Datasheet

www.microsoft.com/office/portfolioserver/
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The charts vividly illustrate potential outliers, including identifying one specific ―thick
client‖ ERP application having both high business importance and high risk. Interestingly,
another ERP system used in their shipping operations business unit has a Web-based
―thin client‖ and is considered high in business importance and low in risk, and it ranks
well in operational performance. The two applications have very high functional overlap
as they support the same business processes. Retiring the ―thick client‖ ERP application
and replacing it with the Web-based system would likely save $1.25 million in annual cost
while streamlining performance and reducing risk.
Excited by the results, Sidney’s analyst further uses the charts to support a proposal for
a program to evolve from ―thick‖ client/server architecture to Web-based applications.
Moving to a standard technology would enable the IT group to better use support staff,
improve responsiveness, and reduce license costs. These aren’t new ideas, but the charts
help illustrate to the Board how the technology upgrade provides business benefit,
beyond simple return on investment (ROI).
After completing the rationalization of the application portfolio, Sidney’s team has saved
Wide World Importers about 10 percent of the IT budget. The application life cycle
decisions also result in promising new project candidates to be considered for the next
project portfolio.