Lecture 108/10/15

Determining Project Feasibility • Feasibility is the measure of how beneficial or practical the

development of an information system will be to an organization.

• Feasibility analysis is the process by which feasibility is measured.• Feasibility should be measured throughout the life cycle. • The scope and complexity of an apparently feasible project can

change after the initial problems and opportunities are fully analyzed or after the system has been designed.

• Thus, a project that is feasible at one point in time may become infeasible at a later point in time.

Cross Life Cycle Activities

Estimation and Measurement Measurement has become important because of the productivity

and quality problems that plague systems development. The field of software and systems metrics offers hope for the

future.• Software and systems metrics provides an encyclopedia of

techniques and tools that can both simplify the estimation process and provide a statistical database of estimates versus performance.

Cross Life Cycle Activities

Feasibility Analysis A system development life cycle that supports our creeping

commitment approach to systems development recognizes feasibility analysis as a cross life cycle activity. Feasibility is a measure of how beneficial the development of

an information system would be to an organization. Feasibility analysis is the activity by which feasibility is

measured.

Cross Life Cycle Activities

Project Management and Process Management Systems development projects may involve a team of analysts,

programmers, users, and other IS professionals who work together. Project management is the ongoing activity by which an

analyst plans, delegates, directs, and controls progress to develop an acceptable system within the allotted time and budget.

Most project development failures are attributed to poor leadership and management. This mismanagement results in unfulfilled or unidentified

requirements, cost overruns, and late delivery.

Cross Life Cycle Activities

Project Management and Process Management The systems development life cycle provides the basic framework

for the management of systems projects. Process management’s intent is to standardize both the way we

approach projects, and the deliverables we produce during projects. Process management is an ongoing activity that establishes

standards for activities, methods, tools, and deliverables of the life cycle.

Project Initiation• Projects are initiated for two broad reasons:• Problems that lend themselves to systems solutions• Opportunities for improvement through

• Upgrading systems• Altering systems• Installing new systems

Project Selection• Five specific criteria for project selection• Backed by management• Timed appropriately for commitment of resources• It moves the business toward attainment of its goals• Practicable• Important enough to be considered over other projects

Feasibility Impact Grid (FIG)• A feasibility impact

grid (FIG) is used to assess the impact of any improvements to the existing system• Can increase

awareness of the impacts made on the achievement of corporate objectives

Feasibility Impact Grid (FIG)• Current or proposed

systems are listed on the left• Objectives are listed

on the top• Red arrows indicate a

positive impact• Green arrows

indicate implementation

Feasibility• A feasibility study assesses the operational, technical, and

economic merits of the proposed project• There are three types of feasibility:• Technical feasibility• Economic feasibility• Operational feasibility

Technical Feasibility• Technical feasibility

assesses whether the current technical resources are sufficient for the new system• If they are not

available, can they be upgraded to provide the level of technology necessary for the new system

Economic Feasibility• Economic feasibility determines whether the time and money

are available to develop the system• Includes the purchase of• New equipment• Hardware• Software

Operational Feasibility• Operational feasibility determines if the human resources are

available to operate the system once it has been installed• Users that do not want a new system may prevent it from

becoming operationally feasible