The TIME Framework: How to Classify Every Application in Your Portfolio

Master the Tolerate-Invest-Migrate-Eliminate framework to make confident, data-driven decisions about every application in your technology landscape.

Understanding the TIME Framework

Origins and Purpose

The TIME framework provides a structured approach to categorising applications based on their business value and technical health. Originally developed for enterprise portfolios, it's equally powerful for SMEs looking to optimise their technology investments.

Why TIME Works:

• Simple, intuitive categorisation
• Balances business and technical perspectives
• Provides clear action paths for each category
• Enables consistent decision-making across the organisation
• Scales from small portfolios to complex landscapes

The Four Categories Explained

Tolerate (Maintain as-is): These applications work adequately but aren't strategic. They solve a problem, but you wouldn't choose them again. Maintain them with minimal investment while planning long-term alternatives.

Invest (Grow and expand): Your strategic winners. These applications deliver significant business value and have room for growth. Increase adoption, expand functionality, and deepen integration.

Migrate (Move to better options): The functionality is needed, but the current platform is wrong. Plan and execute migrations to better alternatives that offer improved capabilities, lower costs, or better alignment.

Eliminate (Retire and remove): Applications that no longer justify their cost or risk. Redundant, abandoned, or superseded applications that drain resources without delivering proportional value.

Scoring Methodology

Business Value Dimensions

Strategic Alignment (Weight: 25%)

• How well does the application support your business strategy?
• Does it enable competitive differentiation?
• Is it critical to revenue-generating processes?

User Adoption and Satisfaction (Weight: 20%)

• What percentage of intended users actively use it?
• How do users rate their experience?
• Are there frequent complaints or workarounds?

Process Criticality (Weight: 25%)

• How many business processes depend on this application?
• What happens if this application is unavailable for 24 hours?
• Can the business function without it?

Revenue Impact (Weight: 15%)

• Does the application directly contribute to revenue?
• Does it improve customer experience or retention?
• Does it enable sales or marketing effectiveness?

Compliance Requirement (Weight: 15%)

• Is the application required for regulatory compliance?
• Does it support audit and reporting needs?
• Are there legal or contractual obligations tied to it?

Technical Health Dimensions

Architecture Quality (Weight: 20%)

• Is the application built on modern, supportable technology?
• Does it follow best practices for scalability?
• Is the codebase maintainable?

Security Posture (Weight: 25%)

• Is the application regularly patched and updated?
• Does it meet current security standards?
• Are there known vulnerabilities?

Performance and Reliability (Weight: 20%)

• Does the application meet performance SLAs?
• How often does it experience downtime?
• Can it handle current and projected loads?

Integration Capability (Weight: 15%)

• Does the application offer APIs for integration?
• Can it exchange data with other key systems?
• Is it part of automated workflows?

Vendor Viability (Weight: 20%)

• Is the vendor financially stable and growing?
• Is there a clear product roadmap?
• Is adequate support available?

Classification Decision Matrix

High Business Value + High Technical Health → INVEST

These are your crown jewels. Maximise their potential.

Actions:

• Expand user adoption across the organisation
• Invest in advanced features and customisation
• Negotiate favourable long-term contracts
• Integrate deeply with other strategic applications
• Train power users and champions

High Business Value + Low Technical Health → MIGRATE

The need is real, but the platform must change.

Actions:

• Evaluate modern replacement options
• Create a detailed migration plan with timelines
• Budget for data migration and user training
• Plan for parallel running during transition
• Minimise further investment in current platform

Low Business Value + High Technical Health → TOLERATE

Good technology, but limited business impact.

Actions:

• Reduce spending to minimum viable levels
• Consider repurposing for other use cases
• Monitor for changes in business relevance
• Maintain security patches and updates
• Review classification annually

Low Business Value + Low Technical Health → ELIMINATE

Clear candidates for retirement.

Actions:

• Identify any data that must be preserved
• Communicate retirement timeline to users
• Provide alternative solutions for remaining use cases
• Execute decommissioning plan
• Reallocate freed resources

Practical Application Tips

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Emotional attachment: Don't keep applications because "we've always used them"
• Sunk cost fallacy: Past investment shouldn't dictate future decisions
• Incomplete data: Ensure you have accurate usage and cost data before classifying
• Ignoring shadow IT: Include unofficial applications in your assessment
• One-time exercise: APR should be a continuous process, not a one-off project

Stakeholder Engagement

• Involve business leaders in value assessment
• Include IT teams in technical evaluation
• Get user input on satisfaction and needs
• Communicate decisions transparently
• Provide clear rationale for each classification

Governance and Review

• Review classifications quarterly
• Update scores when significant changes occur
• Track actions and progress against plans
• Report outcomes to leadership
• Adjust strategy based on results

The TIME framework transforms subjective opinions about applications into objective, defensible decisions. By applying it consistently, you build a portfolio management discipline that continuously optimises your technology investments and ensures every rupee spent on software delivers measurable business value.