Software Application Portfolio Management for a Client

• US 20080243720A1
• Filed: 06/12/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Chiappetta, Jeremy A., Magalhaes, Marcelo C., Cohn, Jonathan M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,716,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/36R
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis

Abstract

An information technology services providing company manages a portfolio of software applications for a client company. A plurality of the applications are preselected along with a recommendation for each. The recommendations have value drivers with parameters. Values for the parameters are received from the client as responses to questions or through collaboration with the client. A business value is then determined for the value drivers using the parameter values. Total cash flow, return on investment, net present value, internal rate of return, or other financial measures may be calculated. The client decides to proceed with the recommendations and the services providing company delivers services and software according to the recommendations.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A method of delivering information technology services, comprising the steps of:

preselecting a plurality of applications for a client and a recommendation having value drivers, for each of the preselected applications, wherein said recommendation is reprioritize by modification or reclassification of service level settings to save costs;

determining parameters for said value drivers through collaboration with said client;

determining business value of said value drivers from said parameters;

determining total cash flow and financial metrics for the plurality of recommendations, for said client; and

delivering said plurality of recommendations to said client as services and software.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said recommendation is either retire, replace, restructure, reprioritize, or relocate for each of the preselected applications.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said determining said business value includes calculating a return on investment for at least one of said recommendations.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said services are delivered as on demand services.