Cora Lackey Carmody

US Patent:

20030055749, Mar 20, 2003

Filed:

May 3, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/303436

Inventors:

CORA L. CARMODY - OAK HILL VA, US
JOHN R. WARBURTON - ARLINGTON VA, US

International Classification:

G06F017/60

US Classification:

705/028000

Abstract:

The purpose of the present invention called Information Technology Asset Management (ITAM) is to develop and monitor the processes and metrics to perform the orderly planning, acquisition, entry, use, insight, refresh, and retirement of all IT assets (desktop computers, servers, network components, software, etc.). The goal of the present invention is to lower the Total Cost of Ownership (COT), increase a company's technological agility, and improve the company's cash management. Other benefits are cycle-time reduction in the procurement, payment, and accounting of IT assets, with substantial cost savings in software licensing, property taxes, and stealth (or shadow) support. Some examples of processes include processes within Acquisition/Procurement, Deployment/Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Desktop Setup/Configuration, End User Support such as Support Center functions of Problem Resolution, Moves/Adds/Changes, and Application Support, financial insight processes such as Baseline Inventory, Asset Reconciliation, Software License Management, Asset Tech Refresh, Asset Reallocation and Asset Disposal. The methodology of ITAM is fundamental in implementing a Common Operating Environment (COE) and the standards policies, processes and IT architecture associated with COE.