| | Analysis : Feasibility Study | 
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The purpose of a feasibility study is to determine whether or not a new information system should be created to solve a problem. The possible advantages of creating a new system must be identified. If there are few advantages then it may not be worth investing in a new system.
Finding Out About Existing Systems
If the job that the information system will carry out is currently being performed by another system then a good starting point for a feasibility study is to examine the existing system. Even if it has already been decided that a new system will be created it is still a good idea to examine an existing system. Any problems with the system can be identified and new ways of performing the job can be considered. A variety of methods can be used to identify how the existing system works. These include :
| Method | Description |
| Interviews | People who operate the current system can be interviewed to find out what they think of it. Interviews can be in more depth than a questionnaire could be. If an interviewee makes a useful point about the system then the person doing the interview can follow the point up to get further information. This is not possible with a questionnaire. |
| Questionnaires | Questionnaires are useful when information about a system has to be gathered from a lot of people. Information can be obtained far more quickly by using questionnaires than carrying out interviews. Because people can remain anonymous they may be more likely to tell the truth than they would in an interview. |
| Observation | Observation of how the current system works and what each person does to use it can give an unbiased view of how the system works. Because the person designing the information system is doing the observation himself it is possible to get first hand information about how the system works. The system developer can identify if any of the workers have been lying about their role in the system. |
| Documentation | Manuals describing how the current system operates can be collected. Any forms used to collect information for the current system or reports produced by the current system can be looked at. |
If there is no existing system then it will be necessary to use other sources of information to decide how a new system should operate. Possible methods of achieveing this include :
Describing An Existing System
Once evidence about the existing system has been collected a description of the system can be produced. In addition to a written description of the system, system flowchart diagrams can be used to show how the existing system operates. Possible improvements to the system can be identified and any advantages of a new system should be noted.
The Decision
At the end of the feasibility study a decision should be made about whether or not to develop a new information system based on the evidence collected.
GCSE ICT Companion 04 - (C) P Meakin 2004