Innovative ideas, digital tools, and social innovations only have an impact if they are actually needed, accepted, and used. This is precisely where SINUS feasibility studies come in. They help to avoid bad investments, allocate development budgets in a targeted manner, secure political or funding decisions, and make realistic adjustments to projects at an early stage.
What does a feasibility study by SINUS offer?
Our feasibility studies combine real-world social research with strategic decision-making logic. They deliver ...
- Clear acceptance assessment (“who yes – who no”)
- Prioritization of target groups
- Prioritized feature and function logic
- ideas for suitable design, language, and tone
- a risk matrix with key stumbling blocks and failure conditions
- and a clear recommendation for action: pilot, iterate—or stop.
Our approach: practical, participatory, decision-relevant
SINUS feasibility studies are characterized by the close integration of research, co-creation, and testing:
- Target group researchQualitative in-depth interviews and insight labs reveal how people think, feel, and act—and where offerings actually connect (or fail).
- Participatory developmentIn co-creation formats, ideas are further developed, concretized, and refined together with the target groups so that ideas are not developed without considering the users' perspectives.
- Concept and prototype testing
Mockups, usage scenarios, or initial prototypes (proof of concept) are systematically tested for acceptance, comprehensibility, attractiveness, and suitability for everyday use. - Risk perspective
We identify not only potential, but also explicit reasons for failure: reasons for discontinuation, rejection, non-use, or loss of trust. - Willingness to pay
Acceptance does not end with use – it is also reflected in the question of whether people are willing to pay for an offer or legitimize its financing. SINUS feasibility studies examine the value that target groups attach to an offer, which payment models are perceived as fair, reasonable, or deterrent, and where critical price thresholds lie. Especially in a social context, it is important to understand at what point an offer feels “too commercial” or “unfair” to potential users.
For whom are feasibility studies particularly useful?
Feasibility studies are particularly useful when new ideas, programs, or digital solutions have to prove themselves under real-world conditions—i.e., where target groups are heterogeneous, usage is not a given, and investments must be well justified. They are aimed at stakeholders who are responsible for impact, resource allocation, and sustainability and who want to base their decisions on a solid empirical foundation.
- Foundations and funding organizations
- Ministries and public administrations
- Educational and social institutions
- Companies with new digital or social offerings
- Consortia in funding and model projects
