Capability vs. Feasibility — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 28, 2024
Capability refers to the ability to execute a task or project, focusing on skills and resources. Feasibility assesses the practicality and likelihood of successfully completing a task or project, considering factors like cost and time.
Difference Between Capability and Feasibility
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Capability emphasizes an entity's power, skills, or resources to perform or achieve specific tasks or objectives. Feasibility, on the other hand, evaluates the practicality or likelihood of a proposed plan or project being successful.
Capability often deals with existing strengths and resources that can be leveraged to achieve goals.
Feasibility analysis, however, is more about looking forward, assessing future possibilities against a backdrop of constraints and opportunities.
While capabilities can be developed or enhanced over time through investment in training, technology, or resources, feasibility can change based on external factors such as market demand, regulatory changes, or shifts in consumer behavior. Thus, a project or initiative might become feasible at a later date, even if it was deemed unfeasible earlier, due to changes in the external environment or advancements in technology that reduce costs or increase efficiency.
Capability and feasibility are complementary concepts in planning and executing projects or strategies. Capability focuses on what is possible with the available resources and skills, while feasibility concerns whether a project should proceed, based on an evaluation of its likelihood of success and alignment with strategic goals. Both are crucial for effective decision-making and resource allocation in any organization or endeavor.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
The ability to execute a task based on skills and resources.
The practicality of successfully completing a task.
Focus
On skills, resources, and potential.
On practicality, cost, time, and likelihood of success.
Assessment Criteria
Resources, skills, technology.
Economic viability, time, legal issues, technology, ethics.
Purpose
To understand what can be done.
To evaluate if a plan should be executed.
Outcome
Identifies strengths and resources available.
Determines the advisability of proceeding with a plan.
Compare with Definitions
Capability
Pertaining to the skills or capacity required to achieve a specific outcome.
Her linguistic capability impressed the interview panel, showcasing fluency in five languages.
Feasibility
Concerns the practical aspects of implementing a plan or project.
They questioned the feasibility of the proposal, citing high costs and legal hurdles.
Capability
The potential to develop or improve in a particular area.
The software's customization capability makes it a favorite among developers.
Feasibility
Relates to the economic viability of a project.
The feasibility of the marketing campaign was evaluated in terms of ROI and budget constraints.
Capability
The availability of resources necessary to perform a task.
The team's capability to finish the project on time was due to their access to advanced research facilities.
Feasibility
The state or degree of being easily or conveniently done.
The feasibility study for the new bridge raised concerns about environmental impacts.
Capability
The quality of being capable; having the ability, fitness, or capacity to do something.
The company's production capability has doubled this year thanks to the new machinery.
Feasibility
The probability of a project or plan succeeding.
The project's feasibility depends largely on securing enough funding.
Capability
Relates to the level of technological advancement or sophistication.
The new telescope's imaging capability far surpasses that of its predecessors.
Feasibility
Capable of being accomplished or brought about; possible
A feasible plan.
Capability
The power or ability to do something
The company's capability to increase productivity
He had an intuitive capability of bringing the best out in people
Feasibility
Capable of being used or dealt with successfully
Feasible new sources of energy.
Capability
The quality of being capable; ability.
Feasibility
Logical; likely
A feasible explanation.
Capability
Often capabilities A talent or ability that has potential for development or use
A student of great capabilities.
Feasibility
The state of being feasible or possible.
Capability
The capacity to be used, treated, or developed for a specific purpose
Nuclear capability.
Feasibility
The quality of being feasible; practicability; also, that which is feasible; as, before we adopt a plan, let us consider its feasibility.
Men often swallow falsities for truths, dubiosities for certainties, possibilities for feasibilities.
Capability
The power or ability to generate an outcome
Feasibility
The quality of being doable
Capability
(computing) A digital token allowing a user or process to interact in a specified way with an object that is subject to access control.
Capability
The quality of being capable; capacity; capableness; esp. intellectual power or ability.
A capability to take a thousand views of a subject.
Capability
Capacity of being used or improved.
Capability
The quality of being capable -- physically or intellectually or legally;
He worked to the limits of his capability
Capability
The susceptibility of something to a particular treatment;
The capability of a metal to be fused
Capability
An aptitude that may be developed
Common Curiosities
What is capability?
Capability is the quality or state of being capable, often relating to the ability or capacity to achieve certain tasks or objectives.
What does feasibility mean?
Feasibility refers to the practicality or likelihood of a proposed project or plan being successfully completed, taking into account various factors like cost, time, and resources.
What factors influence the feasibility of a project?
Factors influencing feasibility include economic viability, availability of technology, legal and ethical considerations, time constraints, and resources.
Why is understanding capability important for strategic planning?
Understanding capability is important for strategic planning as it helps organizations identify their strengths and resources, enabling them to leverage these for achieving strategic goals.
Is it possible for feasibility to change over time?
Yes, the feasibility of a project can change over time due to factors like advancements in technology, changes in market demand, or shifts in regulatory environments.
How do organizations assess capability?
Organizations assess capability by evaluating their resources, skills, technology, and capacity to meet specific challenges or opportunities.
How do capability and feasibility differ in project management?
In project management, capability refers to the team's or organization's ability to execute a project, while feasibility assesses whether the project should proceed based on practical considerations.
Can a project be capable but not feasible?
Yes, a project can be technically capable of being completed based on available skills and resources but may not be feasible due to factors like cost, time constraints, or lack of market demand.
What role does a feasibility study play in decision-making?
A feasibility study helps in decision-making by assessing the practicality and viability of a project, ensuring resources are allocated to projects with a high likelihood of success.
How can feasibility studies save resources?
Feasibility studies can save resources by preventing investment in projects that are unlikely to succeed, allowing for better allocation of resources to viable projects.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
