Before you begin

Keep in mind the following caveats before you begin the EAI test and review the answers:

• This calculator is not meant to be precise. Consider the answer to be a back-of-the-envelope guess.
• While the following eight questions reflect the main issues that will primarily determine the level of EAI your organization may need, other unspecified challenges may tilt the equation in one direction or another. For example, the following factors may play a large role in determining if EAI is appropriate:
  • the number and type of legacy, client/server, and Web-enabled applications currently in your portfolio;
  • the industry your company serves and its level of online sales activity;
  • the size of your organization; and
  • the extent of centralization or decentralization.
• Furthermore, the values in the calculator are based on current practice. Over time, more companies will rely on the Internet and e-commerce as a primary sales channel. For those companies, adopting EAI will be a necessity, not a strategic option.
• Legal disclaimer: Microsoft Corp. and Aberdeen Group provide this calculator solely for self-evaluation. The calculator is offered "as-is."

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions about the EAI test, please contact the editor of The Enterprise from Microsoft at: entfeed@microsoft.com. Please note that technical support of Microsoft software products is not available at that e-mail address. Support questions should be submitted to www.microsoft.com/support/.