|
The scope of the feasibility study must be commensurate with the
nature, complexity, risk, and expected cost of the proposed use of
information technology.
The study must provide
sufficient information to assure agency program management that
the proposed response meets program requirements. The study also
must provide sufficient information to allow agency executive
management to make a sound decision as to the merits of the
proposed response as an investment of public resources.
BASIC POLICY
A feasibility study must be
conducted prior to the encumbrance or expenditure of funds on any
information technology project. For most projects, the feasibility
study must be conducted in conformance with SAM.
In addition, a Feasibility
Study Report (FSR), which documents the feasibility study, must be
approved prior to the encumbrance or expenditure of funds,
including the use of staff resources, on any information
technology project beyond the feasibility study stage.
The FSR must be reviewed and
approved in accordance with the general requirements of SAM and
SIMM.
FEASIBILITY
STUDY PARTICIPATION
The
feasibility study must be based on an understanding of the needs,
priorities, and capabilities of:
(1) the users of the
information that is to be provided;
and
(2) the agency unit or program that will have operational
responsibility for the information technology application.
Representatives of program management and staff must participate in
the feasibility study process
FEASIBILITY
STUDY DOCUMENTATION
The
SAM and SIM specify the content of the FSR, which must provide a
complete summary of the results of the feasibility study.
In addition to the FSR, the agency must maintain sufficient
documentation of each study to ensure that project participants,
agency management, and control agency personnel can resolve any
questions that arise with respect to the intent, justification,
nature, and scope of the project
FEASIBILITY
STUDY PROCESS
Each
agency must follow a systematic, analytical process for evaluating
and documenting the feasibility of information technology projects.
This process must include:
Developing an understanding of a problem (or opportunity) in terms
of its effect on the agency's mission and programs;
Developing an understanding of the organizational, managerial, and
technical environment within which a response to the problem or
opportunity will be implemented;
Establishing programmatic and administrative objectives against
which possible responses will be evaluated;
Preparing concise functional requirements of an acceptable response;
Identifying
and evaluating possible alternative responses with respect to the
established objectives;
Preparing an economic analysis for each alternative that meets the
established objectives and functional requirements;
Selecting the alternative that is the best response to the problem
or opportunity;
Preparing a management plan for implementation of the proposed
response; and
Documenting the results of the study in the form of a Feasibility
Study Report (FSR), as specified in SAM.
FEASIBILITY
STUDY REPORT
The
FSR must provide an accurate summary of the results of the
feasibility study. As with the study itself, the scope of the FSR
must be commensurate with the scope and complexity of the problem or
opportunity being addressed. Enough technical detail must be
included in the FSR to show that the proposed response to the
problem or opportunity is workable and realistic. The FSR must
provide a basis for understanding and agreement among project
management, executive management and program management, as well as
satisfy the information requirements of state-level control
agencies.
The FSR must provide a
complete summary of the results of the feasibility study and
establish the business case for investment of state resources in a
project by setting out the reasons for undertaking the project and
analyzing its costs and benefits. Documentation provided by the
agency must contain at least the following information:
- A description of the business problem or opportunity the project
is intended to address.
- The project objectives, i.e., the significant results that must be
achieved for an alternative
to be an
effective response to the problem or opportunity being addressed.
- A thorough description of the selected alternative, including the
hardware, software and
personnel that will be
used.
- A discussion and economic analysis of each of the alternatives
considered in the feasibility
study that meets the
established objectives and functional requirements, and the reasons
for rejecting the
alternatives that were not selected.
- A complete description of the information technology capabilities
and the conditions that
must exist in order to
satisfy each defined objective.
- An economic analysis of the life cycle costs and benefits of the
project and the costs and
benefits of the current
method of operation during the life cycle of the project.
- The source of funding for the project.
- A detailed project schedule showing key milestones during the
project's life.
FEASIBILITY
STUDY REPORTS
|
|
|
