anyone ever done a feasibility study?

Subject: anyone ever done a feasibility study?
From: Morticia
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 04:58 PM

and if so, do they follow a particular format? I've been asked to carry one out to replicate a project I did a couple of years ago ( which I just got on and did and found out about feasible the hard way) and I'm not at all sure how to start....tips, hints and gin all very welcome, thank you!

Subject: RE: anyone ever done a feasibility study?
From: Llanfair
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 05:15 PM

There's quite a lot of stuff if you do a search on google. I got as far as "establish terms of reference" and my eyes started to glaze over!!
"Feasibility study format" seemed to do the trick.
Cheers, Bron.

Subject: RE: anyone ever done a feasibility study?
From: Morticia
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 07:22 PM

Thanks Bron, I kind of wanted some personal experiences if poss. as I didn't know where to start searching....didn't occur to me that feasibility study would produce results of it's own......duh!!!!

Subject: RE: anyone ever done a feasibility study?
From: Zebedee
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 07:38 PM

My dissertation during my first degree focussed somewhat on this.

Send me a personal message, I might be able to help.

Ed

Subject: RE: anyone ever done a feasibility study?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 08:10 PM

It never occurred to me that there's overarching system to it, with jargon and all that.

What I've always done in that kind of situation is write down what is proposed (or use my imagination to write down what I would like to see happen), make out a list of people who might have something useful to say about the whole project, or some particular aspect of it (including suggesting other people who might have something useful to say about it), and ask them to comment.

And then start the process over again, taking in the comments. And do the sums on costs etc.

Subject: RE: anyone ever done a feasibility study?
From: DougR
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 08:20 PM

Morticia: I did the feasibility study for New Massey Hall (It's called something else but the name escapes me), in Toronto, Canada; Bob Hope Performing Arts Center in Palm Desert California; and Scottsdale Center for the Arts in Scottsdale, Arizona. Also did one on converting an old Post Office in Morgantown, WV to an arts center, and a similar study to convert a train depot into a visual art center in Yuma, Arizona. All these were done in the 1970s.

If you want to contact me via personal message with your questions, I'd be glad to offer any advice I can.

DougR

Subject: RE: anyone ever done a feasibility study?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 03:40 AM

I did one once as part of a unit in SSADM (Structured Systems Analysis and Design Methodolgy). I don't remember there being a specific format for the investigation itself but the expected output, the feasiblity report, had to be a short formal report - something like Terms of reference, Procedure, Findings, Conclusions and Reccomendations.

Jon

Subject: RE: anyone ever done a feasibility study?
From: Morticia
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 01:12 PM

thank you all....I knew you wouldn't let me down! I'll be pm-ing like a mad thing any time soon!

Subject: RE: anyone ever done a feasibility study?
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 05:27 PM

I've done many. Each one is different, depending on what I'm looking at and what I'm recommending. Always provide background, define the scope of the project, establish key assumptions, outline a schedule, show alternatives with pros and cons, training requirements if any, costs. Summarize with a recommendation. More later.

Subject: RE: anyone ever done a feasibility study?
From: Bert
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 05:53 PM

When I've had to do such things I've started with

a definition of the project
included a few pictures and/or drawings.
Suggested alternatives.
Added a cost analysis of project and alternatives.
The cost of doing nothing may also apply.
Discussion of pros and cons other than cost.
Discussed alternatives
Finished with a summary which contained a personal recommendation for or against.
and put it all in a posh binder.

Bert

Subject: RE: anyone ever done a feasibility study?
From: DougR
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 09:30 PM

You're getting some good suggestions, Morticia. All the folks that have responded are obviously experienced at conducting studies of this type.

DougR

Subject: RE: anyone ever done a feasibility study?
From: GUEST,folk1234
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 03:08 PM

I do at least 3 or 4 a year. All but 2 have related to technology implementation, manufacturing operations, manufacturing engineering, and new business start-up. One dealt with an economical way of collecting and processing 37 million pounds/year of chicken carcasses from the many chicken farms in rural SE OK. Another dealt with chicken poop!
All of the above comments are excellent. I may add that, if possible, you should relate all costs and benefits to a common denominator - $$. Whether you're dealing with for-profit or non-profit proposals, the bottom line usually is $$. If the value of the benefits (you may have to be creative here) exceed the costs, then the project is economically feasible.
I use Excel spread sheets to identify and manipulate the quantifiable elements.
Good luck.

Subject: RE: anyone ever done a feasibility study?
From: Morticia
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 03:44 PM

Many thanks for all your help ,everyone, especially those kind enough to let me ask them dumb questions in P.M's.....not wishing to sound ungrateful or anything....but I see no-one offered me gin....my reputation preceded me, no doubt *BG*!

Subject: RE: anyone ever done a feasibility study?
From: Banjer
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 07:01 PM

I think we should first form a committee to study whether a feasability study is even feasable.