Instructions
For this assignment, you will write an analytical/feasibility report selected from the following topics below.
You will need, of course, a required MATRIX in this report. It is different from the Gantt chart in your feasibility report. It basically shows the list of criteria by which to base your selection, and the alternative selections and a scale by which you are judging them.
I am attaching two different STUDENT examples that I have graded, in the Analytical Report folder which you can follow. I am also going to give you a link to an old online source for feasibility/recommendation reports that have different types of matrices from which to choose, depending on yor topic.
Remember, the feasibility report needs the components that I showed in the Analytical report section. You MUST discuss the criteria, and then you must completely discuss each criterion along with each alternative.
Another way to look at it.
Briefly, think of buying a house. What must a house have for you to purchase it? # of rooms? certain amount of bathrooms? certain price? correct school district? These are your CRITERIA.
Now what are the alternatives? You have researched several websites and consulted a real estate agent and you have three houses that meet all or most of your criteria. these are called ALTERNATIVES.
So now you will measure each criterion against each alternative (discuss completely). then you will present a chart that shows how they are rated side by side (matrix).
Summarize and conclude.
You are safe if you follow one of the examples I give to you at the end of this document.
Dr. E. L. Harris
Assignment 4: Feasibility Report
A feasibility study is a preliminary study undertaken before the real work of a project starts, in order to ascertain the likelihood of the project’s success. It is an analysis of possible solutions to a problem and a recommendation on the best solution to use.
By presenting a complete picture of a situation and then using that information to propose effective solutions to problems that you find, you establish your credibility. Your goal is to show your readers that your ideas are sound because you have done thorough background research and presented information clearly and fairly. A variety of sources will also add credibility to your report because you will be able to show that you did an exhaustive study of the situation prior to making suggestions.
SPECIFIC GUIDELINES:
- Make the main text of the report (excluding the References page) a minimum of 7 pages (single space within paragraphs, double space between paragraphs).
- Use 1.25” for the top margin, and 1” for left, right, and bottom margins.
- Each page after the first page must have the page header: name of the person you are addressing, page number, and date.
INTRODUCTION
- In this section, announce your topic.
2. Answer the question, Why is it important for us to consider these alternatives?”
a) Identify the problem your study will help reader solve or
b) Identify a goal it will help them achieve
3. Announce alternative courses of action you studied and tell generally what you did to investigate them.
4. Preview the main conclusions and, perhaps, the major recommendations.
5. Include, as necessary any restrictions or limitations of the report and forecasting
information.
CRITERIA
Criteria are the standards that you apply in a feasibility study to evaluate the alternative courses of action that you are considering. Introduce your criteria early because your audience knows the validity of your conclusions depends upon the criteria you use to evaluate the alternatives, and they want to evaluate the criteria themselves. They’ll want to know whether you took into account all factors relevant to the decision and whether the standards you applied are reasonable in this situation.
The selection of the criteria will depend upon the problem you address and the professional responsibilities, goals, and values of the people who will use your report.
METHOD OF OBTAINING FACTS
Discuss the methods used to obtain facts about the alternatives.
OVERVIEW OF ALTERNATIVES
Before you evaluate your alternatives, you must be sure the reader understands them completely. Depending upon how familiar your audience is with the alternatives, you may have to provide more or less background information. You may discuss the criteria against the alternatives in a whole-to-whole or point-by-point comparison.
EVALUATION
A matrix that presents the “big picture” is often used in this section.
Summarize your findings clearly, carefully, and in such a way that readers process the material the way in which you want them to.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Answer the question, “What do you think we should do?” This may be one page or many pages. You may recommend that a course of action be taken, or not taken, or that additional research is conducted.
END MATTER: References page with all work cited in-text. Do not include anything that has not been cited in-text.
See your textbook, 10th Edition of Markel, for example of recommendation/feasibility.
Topics for Feasibility Report
Choose one of the following topics
No, you cannot substitute another topic other than those in this assignment.
Topic 1: Choosing a New Employee for the Accounting Department for your Company
You are a Human Resource Generalist, charged with finding a new employee for the Accounting department in your company. You will select one new employee out of at least five resumes you have received. Of course, your criteria will be the list of job requirements. You will have mandatory requirements and desirable requirements. Write your introduction, identifying your problem and giving background information. Attach the resumes in your Appendix.
- Write your introduction, identifying your problem.
- Address and discuss your criteria (what characteristics must the employee have to meet the needs of your company and this department (see the job ad).
- Find several alternatives/resumes that meet all or most of your needs.
- You will discuss these alternatives/resumes against your criteria using either the point-by-point system or whole to whole system as discussed in your textbook.
- You will create a matrix that shows the big picture.
- You will summarize the more important points found while discussing the alternatives/criteria.
- You will conclude and make a recommendation based on your criteria, your discussion of alternatives and the system that most meet your needs, long range.
Topic 2: Real Estate Acquisition
You are a Vice-president of Acquisitions and you know that your company is always searching for some prime real estate in which to invest. After one of your monthly status meetings, you privately tell your CEO that you have been researching some properties and ask if he will accept a feasibility study from you, detailing what options are out there. You also tell him that you want to spearhead the project and the subsequent acquisition. He tells you that you have always been a real “go-getter” and says that he will expect the report on his desk in two weeks. “You have already done some preliminary research, I assume, or you wouldn’t be asking me to write the report, right?” he asks. “Yes,” you reply, “and all the proper information will be contained in the report, as well as the sources I used in order to research the information.”
This feasibility report will determine which property to invest your company’s money in for the first quarter of 2010. You will select from a variety of property types; not all condos, not all apartments, not all strip malls).
- Write your introduction, identifying your problem and giving as much background information as you can.
- Address and discuss your criteria (quick turnaround? fast profit?).
- Find several alternatives that meet all or most of your company’s needs.
- You will discuss these alternatives against your criteria using either the point-by-point system or whole to whole system as discussed in your textbook.
- You will create a matrix that shows the big picture.
- You will summarize the more important points found while discussing the alternatives/criteria.
- You will conclude and make a recommendation based on your criteria, your discussion of alternatives and the system that most meet your needs, long range.
Topic 3: Choosing a Location for Your Charter School
You have been a principal at a school for a long time and have finally retired. However, you have received approval for a proposal to start a new charter school focusing in Math/Science. It is now up to you to determine which location will be best for this school from several that you have been looking at.
Before you choose, think about the type of classes you will be focusing on, the type of student you expect, the demographics, etc.). You will probably also need to decide on the type of building best suited for the class structure you need. All these thoughts go into how you select your criteria.
- Write your introduction, identifying your problem and giving as much background information as you can.
- Address and discuss your criteria (location, size, etc.?).
- Find several alternatives that meet all or most of your school’s needs.
- You will discuss these alternatives against your criteria using either the point-by-point system or whole to whole system as discussed in your textbook.
- You will create a matrix that shows the big picture.
- You will summarize the more important points found while discussing the alternatives/criteria.
- You will conclude and make a recommendation based on your criteria, your discussion of alternatives and the system that most meet your needs, long range.
