pc-feasibility-study

name	pc-feasibility-study
description	Use when discovery has narrowed an idea enough that the team must make a go/no-go, pivot, or scope-down decision based on technical, economic, operational, or timeline viability before requirements, architecture, or major implementation.
metadata	{"phase":"00-discovery","inputs":["market-research-report","user-persona-set"],"outputs":["feasibility-report"],"prerequisites":["pc-market-analysis"],"quality_gate":"Go/no-go decision made with documented rationale across all feasibility dimensions","roles":["product-manager","tech-lead","architect"],"methodologies":["all"],"effort":"medium"}

Feasibility Study

Before committing resources, verify the idea can actually work -- technically, economically, and operationally.

Context

Feasibility is the gate between "interesting idea" and "committed project." It prevents wasting months on ideas that are technically impossible, economically unviable, or operationally unsustainable.

See context and anti-pattern notes.

Inputs

I/O contract notes define required inputs and authority.

Process

Step 1: Technical Feasibility

Can we build it?

• Are the core technical challenges solvable with known technology?
• Do we have (or can we acquire) the necessary expertise?
• Are there hard technical constraints (latency, data volume, regulatory)?
• What are the biggest technical risks?

Build a minimal proof-of-concept for the riskiest technical assumption.

Step 2: Economic Feasibility

Should we build it?

• Estimated development cost (team size x duration x rate)
• Estimated operational cost (infrastructure, support, maintenance)
• Revenue model and projected income
• Break-even timeline
• Opportunity cost (what else could we build instead?)

Step 3: Operational Feasibility

Can we run it?

• Do we have the team to maintain it long-term?
• What operational burden does it create (on-call, support, compliance)?
• Does it fit our existing operational capabilities?
• What new capabilities would we need to develop?

Step 4: Timeline Feasibility

Can we ship in time?

• Is there a market window we need to hit?
• What's the minimum viable timeline?
• What scope can be delivered in that timeline?

Step 5: Document Decision

Write a clear go/no-go/pivot recommendation:

• Summary of findings across all dimensions
• Key risks and mitigations
• Recommended next steps (proceed to specification, pivot direction, or shelve)

Outputs

Produce only declared outputs at their documented quality boundary.

Quality Gate

• All four feasibility dimensions assessed
• Highest-risk technical assumption validated with POC or research
• Cost/revenue model documented with assumptions explicit
• Clear go/no-go/pivot recommendation with rationale