Architecture and application return-on-investment metrics

• US 20040225583A1
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Joodi, Pirooz
• Application Number:
  US10/434,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20040225583A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

An example of a solution provided here comprises receiving inputs from architectural work products, for an information-technology project, estimating a return on investment for the project, based on the inputs and a cost-benefit assessment, and outputting results of the estimating. The estimating includes estimating cost quantities and benefit quantities for two or more years.

Claims

1. A method for estimating, said method comprising:

determining benefits of an information-technology project, based on architectural work products; and

estimating a return on investment for said project, based on a cost-benefit assessment;

wherein said estimating includes estimating cost quantities and benefit quantities for a plurality of years; and

wherein at least some of said benefits are mapped to at least some of said benefit quantities.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

utilizing a risk-mitigation spreadsheet for said project.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said risk-mitigation spreadsheet is reusable.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said utilizing a risk-mitigation spreadsheet further comprises:

representing said cost-benefit assessment; and

representing said cost quantities, said benefit quantities, and said plurality of years.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said utilizing a risk-mitigation spreadsheet further comprises:

developing said risk-mitigation spreadsheet, based on said architectural work products.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining benefits further comprises:

developing said architectural work products.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said estimating further comprises estimating a total cost of ownership for said project.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said estimating further comprises estimating a ratio that compares said cost quantities and said benefit quantities for said project.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of said architectural work products are selected from the group consisting of:

an architecture overview diagram,

architecture decisions,

an operational model,

and non-functional requirements.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of said architectural work products are selected from the group consisting of:

a user profile,

a use case model,

a component model,

a business context model,

a system context model,

and a transition plan.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said estimating further comprises estimating one or more items selected from the group consisting of:

a change in revenue,

a change in error rates,

and a change in labor costs.

12. A method for estimating, said method comprising:

receiving inputs from architectural work products, for an information-technology project;

estimating a return on investment for said project, based on said inputs and a cost-benefit assessment; and

outputting results of said estimating;

wherein said estimating includes estimating cost quantities and benefit quantities for a plurality of years.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

developing said architectural work products.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said estimating further comprises estimating a total cost of ownership for said project.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said estimating further comprises estimating a ratio that compares said cost quantities and said benefit quantities for said project.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said outputting results further comprises:

representing said cost-benefit assessment; and

representing said cost quantities, said benefit quantities, and said plurality of years.

17. A system for estimating, said system comprising:

means for receiving inputs from architectural work products, for an information-technology project;

means for estimating a return on investment for said project, based on said inputs and a cost-benefit assessment; and

means for outputting results of said estimating;

wherein said means for estimating includes means for estimating cost quantities and benefit quantities for a plurality of years.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said means for estimating further comprises means for estimating a total cost of ownership for said project.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said means for estimating further comprises means for estimating a ratio that compares said cost quantities and said benefit quantities for said project.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said means for outputting results further comprises:

means for representing said cost-benefit assessment; and

means for representing said cost quantities, said benefit quantities, and said plurality of years.

21. A computer-usable medium having computer-executable instructions for estimating, said computer-executable instructions comprising:

means for receiving inputs from architectural work products, for an information-technology project;

means for estimating a return on investment for said project, based on said inputs and a cost-benefit assessment; and

means for outputting results of said estimating;

wherein said means for estimating includes means for estimating cost quantities and benefit quantities for a plurality of years.

22. The computer-usable medium of claim 21, wherein said means for estimating further comprises means for estimating a total cost of ownership for said project.

23. The computer-usable medium of claim 21, wherein said means for estimating further comprises means for estimating a ratio that compares said cost quantities and said benefit quantities for said project.

24. The computer-usable medium of claim 21, wherein said means for outputting results further comprises:

means for representing said cost-benefit assessment; and

means for representing said cost quantities, said benefit quantities, and said plurality of years.