Method for determining total cost of ownership
First Claim
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1. A method for determining a cost for each user of an information technology system, the method comprising:
- obtaining base costs;
obtaining ongoing direct costs;
obtaining ongoing indirect costs;
gathering information relating to user profiles and organizational characteristics;
inputting said costs and information into a computer and calculating by the computer the cost for each user and a plurality of appraisal metrics;
wherein the appraisal metrics include (i) financial perspective metrics determined from the obtained costs, (ii) operational effectiveness and efficiency metrics determined from the gathered information, and (iii) infrastructure and evolution perspective metrics determined from the gathered information;
identifying interrelationship profiles between the financial perspective metrics and related operational effectiveness and efficiency metrics and related infrastructure and evolution perspective metrics;
assigning each of said appraisal metrics to correspond to an information technology organizational function category, wherein the organizational function category comprises service management;
systems management;
service planning and change management;
selecting an information technology organizational function category; and
reporting both the financial and non-financial appraisal metrics corresponding only to the selected category.
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Abstract
A method for determining the total cost incurred per user of information technology (IT) in a distributed computing environment includes obtaining base costs and ongoing costs of an IT system and applying those costs to a series of metrics. The metrics are compared against benchmarks to evaluate and assess where cost efficiencies can be achieved.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for determining a cost for each user of an information technology system, the method comprising:
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obtaining base costs; obtaining ongoing direct costs; obtaining ongoing indirect costs; gathering information relating to user profiles and organizational characteristics; inputting said costs and information into a computer and calculating by the computer the cost for each user and a plurality of appraisal metrics;
wherein the appraisal metrics include (i) financial perspective metrics determined from the obtained costs, (ii) operational effectiveness and efficiency metrics determined from the gathered information, and (iii) infrastructure and evolution perspective metrics determined from the gathered information;identifying interrelationship profiles between the financial perspective metrics and related operational effectiveness and efficiency metrics and related infrastructure and evolution perspective metrics; assigning each of said appraisal metrics to correspond to an information technology organizational function category, wherein the organizational function category comprises service management;
systems management;
service planning and change management;selecting an information technology organizational function category; and reporting both the financial and non-financial appraisal metrics corresponding only to the selected category. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17)
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11. A method for analyzing costs associated with supporting an information technology system, the method comprising:
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obtaining cost information; obtaining system characteristics; calculating by a computer appraisal metrics based on said cost information and said system characteristics;
wherein the appraisal metrics include (i) financial perspective metrics determined from the obtained costs, (ii) operational effectiveness and efficiency metrics determined from the gathered information, and (iii) infrastructure and evolution perspective metrics determined from the gathered information;defining interrelationship profiles between the financial perspective metrics and related operational effectiveness and efficiency metrics and related infrastructure and evolution perspective metrics; assigning each of said appraisal metrics to correspond to an information technology organizational function category, wherein the organizational function category comprises service management;
systems management;
service planning and change management;comparing said appraisal metrics with established benchmarks; and providing the appraisal metrics and cost information in separate reports for the corresponding organizational function categories. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18)
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Specification