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Vista ROI Calculator

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.

This tool was developed by Hall Consulting & Research LLC (hallcr.com).

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Model Features

• Comprehensive assessment of Vista costs and benefits
  • Costs: hardware; software; IT labor, training, and services; and user labor and training
  • Benefits: IT labor TCO savings, other direct costs savings, user productivity benefits, and potential impact on non-financial KPIs (key performance indicators). The model lists key Vista features (based on the feature assessment) that enable each benefit.
• Supports rapid (30 minute) or detailed (5+ day) assessments - This model was designed to provide either a rapid assessment (by just entering/selecting basic organizational profile data) or a very detailed (5+ day) assessment 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 based on profile data and the Vista feature assessment and is re-calculated as inputs are modified. Data/estimate sources are listed. You may overwrite any of the pre-populated defaults.
• Supports most corporate Vista deployment scenarios - Including hardware refreshes, forklift upgrades, Lite/Zero Touch Installations, Software Assurance, etc.
• Vista feature assessment - Enables the user to rate the likely usefulness/adoption of 156 Vista features. This assessment impacts the benefit calculations and the list of enabling features for each of the hundreds of benefits (see Figure 2).
• 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 - It is 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 business value concepts and Vista to develop a credible business case.
• See Terms of Use.

*NOTE: Pre-populated (default/sample) cost and benefit data should not be used for making investment decisions. This tool cannot accurately/credibly estimate costs/benefits without significant user review, validation, and adjustment of many data inputs (the detailed inputs should be customized for each particular organization). Pre-populated data is based on detailed customer studies conducted by HCR, but is not meant to represent average/typical project results and is not based on statistically significant research. Sample data should only be used as a starting place for assessing the business value of your particular organization and Vista initiative.

Model Components / Flowchart

The flowchart below graphically presents the components of the model and how to navigate the model.

Figure 3 - Model Components / Flowchart

Costs (the investment)

All one-time and on-going costs required to implement/deploy, adopt, maintain, and support Vista 

IT Labor TCO (Total Cost of Ownership)

Annual on-going/recurring labor and services required to support and maintain the "as-is" (current or status quo) and "to-be" (after the solution is deployed) environment 

Quantified Benefits

Direct and Indirect benefits enabled by the initiative – the "return" part of ROI 

Non-Financial KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)

Not all benefits can credibly be translated into financial ($) benefit terms. These are sometimes referred to as intangible benefits. The workbook provides a structure to estimate how the initiative may impact the non-financial KPIs below: 

Key Vista Features Assessed 

Terms of Use / Use Rights / End-User License Agreement (EULA)

By using the software/document, you accept these terms. If you do not accept them, do not use the software.

• If you downloaded the free Preview”: You may use, copy, redistribute, display, print, and reproduce this software/document.
• If you have purchased an enterprise-wide license to use this software/document throughout your organization: You may NOT distribute this software/document to anyone except employees of the organization.
• You may NOT sell, rent, lease, or lend this software/document or portions/derivations of it.
• You may NOT create derivative works from or "reverse-engineer" this software/document.
• You may only modify portions of the software/document designated as "Input" cells (light yellow cells with double-outline and blue text).
• You may NOT attempt to modify any "Protected"/"Locked" portions of this software/document.
• You must maintain all copyright and other notices contained in this software/document
• You may incorporate only static (e.g. values, graphics) portions of this software/document within other documents (e.g. a business case report) as long as the dynamic (e.g. equations, macros) functionality of the workbook is not also incorporated or duplicated.
  porated or duplicated.

Model Use Instructions

1. Read the "Terms of Use" and "Disclaimer".

2. Before making any changes to the workbook, save the workbook under a different name. This will preserve the original default values and formulas so you may return to them at a later time.

3. Navigate the workbook using the worksheet tabs at the bottom. Start with the "Profile" and "Features" worksheets. This worksheet contains the most important cost and benefit drivers. You will also see a summary view of the costs and benefits of the scenario modeled. Enter/edit data in the "input" (light yellow) cells with blue text and double outline. Edit (overwrite) the default values to customize results for your particular  organization/initiative.

4. Review the "ROI" worksheet to pre-view the costs and benefits.

5. Review the detailed default metrics and calculations in the cost (red tabs) and benefit (green tabs) worksheets. Although not required, we recommend completing the cost worksheets first to more clearly define the initiative.

6. The "Financial Analysis" report (or any other worksheet) can be printed or saved as PDF/XPS. Portions of the model may be incorporated (e.g. "Paste Special As Picture") into a more comprehensive business case-type report.

7. Additional instructions are provided in the model

8. If fee-based consultative guidance and/or customizations are desired, contact HCR.

Disclaimer

Results should be considered estimates only. It is intended to help guide customers in better understanding approximate costs and benefits of various scenarios. Due to limitations of simulation tools, actual results may differ significantly. Deployment/investment decisions should not be based on the results of this tool alone -- it is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice.

This information is provided to you as a tool "as is" with the understanding that there are no representations or warranties of any kind either express or implied. HCR and suppliers/vendors disclaim all warranties including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. HCR and suppliers do not warrant or make any representations regarding the use, validity, accuracy or reliability of the tool or the results of the use of the tool. In no event shall HCR or suppliers be liable for any damages, including those arising as a result of HCR or supplier negligence, whether those damages are direct, consequential, incidental, or special, flowing from your use of or inability to use the tool, or information provided herewith, or results of the tool's use, even if HCR or suppliers has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Model Support

HCR can provide fee-based 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

Figure 4 - Organizational Profile