With the global economy amid financial meltdown, retail CIOs face complex IT choices. Should they continue process improvement initiatives, upgrade their best-of-breed portfolio, or implement a standardized suite? All of these involve significant demands on a retailer's funds and people. To help, Forrester developed a framework diagnostic for retailers to identify low-hanging fruit and self-funding IT initiatives that are adapted to their market positioning and financial situation and capable of generating returns for shareholders in six months or less.