Feasibility Analysis

Leading this Activity

As the facilitator, you can use these instructions to help guide this group activity.

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After completing a pros and cons list, the youth will have a visual image that will give the team an idea of the solutions of interest to them and they can begin to think about how feasible the solution is.

Example: If there are a lot of pros and only a few cons, it’ s probably a good idea! However, if there are a lot of cons and only a few pros, you can probably eliminate it as a possibility. This can also help set up the team to then complete their feasibility analysis.

Have one teammate record the pros and cons list. It may be helpful to write it on a large surface in front of the whole group, where everyone can see it. Start with one side. It will make it easier and more organized to focus on either the pros or cons one at a time. Switching back and forth can make the discussion confusing. Take turns where each teammate shares a suggestion. Take time, if needed, to discuss and present ideas, but keep in mind that the team will discuss the entire list at the end. Give every teammate a turn and multiple turns if needed. Discuss your final list.

Tip: If you aren’t sure how to start brainstorming, use the strategies from chapter 2! These included the sticky note method, having timed brainstorm sessions, and taking turns sharing your ideas. Feel free to go back to chapter 2 and review these methods. Also keep reminding your team that they should be reflecting about each experience they have encountered with their CNA.

Consider these questions when you and your team have come up with your possible solutions yourselves:

Do our solutions align with the opinions and attitudes of the participants?

Will the community be in favor of these solutions?

While completing a feasibility analysis with the team, they will be creating a simplified version that focuses on the practicality of their solution idea. Each step should be discussed among the teammates, and their responses should be recorded.

The purpose of a feasibility analysis is simply to judge whether the project or plan is feasible. It requires reviewing data, determining the strengths and weaknesses, and facing the team's opportunities and threats. Typically, feasibility analyses are used by professional businesses and organizations, meaning they can be complicated and confusing as they deal with market research, operations, and economic costs. Our model is adapted to fit the nature of a CNA and the needs of a youth team.

Leading this Activity

With each step, the team should thoroughly discuss their answers with each other and critically analyze how reasonable their solution idea is. Follow each step below to have a discussion about different elements of feasibility to consider.

Step 1: Technical Feasibility

Evaluate the technical side of the team ’ s possible solution. The technicalities would include the resources available to the team and their ability to carry out the solution. Encourage them to think about the supplies they will need and what they can accomplish as a team.

During this step the youth can also discuss as a team what each member is comfortable doing, their personal strengths and weaknesses, and how well they work as a team. Ask the youth to identify what resources they can use for your solution.

Example:

Are there other groups that they can work with? What technological resources are available to them? Will they need a specific location? What resources do they need, and can they acquire them?

Overall, encourage them to think about the physical aspect of their project and what they will need in order to physically carry it out.

Step 2: Financial Feasibility

If the youth team ’ s solution requires a budget, they will need to establish where their financial support will come from. Projects can easily fail without proper financial planning and an organized budget. Discuss how the team can fund a potential solution idea, which will help them decide if the solution is practical.

Some additional things for the youth team to consider is to determine where money will be coming from to support the solution and how they will be spending it. Creating a budget and sticking to it can take a lot of discipline, so the youth team should make sure they agree on the budget plan. The project budget should be modest and reasonable for whatever the financial source is. Deciding how the youth team will spend your money ahead of time will assist the youth team in creating a detailed and thoughtful plan, which will help in implementing a successful solution.

Step 3: Organizational Feasibility

Think back to what the team ’ s overall goals are, as well as the purpose of the CNA while evaluating a solution idea. The solution should align with the functional objectives of a CNA.

Encourage the youth to discuss if the solution idea coordinates with all the work they ’ ve achieved in their CNA so far.

How well will it address their selected issue? Is it sustainable? Will it help the team in developing new skills? Does it provide the youth with a challenge or keep them in their comfort zone? Is it helping them learn more about their community and getting them more involved?

Step 4: Time Feasibility

Having a schedule that the team adheres to will help them stay on top of their goals and plan. Therefore, the youth team should evaluate if their schedule is both realistic and flexible for unexpected circumstances.

Some questions to discuss include:

1. 2. 3. 4. Will the youth be able to stick to the schedule? Are all youth team members dedicated to whatever meetings will be necessary? Will they be able to follow through on a final deadline? Discuss what the team is capable of and willing to agree to in terms of the timeline of implementing the solution.