Course Work One
Course Work One
Course Work One
It's equally important to understand the difference between feasibility study and business plan. They
are not the same, and one cannot substitute for the other. Differences include:
• Purpose: Feasibility studies determine whether to go ahead with the business or with
another idea, whereas business plans are designed after the decision to go ahead has already
been made.
• Methodology: Essentially, feasibility studies are research projects, whereas business plans
are projections for the future.
• Risks: Feasibility studies determine the risks associated with the idea, whereas business
plans explain how management will deal with the risks so that it will make a profit.
• Cost: Feasibility studies can require hiring outside professionals with expertise who will
conduct thorough studies, whereas business plans are written by employees of the business,
as part of their jobs.
A feasibility study is not a business plan. The separate roles of the feasibility study and the business
plan are frequently misunderstood. The feasibility study provides an investigating function. It
addresses the question of “Is this a viable business venture?” The business plan provides a planning
function. The business plan outlines the actions needed to take the proposal from “idea” to “reality.”
The feasibility study outlines and analyzes several alternatives or methods of achieving business
success. The feasibility study helps to narrow the scope of the project to identify the best business
scenario(s). The business plan deals with only one alternative or scenario. The feasibility study
helps to narrow the scope of the project to identify and define two or three scenarios or alternatives.
The person or business conducting the feasibility study may work with the group to identify the
“best” alternative for their situation. This becomes the basis for the business plan.
The feasibility study is conducted before the business plan. A business plan is prepared only after
the business venture has been deemed to be feasible. If a proposed business venture is considered to
be feasible, a business plan is usually constructed next that provides a “roadmap” of how the
business will be created and developed. The business plan provides the “blueprint” for project
implementation. If the venture is deemed not to be feasible, efforts may be made to correct its
deficiencies, other alternatives may be explored, or the idea is dropped.