System and method for determining a return on investment

• US 20040236617A1
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP SE
• Inventors: Ebert, Peter S.
• Application Number:
  US10/441,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20040236617A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

A method and computer program product for determining a return on investment includes determining a total benefit of visibility, determining a total benefit of access, and determining a total cost of ownership.

Claims

1. A method of determining a return on investment comprising:

determining a total benefit of visibility;

determining a total benefit of access; and

determining a total cost of ownership.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the total benefit of visibility includes a unique identity visibility benefit.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the total benefit of visibility includes a location visibility benefit.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the total benefit of visibility includes a telemetry visibility benefit.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the total benefit of visibility includes a real-time visibility benefit.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the total benefit of visibility includes a history visibility benefit.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the total benefit of visibility includes a context visibility benefit.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the total benefit of visibility, total benefit of access, and total cost of ownership are determined for a defined interval of time.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a total benefit of visibility includes:

summing a plurality of core visibility benefit components to determine an optimum benefit of visibility;

determining a leverage factor; and

scaling the optimum benefit of visibility by the leverage factor.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the plurality of core visibility benefit components include one or more of:

a unique identity visibility benefit;

a location visibility benefit;

a telemetry visibility benefit;

a real-time visibility benefit;

a history visibility benefit; and

a context visibility benefit.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein at least one of the plurality of core visibility benefit components is obtained from a potential customer.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein determining a leverage factor includes:

determining an integration factor; and

determining a dependency factor.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein determining a leverage factor further includes dividing the integration factor by the sum of the dependency factor and a leverage unit value.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the leverage unit value is one.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a total benefit of access includes:

determining an optimum benefit of access;

determining a leverage factor; and

scaling the optimum benefit of access by the leverage factor.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein determining a leverage factor includes:

determining an integration factor; and

determining a dependency factor.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein determining a leverage factor further includes dividing the integration factor by the sum of the dependency factor and a leverage unit value.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the leverage unit value is one.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

summing the total benefit of visibility with the total benefit of access to determine a total benefit of ownership; and

subtracting the total cost of ownership from the total benefit of ownership to determine an adjusted benefit; and

dividing the adjusted benefit by the total cost of ownership.

20. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause that processor to:

determine a total benefit of visibility;

determine a total benefit of access; and

determine a total cost of ownership.

21. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the total benefit of visibility includes a unique identity visibility benefit.

22. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the total benefit of visibility includes a location visibility benefit.

23. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the total benefit of visibility includes a telemetry visibility benefit.

24. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the total benefit of visibility includes a real-time visibility benefit.

25. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the total benefit of visibility includes a history visibility benefit.

26. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the total benefit of visibility includes a context visibility benefit.

27. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the total benefit of visibility, total benefit of access, and total cost of ownership are determined for a defined interval of time.

28. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the instructions for determining a total benefit of visibility include instructions for:

summing a plurality of core visibility benefit components to determine an optimum benefit of visibility;

determining a leverage factor; and

scaling the optimum benefit of visibility by the leverage factor.

29. The computer program product of claim 28 wherein the plurality of core visibility benefit components include one or more of:

a unique identity visibility benefit;

a location visibility benefit;

a telemetry visibility benefit;

a real-time visibility benefit;

a history visibility benefit; and

a context visibility benefit.

30. The computer program product of claim 28 wherein at least one of the plurality of core visibility benefit components is obtained from a potential customer.

31. The computer program product of claim 28 wherein the instructions for determining a leverage factor include instructions for:

determining an integration factor; and

determining a dependency factor.

32. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein the instructions for determining a leverage factor further include instructions for dividing the integration factor by the sum of the dependency factor and a leverage unit value.

33. The computer program product of claim 32 wherein the leverage unit value is one.

34. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the instructions for determining a total benefit of access include instructions for:

determining an optimum benefit of access;

determining a leverage factor; and

scaling the optimum benefit of access by the leverage factor.

35. The computer program product of claim 34 wherein the instructions for determining a leverage factor include instructions for:

determining an integration factor; and

determining a dependency factor.

36. The computer program product of claim 35 wherein the instructions for determining a leverage factor further include instructions for dividing the integration factor by the sum of the dependency factor and a leverage unit value.

37. The computer program product of claim 36 wherein the leverage unit value is one.

38. The computer program product of claim 20 further comprising instructions for:

summing the total benefit of visibility with the total benefit of access to determine a total benefit of ownership; and

subtracting the total cost of ownership from the total benefit of ownership to determine an adjusted benefit; and

dividing the adjusted benefit by the total cost of ownership.