A MENEDZSMENT INFORMÁCIÓS RENDSZEREK KÖLTSÉG-HASZON ELEMZÉSE

In the course of cost-benefit analysis of management information systems such peculiar elements can be found on both sides the interpretation of which might be a difficult task. Looking at the costs the generally known cost elements are found (TCO – Total Cost of Ownership): investment costs (hardware, software), operating costs (staff costs, maintenance expenditures, rental, and subscriptions). However, besides these it is worth to mention the costs deriving from switching from a given system, the definition and quantification of which is not yet solved. Evaluation of the profit can be an even bigger problem than the previous ones. We can hardly find an income that is directly connected to the information system so that is the means of production is the information system itself. It is much more common that the corporate information system supports operating and organizing the whole of the company, and by now, this system has become an essential basis of decision-making. Consequently, there is no doubt about its economic significance, but, on the other hand, the information system yields numerical profit only indirectly, through fulfilment of the company’s basic activity. Though we cannot disregard determination of these numerical values, since we need them to compare certain solutions, applications, and to fulfil some aspects of system selection.