Prior to starting any software development project here at Microsoft, we perform a feasibility study. What is your opinion on a feasibility study, and when should it be done?
As a prospective Microsoft Software Developer, you need to look at things from a broader perspective to gain a bigger picture of what your internal customer (department) or external customer (client) wants. In the early stages of the software development cycle, you may find that a feasibility study might be required. There are two important factors to consider before determining whether or not a feasibility study is required. A feasibility study is broken down into two important categories. The first is Technical, and the second is an Operational view. The Microsoft interviewer wants to know if you follow protocol by offering a feasibility study to the client or go through the motions of your job. It's important to mention this in your interview because it helps crystallize in the interviewer's mind that you go above and beyond the norm to get the job done right. Again, the interviewer is asking for your opinion, so it's essential to express your opinion to explain why you think it should or shouldn't be performed.
"In my current role, I was asked by senior management whether or not a feasibility study would provide insight into potential productivity improvements and cost-saving measures within the organization. I took on the task of planning and executing a feasibility study to determine what type of outcome we could expect. I gathered a team, formed a committee, and assigned each team member a task, goal, and phased timeline to report their findings. After the feasibility study was completed, we analyzed the data and found just cause to perform a full-scale feasibility study. The results provided insightful information about what areas the company needed further analysis and other areas that started seeing improvements. We selected the technology, production, operations, and accounting for this study. After analyzing the data, I provided a draft of our findings to management for review for accuracy, relevance, and completeness. I was praised for this project since it did help the selected departments in every aspect of the operation."
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Anonymous Answer
I think a feasibility study should be conducted before the project begins. It's important to understand the technical and operational implications as well as the outcome that we are looking for. It's important not to spend time building something that users don't need or get the organization closer to the desired outcomes.
Marcie's Feedback
Awesome! You've provided a clear explanation of why feasibility studies are important and when they should be done. Can you talk about a time when you performed this type of test and what the end result was? The more details you can add, the stronger your answer will be. Great job!
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