What is a feasibility study in systems analysis?

A feasibility study in systems analysis is fundamentally an assessment of the viability and potential success of a proposed project. This involves evaluating various aspects of the project, including technical feasibility, financial viability, operational considerations, and legal implications. The purpose is to determine whether the project is worth pursuing before significant resources are committed.

In performing a feasibility study, analysts examine whether the proposed system can be developed and implemented successfully. This includes analyzing the project's scope, identifying potential risks, estimating costs, and forecasting the benefits. By doing this, stakeholders can make informed decisions about whether to proceed with the project based on its likelihood of success and alignment with organizational goals.

In contrast, evaluating the current hardware in use, reviewing previous systems, or analyzing user satisfaction are all relevant aspects of systems analysis but do not capture the broader purpose of a feasibility study, which is to determine the likelihood of a proposed project's success from multiple angles. Such assessments are important but serve different roles within the overall systems development lifecycle.