibility Study 3 Information Systems Analysis and Design CSC340 Types of Feasibility Operational Define the urgency of the problem and the acceptability of any solution If the system is developed will it be used Includes people oriented and social issues internal issues such as manpower problems labour objections manager resistance organizational conflicts and policies also external issues including social acceptability legal aspects and government regulations Technical Is the project feasibility within the limits of current technology Does the technology exist at all Is it available within given resource constraints i e budget schedule Economic Cost Benefits Cost Benefits Analysis Analysis Is the project possible given resource constraints Are the benefits that will accrue from the new system worth the costs What are the savings that will result from the system including tangible and intangible ones What are the development and operational costs Schedule Constraints on the project schedule and whether they could be reasonably met Constraints may be hard or soft 2002 Jaelson Castro and John Mylopoulos The Feasibility Study 4 Page Information Systems Analysis and Design CSC340 Operational Feasibility The PIECES Framework The PIECES framework can help in identifying operational problems to be solved and their urgency Performance Does current mode of operation provide adequate throughput and response time Information Does current mode provide end users and managers with timely pertinent accurate and usefully formatted information Economy Does current mode of operation provide cost effective information services to the business Could there be a reduction in costs and or an increase in benefits Control Does current mode of operation offer effective controls to protect against fraud and to guarantee accuracy and security of data and information Efficiency Does current mode of operation make maximum use of available resources including people time flow of forms Services Does current mode of operation provide reliable service Is it flexible and expandable 2002 Jaelson Castro and John Mylopoulos The Feasibility Study 5 Information Systems Analysis and Design CSC340 More on Operational Feasibility Acceptability of Potential Solutions How do end users and managers feel about the problem solution It s not only important to evaluate whether a system can work but also evaluate whether a system will work A workable solution might fail because of end user or management resistance Does management support the project 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 People tend to resist change Can this problem be overcome If so how How will the working environment of the end users change Can or will end users and management adapt to the change 2002 Jaelson Castro and John Mylopoulos The Feasibility Study 6 Page Information Systems Analysis and Design CSC340 Technical Feasibility Is the proposed technology or solution practical Do we currently possess the necessary technology Do we possess the necessary technical expertise and is the schedule reasonable Is relevant technology mature enough to be easily applied to our problem Some firms like to use state of the art technology but most firms prefer to use mature and proven technology A mature technology has a larger customer base for obtaining advice concerning problems and improvements Assuming that required technology is practical is it available in the information systems shop If the technology is available does it have the capacity to handle the solution If the technology is not available can it be acquired 2002 Jaelson Castro and John Mylopoulos The Feasibility Study 7 Information Systems Analysis and Design CSC340 Schedule Feasibility We may have the technology but that doesn t mean we have the skills required to properly apply that technology True all information systems professionals can learn new technologies However that learning curve will impact the technical feasibility of the project specifically it will impact the schedule Given our technical expertise are the project deadlines reasonable Some projects are initiated with specific deadlines You need to determine whether the deadlines are mandatory or desirable If the deadlines are desirable rather than mandatory the analyst can propose alternative schedules It is preferable unless the deadline is absolutely mandatory to deliver a properly functioning information system two months late than to deliver an error prone useless information system on time Missed schedules are bad but inadequate systems are worse 2002 Jaelson Castro and John Mylopoulos The Feasibility Study 8 Page Information
View Full Document
Unlocking...