Forstudie

Forstudie, often written as förstudie in Swedish and forstudie in Danish or Norwegian, is a preliminary study conducted before a larger project to assess its viability and inform decision makers. It is used in research, public policy, product development, infrastructure, and other areas where an investment or major change is contemplated. The aim is to determine whether the project is feasible, useful, and worth pursuing in more depth.

The primary purpose of a forstudie is to clarify the problem or opportunity, define goals and scope, identify stakeholders, and assess options. It typically examines technical or operational feasibility, potential benefits and costs, risks, and regulatory or legal constraints. The study also outlines high-level requirements, success criteria, and a plan for the next steps, including data collection needs and an approximate timetable and budget for further work.

Deliverables from a forstudie usually include a forstudie report or project brief, sometimes a decision memorandum, and a recommended option or path forward. The report provides a basis for a decision to proceed with a detailed feasibility study, a full business case, or to abandon the initiative. It may also propose governance arrangements, governance bodies, and milestones for the subsequent phase.

In practice, forstudier precede more detailed analyses and are common in both public sector and private sector initiatives, especially large investments or digital transformations. They are distinct from full feasibility studies or business cases by being less detailed and more focused on viability and strategic alignment, to determine whether more extensive work is warranted.