A TCO assessment provides valuable information and input both for strategic budget crisis planning and in a more tactical approach to doing more with less. Strategically, a TCO assessment takes a holistic approach to technology costs, including non-budget items such as user time spent dealing with computer issues (indirect labor). This approach allows the ability to model the effects of budget cuts such as reduced IT staff and deferred computer purchases. From a tactical point of view, a TCO assessment helps to identify areas where costs are high and establish an approach to focus on efficiencies.

These topics are covered in CoSN's Mastering the Moment toolkit and some tactical ideas on developing greater efficiencies are covered under TCO/Checklist.

eSchool News has pulled together a series of articles in a special supplement, "Money Matters." CoSN TCO Project Director, Rich Kaestner, is quoted in a couple of the articles.