Patent ID: 7979513

Claim:
A computer implemented method for determining a complexity factor for an environment, the method comprising: a processor determining a value of a metric of a plurality of metrics, wherein the metric corresponds to a component of the environment; the processor assigning the metric and a corresponding component to one of a plurality of tiers, wherein each tier of the plurality of tiers corresponds to a tier value for a tier weight, and wherein the tier value for the tier weight describes a relative importance of each of the plurality of tiers for overall delivery of services by the environment; the processor determining a management complexity factor for the environment using values of the plurality of metrics and tier values for tier weights for the plurality of tiers, wherein the management complexity factor indicates an overall complexity of the environment, the processor calculating a potential management complexity factor for a new environment derived from the environment using potential values of the plurality of metrics and the tier values for the tier weights for the plurality of tiers, wherein the potential values are optimized values according to industry best practices; the processor comparing the management complexity factor for the environment with the potential complexity factor for the new environment; and the processor generating a deliverable document with the management complexity factor.