Software configuration management (SCM) is one of the few enterprise software types where Open Source Software (OSS) solutions rival commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products in both functionality and user acceptance. This Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) calculator is designed to aid decision makers in comparing the cost of an OSS SCM tool to that of a COTS solution. The tool includes the following components:

• An explanation of the major cost categories that should be included in the TCO analysis.
• A TCO chart describing a hypothetical SCM implementation, based on case studies and industry estimates.
• A spreadsheet that dynamically calculates total cost per category, total cost per year, and overall TCO for open-source and commercial off-the-shelf SCM solutions.
• A chart comparing the two TCOs over a five-year period.

Use this tool to effectively determine the cost difference between the two licensing options.

This tool is part of the ITA Premium software configuration management series, which also includes the following notes:

• “Six Keys to Unlock the Software Configuration Treasure Chest”
• “Navigate the SCM Wilderness: Look for These Five Landmarks”
• “SCM Solution RFP Template”