The document discusses the key elements and structure of feasibility reports. It provides guidance on writing feasibility reports, including covering the standard superstructure of introduction, alternatives overview, criteria, method, evaluation, conclusions, and recommendations. It also discusses crafting each section, such as presenting the most important points first in the evaluation section. Students will write a mini-feasibility report assessing the feasibility of their own project.

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Feasibility Reports

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Today’s Agenda
 Updated Schedule
 Feasibility Reports
 Writing Assignment

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Surprises
 Report 2 is no longer a required assignment
 Extra Credit worth 10 points
 Due by the end of the semester

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Schedule Changes
 Nov. 1st – Report Due
 Nov. 13th & 15th – In Class Presentations
 Nov. 15th – Progress Report Due
 Nov. 29th - Memo 2 Due

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Questions?

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Feasibility Reports
 Determines whether changes are practical and desirable
 Follows feasibility study

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Features
 Same set of general questions for developing reports
 Solid set of conventions leads to the superstructure

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The Questions
 Why is it important to consider the alternatives?
 What are the important features of the alternatives?
 Are the criteria reasonable and appropriate?
 Are the facts reliable?
 How do the alternatives stack up?
 What conclusions are drawn about the alternatives?
 What are the next steps?

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Why is it important to consider?
 Decisions makers need to be told why they need to make a
decision in the first place.
 Detailed explanation of the problem
 Need to be reassured that the author understands the problem
the way the decision maker understands it.

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Important Features
 Readers need you to highlight the key features of the
alternatives.
 Helps readers understand the detailed discussions in later
sections

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Criteria
 Helps readers understand the choices ahead of them.
 Show the ways the alternatives were evaluated

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Facts
 Evaluation involves comparing facts
 Readers want to know they can rely on the accuracy of the
facts

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How do the alternatives stack up
 The heart of the feasibility study
 The “results” section of the feasibility report

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Conclusions
 Based upon detailed evaluation
 Reach general conclusions about the merits of alternatives
 Readers will make their decisions based on these

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Next Steps
 Readers want to know recommendations
 Will desire suggestions
 Help to give direction and show purpose behind reading the
piece.

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Superstructure
 Introduction
 Overview of Alternatives
 Criteria
 Method
 Evaluation
 Conclusions
 Recommendations

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Defining Objectives
 Purpose is specifically to choose a course of action
 Provides advice to readers
 Assure decision makers that the report is a solid basis for
decisions.

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Conducting Research
 Understand readers’ criteria
 Investigate implications of alternatives
 Consult several kinds of sources
 Avoid bias
 Create tables for analyzing data

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Planning
 Organize for the middle sections of the superstructure
 For multiple decisions, treat each decision as its own section
and write to that.
 Can also devote different chapters to different criteria

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Drafting and Revising
 Draft as you conduct research
 Helps in developing research
 Spirals into strengthening the draft

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Crafting - Introduction
 Answer readers questions
 Announce the alternative courses of actions studied
 Previews conclusion
 Often combines other elements in a summary

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Crafting - Criteria
 Two ways to present
 Devote sections to identifying and explaining them
 Integrate presentation into other elements of the report
 Present criteria early
 Readers want to evaluate the criteria themselves
 Details the scope of the report
 Later discussion will make more sense
 Sources of Criteria
 Refine as you develop them
 Can gain from the reader, or develop yourself

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Four Common Types of Criteria
 Will this course of action do what’s wanted?
 Can this course of action be implemented?
 Can it be afforded?
 Is the alternative desirable?

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Crafting - Method
 Details depend on the readers, but prove you are trustworthy.
 Explain how you obtained your facts
 Show, don’t tell
 Specific details
 Depends on how many techniques you used

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Crafting - Overview
 Readers must understand what the alternatives are
 Depends on the knowledge your readers have

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Crafting - Evaluation
 Most Important Points First
 Makes reader’s job easier
 Allows for further discussion
 Inverted pyramid
 Dismiss Obviously Unsuitable Alternatives
 Brevity
 A long discussion of a topic your reader already knows does no
good

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Crafting - Conclusions
 Overall assessment of the feasibility
 Repeat summary mentioned in the beginning
 Explore in detail

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Crafting - Recommendations
 Customary end to the report
 “Do this” or “Don’t do this”
 Discuss limitations of your report
 Develop a plan for conducting further study

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Writing Assignment
 Create a mini-feasibility report for your project
 Cover the superstructure points (next slide)
 How feasible is it for you to conduct your project?

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Superstructure
 Introduction
 Overview of Alternatives
 Criteria
 Method
 Evaluation
 Conclusions
 Recommendations