A feasibility study in software engineering is a process of evaluating the viability of a proposed software project or system. It is a measure of the software product in terms of how much beneficial product development will be for the organization in a practical point of view. The feasibility study is part of the initial design stage of any proposed project or plan, and it is carried out to evaluate the feasibility of a proposed project or an existing software used by the business. The study investigates a proposed system’s user needs, required resources, costs, and benefits to an organization. The feasibility study mainly concentrates on five areas, which are:
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Technical feasibility: investigates any technical challenges of a project, such as hardware and software components, technical risks and constraints, compatibility with other IT systems, and capabilities of the engineering team.
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Economic feasibility: analyzes the cost-effectiveness of the project, including the cost of development, maintenance, and support, and the potential benefits of the project.
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Legal feasibility: examines the legal aspects of the project, such as compliance with laws and regulations, intellectual property rights, and licensing requirements.
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Operational feasibility: assesses the practicality of the project, including the availability of resources, the impact on existing systems, and the ability of the organization to implement and support the project.
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Schedule feasibility: evaluates the time required to complete the project, including the time required for development, testing, and deployment.
The feasibility study process involves several steps, including information assessment, information collection, report writing, and general information. The study helps teams assess whether the software they’re considering is viable for their needs and aligns with their goals. Technical feasibility is one of the most time-consuming and sophisticated aspects of software development, and it is unavoidably influenced by the available money, deadlines, legal limits, and post-development activities (support and maintenance) . A feasibility report is the natural product of technical feasibility analysis in software development, and it includes risks that may be further reduced once the best designs have been identified.
