Rapid Assessment for Distributed Computing This comparative assessment evaluates the costs of owning, using and procuring IT distributed computing assets over time. In the Rapid Assessment for Distributed Computing, Gartner Measurement analysts perform in-depth analyses of cost and management practices and processes in the context of your unique business requirements. This is the baseline upon which organizations can develop strategic technology and investment decisions, and measure against these key performance indicators on an ongoing basis. Because more than 60 percent of IT expenses fall outside of the IS organization's budget, it is imperative to identify and include all IT costs that are linked to departmental budgets. The distributed computing consensus model encompasses a holistic view of all distributed computing costs including hard-to-find (i.e., hidden) costs. Does your organization know the extent of peer or local expert support, and the associated impact? Users frequently turn to their coworkers as the first line of technical support, but identify other areas as their best source of support (figure 4). Addresses the following business issues: Decide how cost cutting impacts service levels Allocate budget in the most effective way to support unique business requirements Determine the IT processes that minimize costs and maximize performance Justify and prioritize the IT investments in distributing computing environment Improve user satisfaction while maintaining cost-efficiency Identify hidden IT costs figure 4 Contact Information: For more information about Gartner Measurement services please e-mail measurement.info@gartner.com