Economical Aspects when Deploying Enterprise Portals

Abstract

Enterprise portals have become the backbone for the integration of a large number of different applications, content, and services (Smith, 2004). Nowadays, electronic business can hardly be imagined without the use of these portals as central entry points. At the same time, companies become more and more aware that portal projects are complex, time- and cost-consuming, with a high risk of failing. Costs and benefits to build up and operate an enterprise portal have to be weighed up in a systematic manner, including make-or- buy decisions with regard to packaged portal platforms vs. open source developments, individually developed vs. purchased standard portal components (Hazra, 2002).