IT Business Value (ROI / TCO) Calculators & Assessment Tools

Advanced Information Technology Investment Decision-Making Tools  These comprehensive Excel-based tools enable organizations to credibly assess/quantify the costs and benefits (ROI / TCO) of a variety of information technology investments. They provide a robust structure to help organizations develop business cases (investment justifications) for IT projects/initiatives. They also help to assess product features, capability/maturity levels, and project risks.

These models can also be used as standard corporate business case templates for technology implementation projects. They can also be used by IT vendors and service providers to articulate the business value of their solutions.

Tools and Calculators 

IT Initiative Business Value ROI Workbook   This free Excel tool is a very comprehensive and flexible business value model (ROI calculator) to support the development of business cases for a wide variety of enterprise-scale information technology-based projects. It provides a robust structure to help organizations credibly assess the business value (costs, benefits, TCO, and ROI) of technology projects/initiatives. It supports most types of enterprise-scale technology initiatives and includes sample cost and benefit data for 18 common initiative types. This workbook can be used as a standard corporate business case template for technology-based initiatives. It can also be used by consultants and technology vendors to articulate the business value of their software, hardware, and service solutions.

Windows 7 ROI Assessment Tool   This advanced/comprehensive Windows 7 Business Value Excel-based tool enables organizations to credibly assess/quantify the costs and benefits (ROI) of upgrading to Windows 7. It provides a robust structure to help organizations develop business cases (investment justifications) for Windows 7 deployment initiatives. It also helps to assess Windows 7 features and the organization's current (as-is) and expected (to-be) TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) and Win7-enabled TCO savings.  It can also be used by consultants and service providers to articulate the business value of their Win 7 solutions.

Windows Vista Business Value Assessment Workbook   This advanced/comprehensive Vista Business Value Excel-based tool enables organizations to credibly assess/quantify the costs and benefits (ROI) of upgrading to Vista. It provides a robust structure to help organizations develop business cases (investment justifications) for Vista deployment initiatives. It also helps to assess Vista features and the organization's current (as-is) and expected (to-be) TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) and Vista-enabled TCO savings. This workbook can be used as a standard corporate business case template for Vista implementation projects. It can also be used by consultants and service providers to articulate the business value of their Vista solutions.

TDWI Business Intelligence Business Value Workbook   This BI ROI calculator helps organizations assess/estimate the costs and benefits (ROI) of business intelligence initiatives. This Excel tool is an advanced/comprehensive business value model (Business Intelligence ROI calculator) to support the development of business cases for enterprise-scale business intelligence projects. It provides a robust structure to help organizations assess the business value (costs, benefits, and ROI) of BI initiatives. It also helps to assess the organization's current (as-is) and expected (to-be) maturity levels using TDWIs Maturity Model.

Microsoft Business Intelligence Business Value Workbook   This tool helps organizations assess/estimate the costs and benefits (ROI) of investing into Microsoft's business intelligence products/services. Microsoft products in this tool include: Office 2007, Office SharePoint Server 2007, Office PerformancePoint Server 2007, SQL Server 2008, Windows Server 2008, BizTalk Server 2006, and Visual Studio 2008. The model also assesses the organization's "BI Capabilities" (best practices) in 9 categories: 1) data warehousing, 2) performance management, and 3) reporting and analysis. The "BI Capability" assessment is based on Microsoft's BI Maturity Model (part of Microsoft's Infrastructure Optimization Maturity Model).

Microsoft Office 2007 / SharePoint 2007 Business Value Tools   This tool-set helps organizations assess the ROI of Microsoft Office 2007. Products assessed in this workbook include: Windows SharePoint Services, Office SharePoint Server 2007 (MOSS 2007), Word 2007, Excel 2007, InfoPath 2007, OneNote 2007, Outlook 2007, PowerPoint 2007, & Access 2007. Use of this tool-set requires a consulting engagement with HCR.

Tool Features 

• Comprehensive/credible assessment of project costs and benefits
  • Costs: Includes hardware; software; IT labor, training, and services; and user labor and training. All direct and indirect, one-time and on-going costs needed to implement and support the initiative.
  • Benefits: IT labor TCO savings, other direct costs savings, user productivity benefits, revenue growth, and potential impact on non-financial KPIs (key performance indicators). Most models list key user-selectable features/capabilities that enable each benefit.
• Supports rapid (30 minute) or detailed (5+ day) assessments - The models are designed to provide either a rapid assessment (by just entering/selecting basic organizational profile data) or a very detailed (5+ day) assessments by modifying hundreds of detailed inputs.
• Comprehensive financial analysis - Calculates project cash flow, cost-benefit analysis, ROI, NPV, IRR, and payback period.
• Pre-populated with default/sample costs and benefits* - Sample input data is pre-populated throughout the model and is re-calculated as inputs are modified. Data/estimate sources are listed. Users may overwrite any of the pre-populated defaults.
• Supports most common scenarios
• Feature assessment - Most models enable the user to rate the likely usefulness/adoption of initiate features. This assessment impacts the benefit calculations and the list of enabling features for each of the benefits.
• Protected, yet customizable - Essentially all values can be modified. Formulas and other areas of the model that should not be modified are protected (locked) to maintain integrity. HCR can provide additional fee-based customization, if desired.
• Based on industry-standard calculations and industry-leading methodologies - The models are as transparent as possible so the user is able to understand how the costs and benefits are calculated.
• User-friendly - The workbook contains instructions, descriptions, and references. Results are updated real-time and are displayed graphically throughout the model. Although the model is user-friendly, we recommend users have at least a moderately-advanced understanding of technology and business value concepts to develop a credible business case.
  

Model Components / Flowchart

The flowchart below graphically presents typical tool components.

Model Components / Flowchart

Why Use HCR Business Value Tools

For enterprise business and technology decision-makers:

• Develop more credible business cases (justifications)
  
• Objectively evaluate, quantify and prioritize investments
• Better align investments with business strategy
• Increase project ROI and technology adoption rates

• Credibly quantify and articulate product/service business case (increasingly required by technology buyers)
• Dramatically improve sales close rates

Support Services

HCR can provide fee-based support services, including telephonic support, workbook customizations, and comprehensive consulting engagements to assist with business case development and validation.

For More Information

Hall Consulting & Research (HCR); info@hallcr.com; 412-344-5103; hallcr.com

Sample Organizational Profile