meansfeasibility

Means feasibility, or meansfeasibility, is a planning concept used to assess whether the resources, capabilities, and methods available to an actor are sufficient to achieve a defined objective within stated constraints. It emphasizes the practicality of an intended outcome in light of what can realistically be obtained or developed.

Key components include resource availability (budget, personnel, materials, information), technical feasibility (technology readiness, know-how), organizational capacity (processes and governance), timing (schedules), and external constraints (regulatory, market, risk). The assessment asks not only whether a goal is desirable, but whether it can be accomplished with the given means.

The evaluation process typically involves defining the desired end state, inventorying and mapping capabilities, conducting gap analyses, estimating costs and timelines, and testing scenarios or sensitivities. Methods such as feasibility studies, cost-benefit analysis, resource planning, and Monte Carlo simulations are commonly used. The result is a verdict of feasible, conditionally feasible with actions, or infeasible, along with recommended actions.

Means feasibility is related to, but distinct from, broader feasibility assessments. It is a component of means-ends analysis in decision making and planning, and it informs decisions about resource allocation, project selection, and design choices. Limitations include reliance on assumptions, potential changes in the environment, and the omission of moral or strategic considerations.

See also: feasibility study, resource allocation, capability assessment.