Information Systems & Analysis
Introduction
A feasibility study involves a detailed assessment of the need, value, timeliness and practicality of a proposed undertaking such as information systems development. More importantly, it helps decision makers to make informed and transparent decisions at crucial phases of the system development life cycle (SDLC) when determining whether it is still viable to commit scarce and expensive resources to the development of information systems.
Objectives
This assignment has the following objectives:
1. To understand the concepts of feasibility and feasibility study/analysis,
2. To be able to identify and describe the important criteria for assessing feasibility,
3. To be able to identify and use tools and techniques for assessing feasibility,
4. To be able to evaluate feasibility during the life of project life cycle and recommend appropriate action to management.
5. To practice using an industry tool to plan work and collaborate.
Requirements of the assignment:
This assignment requires students to carry out the following tasks:
Task 1 – Research tasks:
a) Research, choose and provide a definition of the terms “feasibility” and “feasibility study/analysis” and describe the characteristics of your chosen definitions.
b) Develop a set of criteria with which to assess the feasibility of a given information system solution. Describe each criterion.
c) Identify the phase(s) of the S D L C (Systems Development Life Cycle) Methodology in which project/system feasibility should be measured. Discuss why these phase(s) have been identified and why others are not included. In this discussion, describe the techniques and issues to be addressed when assessing feasibility.
Task 2 – Create Feasibility Report and Recommendations:
a) Prepare a feasibility report. Refer to the information in the case study below. Assume that the organisation decides to continue with improving their existing IT system. All the analyses have been carried out and the logic design of the enhanced information system has also been prepared. Before investing more resources, you need to determine possible solutions to solve the problems identified and meet the requirements. For this task you need to propose and analyse three alternative solutions that will cover the all functional requirements including Distribution and scheduling, HR, marketing, sales, inventory, and accounts. In your feasibility report:
use a Candidate Systems Matrix to describe your possible solutions
use a feasibility analysis matrix to evaluate the feasibility
include calculations for economic feasibility, taking Present Value into account
state the discount rate you used in your economic feasibility calculation and state a reason why you picked that rate
b) After assessing the potential solutions against the criteria that you have developed in Task 1, you need to recommend one of these solutions to your client. Justify your recommended solution.
