Windos vs Unix A dotcom company has decided to upgrade its s

Windos vs. Unix

A dot-com company has decided to upgrade its server computers. It is also contemplating a shift from its Unix-based platform to a Windows-based platform. Three major cost items will be affected whichever platform them choose: hardware costs, software conversion costs and employee training costs. The firm’s technical group has studied and has made the following estimates for the cost changes.

Windows

Unix

Low

Likely

High

Low

Likely

High

Hardware

100

125

200

80

110

210

Software

275

300

500

250

300

525

Training

9

10

15

8

10

17.5

All numbers in Thousands.

Given the information above,

How would you determine which platform is cost effective?

Which platform poses higher risk in terms of cost variations?

Irrespective of the costs involved, as a Project Manager with general knowledge of the technology (not as a specialist), what is your recommendation? Why?

	Windows	Unix
	Low	Likely	High	Low	Likely	High
Hardware	100	125	200	80	110	210
Software	275	300	500	250	300	525
Training	9	10	15	8	10	17.5

Solution

Windows Unix Low Likely High Low Likely High Hardware 100 125 200 80 110 210 Software 275 300 500 250 300 525 Training 9 10 15 8 10 17.5 Using Pert Technique Expected cost (low+4*Likely+High)/6 Cost Standard Deviation (High-Low)/6 Cost variance ((High-Low)6)^2 Expected Cost Cost Standard Deviation Cost variance Windows Unix Windows Unix Windows Unix Hardware 133 122 Hardware 17 22 Hardware 278 469 Software 329 329 Software 38 46 Software 1406 2101 Training 11 11 Training 1 2 Training 1 3 Total 473 462 Unix platform is more cost effective Unix pose higher risk in terms of cost deviation as cost deviation is higher than that of Windows. Though not cost effective in the current organization, if Windows is replacing Unix all over then over a period of time, service of unix will be difficult and lesser improvements will be there. It will become difficult to sustain the same and Windows will be the only option to move to later.