Feasibility Report—Working Points Minor pitfalls to avoid Feasibility reports are always based on the comparison/contrast pattern of organization, using one of two versions: Subject-by-Subject Organization Basis-by-Basis Organization Avoid Conclusion confusion

Minor Pitfalls to Avoid in Writing Feasibility Reports 1.Call the document the feasibility report; refer to the work done to prepare for the writing of the document as the feasibility study. 2. Spell “feasibility” correctly; only one “a.” 3. Spell “judgment” the American way; no “e” in the middle. 4. Use singular and plural forms--“criterion” & “criteria” and “basis” & “bases”--correctly. 5. Specify the two (or more) subjects that will be compared and contrasted; specify the two (or more) criteria/standards of judgment/bases of comparison that will be applied to each subject. 6. Choose one of two organizational patterns based on comparison/contrast to organize the report.

Organization of Feasibility Reports: Introduction Since feasibility reports are used to solve a problem by comparing two (or more) solutions to the problem in a fair and objective manner, the introduction to a feasibility report must 1.identify and explain the problem that needs solving; 2.specify two (or more) solutions to the problem; and 3.specify the two (or more) criteria that will be applied to each solution to see which of the solutions best solves the problem. Note: sometimes the criteria are referred to as standards of judgment, as bases of comparison, or as points of comparison. Only one of these terms should be used in a given feasibility report. Sometimes other information, such as titles of earlier reports on the subject, are also included in the introduction to a feasibility report.

Organization of Feasibility Reports: Body The body of a feasibility report is always organized using the comparison/contrast pattern of organization Note: a pattern of organization may sometimes be referred to as a “rhetorical strategy.” The two versions of the comparison/contrast pattern of organization that may be applied to the body of a feasibility report are known as Subject-by-Subject Organization or Point-by-Point Organization Note: when the number of subjects (solutions) being compared/contrasted is four or fewer, either of these two organizations may be used in the feasibility report, but when the number of subjects (solutions) being compared/contrasted is five or more, the point-by-point version is the best one to be used.

Subject-by-Subject Organization When using this means of organizing a feasibility report, the report writer should divide the body of the report into the same number of sections as there are subjects (solutions) being compared/contrasted. Then each section is subdivided into the same number of subsections as there are criteria being applied to the subjects. Then each subsection discusses the merits of one subject (solution) when all the criteria are applied to it. The end of each section states the conclusion that is reached by applying the criteria to all the subjects.

Point-by-Point Organization When using this means of organizing a feasibility report, the report writer should divide the body of the report into the same number of sections as there are criteria being applied to the subjects (solutions). Then each section is subdivided into the same number of subsections as there are subjects being analyzed. Then each subsection discusses the merits of all the subjects when one criterion is applied to them. The end of each subsection states the conclusion that results from the application of the criterion to all subjects.

Conclusion Confusion The last section of a feasibility study must perform two important tasks: 1.Summarize the conclusions resulting from the study 2.Make a recommendation as to which solution best solves the problem of the study. Note: sometimes a feasibility report is called a recommendation report. To avoid confusing the title of the last section of the report, usually called the Conclusion, with the first task of the last section, which deals with Conclusions, it is best to title the last section of the report Summary or some synonym other than Conclusion.

Graphic Aid and Feasibility Reports A table that shows how each subject is rated based on each criterion is the best way to add a graphic aid to this type of report.