In an organization's feasibility study to acquire hardware to support a new web server, omission of which of the following would be of MOST concern?

A feasibility study's primary purpose is to determine the viability of a proposed project. The cost-benefit analysis is the core component of assessing economic feasibility. It provides the fundamental justification for the expenditure by comparing the total expected cost of the project against its total expected benefits. Omitting this analysis means the organization lacks the essential financial data to determine if the acquisition will provide a positive return on investment (ROI). Without this, a sound business decision to approve and fund the project cannot be made, making its omission the most critical concern.

A. Alternatives for financing are considered after the project's value is established; they address how to pay, not if the investment is worthwhile.

B. The financial stability of vendors is a crucial risk factor in the procurement process, but it is secondary to first establishing the project's own economic viability.

C. Vendor reputation is an important qualitative factor for due diligence and risk mitigation, but it does not replace the quantitative financial justification for the project.

1. ISACA. (2019). CISA Review Manual

27th Edition. Domain 3: Information Systems Acquisition

Development

and Implementation

Section 3.2.2 Project Initiation. The manual emphasizes that a feasibility study assesses the benefits and costs to create a business case

which is the primary justification for a project.

2. Valacich

J. S.

& George

J. F. (2020). Modern Systems Analysis and Design (9th ed.). Pearson. Chapter 5

"Initiating and Planning Systems Development Projects

" states that assessing economic feasibility through cost-benefit analysis is a required and critical activity in any project's initial phase.

3. Project Management Institute. (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) (6th ed.). Section 1.2.6.1 Business Case. The guide identifies the business case

which includes a cost-benefit analysis

as the document that establishes the validity and justification for a project's existence.