Feasibility ISP Writing

The big picture:
The ISP presents your solution to an organization’s

problems.
So first, you must identify the problems!
An effective ISP clearly links your proposed solution to

the identified problem(s).
An ineffective ISP simply presents a proposed system.

TELOS Feasibility
 Technical Feasibility: “Is it likely that our staff can build it?”
can the system be developed and implemented using existing

technology? new technology?
Is the necessary expertise and infrastructure available to develop,

install, operate and maintain the proposed system?
Is the proposed system able to meet initial performance

expectations? accommodate expected new use and functionality
over the ‘medium term’?
 Economic Feasibility: “Is the projected return worth the
investment?”
Used to select between projects: if there are several alternative

opportunities for investing resources, which one gives the best
rewards?
will the investment of resources in a particular project be

worthwhile? how worthwhile will it be?
Cost-benefit analysis: calculate the tangible costs and benefits of

the system
formal Return on Investment (ROI) not covered in this course

Costs include: development (including cost of systems analysis,
employee time for study), purchase, construction (cost of developers’
time, software, employee time for user centered development),
installation, training, maintenance, repair, running costs (salaries,
hardware, software, licences, peripherals, …), …
of the proposal for its projected lifetime
Benefits include: salary savings, hardware saving, maintenance savings,

increased revenue, savings from reduced employee pilfering, …
of the proposal for its projected lifetime

These costs and benefits are made tangible:
not: saves the receptionist two hours of time

instead: saves the receptionist two hours a week, 26 weeks out of the
year = 52 hours/year, @ $15 per hour, = $780/year
Note that some of the savings are ‘funny money’: the receptionist will not
really have her hours reduced by 26 hours per year! (but she will be able to do
other things for the organization). Emphasize that the organization is currently
spending that $780 on activity X, and that with your new system they could
spend $780 on other activities more directly useful to the organization.
Tangible benefits include:

o Saving money
o Saving time
o Reducing errors (which generally saves money and time)
You may not be able to find out salary information—don’t press on this!
But always make benefits as tangible as possible, and show the significance of
a benefit to the organization:
Ex: Owner/manager currently spends 5 hours/month producing health &

safety reports; proposed system will take 20 minutes. Time savings for
owner/manager can be re-directed to strategic initiatives for organization.
NOT: Creating reports is slow, proposed system will be faster.
Ex: Current billing system averages 7 billing errors per week, out of an
average 200 bills/week. Under-billing averages $250 per week
($13K/year).
NOT: Current billing system averages 0.1% errors per week.

Other intangible benefits to consider:
 more professional appearance to customers
 “image”
 employee satisfaction
 employer satisfaction
…
Remember to show that a problem exists in these areas, before you

propose your system as a solution!
Legal Feasibility: “Will doing this violate laws or contractual
agreements?”
Are there legal responsibilities? Liabilities? Governing bodies to

satisfy?
 Operational Feasibility: “If built, is it likely that the system will

really address or solve the business problem?”
Will the system meet the needs and expectations of the

organization? If built, is it likely that the system will really
address or solve the business problem?
Operational factors to consider include:
 corporate culture
 staff resistance or receptivity to change
 management support for the new system
 the nature and level of user involvement in the development and
implementation of the system
 direct and indirect impacts of the new system on work practices
 anticipated performance and outcomes of the new system
compared to the existing system
 etc.
 Schedule: “Is it likely to be built in time to realize benefits
and/or meet constraints?”
Will the system be constructed in time to realize benefits and meet

constraints?
Writing a persuasive ISP
A persuasive ISP can be the difference between winning a

funded project (winning a consultancy) and failing to gain the
contract.
It should demonstrate:
 a clear understanding of the client’s business problems and needs
 a recommendation for a specific solution to those problems
 evidence that you are competent to deliver on time, on budget
 good reasons to choose your recommendation over other
possibilities
 Include a cover letter to the ISP
oBrief cover letter!
oHighlight key points in the proposal
 Customer’s biggest business problem/need
 Your proposed solution, at a very high level (2-3
sentences max)
 A few, most important competitive advantages
oAsk for the business
 Don’t just close with a vague, ‘if you have any
questions then please call’
 Have a good cover page
oThe title should not be ‘Proposal’
oWrite a title that includes the benefit to the client,
preferably with an action verb: ‘Increasing data
security with an Oracle-based e-commerce website’
oInclude your group’s name, the client’s name, the date
oDon’t have your name, logo dominate the title page
 Next, a good ‘executive summary’.
oFocus on benefits of the system
oHighlight key points
o2 pages MAX
 In the first section(s), focus on the benefits to the client,
satisfying their business needs, achieving their business
objectives.
oWrite down the business problem to be addressed by
the system (shows that you understand their problems)
oRecommend a specific solution. Remember that you
can’t propose a solution until you have demonstrated a
problem exists!
oDescribe how your proposed system will help solve the
business problem
oBuild belief in your proposed solution by providing
substantiating details—not slogans, not vague promises
 Show that your proposal offers the best ‘value’
oPrice is important! Cost/benefit, not just $$$
oThe benefit measures must be something that the client
cares about (for example, worker satisfaction is usually
very low on the employer’s list)
oGraphs are good!
oAlso differentiate your proposal based on your
technical ability, your past performance, service, …
 Quantify benefits and payback
 Avoid computing jargon where possible. Do, however, use
the client’s jargon.
 Old standard: your organization’s history first in the ISP.
New wisdom: put descriptions of your organization as an
appendix, or late in the ISP.
 Eliminate ‘credibility killers’: misspellings, grammar
errors, inconsistent document formatting, mis-spelled client
name.
o Your client cannot read/understand your code: the ISP has to be
your selling document, an indication of the quality of your work!
 Refer to the client by name or as ‘you’, never as ‘it’ or

‘they’

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The big picture:

The ISP presents your solution to an organization’s

So first, you must identify the problems!

An effective ISP clearly links your proposed solution to

An ineffective ISP simply presents a proposed system.

can the system be developed and implemented using existing

Is the necessary expertise and infrastructure available to develop,

Is the proposed system able to meet initial performance

Used to select between projects: if there are several alternative

will the investment of resources in a particular project be

Cost-benefit analysis: calculate the tangible costs and benefits of

formal Return on Investment (ROI) not covered in this course

of the proposal for its projected lifetime

Benefits include: salary savings, hardware saving, maintenance savings,

of the proposal for its projected lifetime

not: saves the receptionist two hours of time

Tangible benefits include:

Ex: Owner/manager currently spends 5 hours/month producing health &

NOT: Creating reports is slow, proposed system will be faster.

NOT: Current billing system averages 0.1% errors per week.

 more professional appearance to customers

Remember to show that a problem exists in these areas, before you

Are there legal responsibilities? Liabilities? Governing bodies to

 Operational Feasibility: “If built, is it likely that the system will

Will the system meet the needs and expectations of the

Will the system be constructed in time to realize benefits and meet

A persuasive ISP can be the difference between winning a

 Refer to the client by name or as ‘you’, never as ‘it’ or

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