A method is disclosed for the computer-aided determination of the optimization potential of a software system including a plurality of modules that can interact with each other at least to some point during execution of the software system. At least one module to be examined is selected from the plurality of modules, in at least one embodiment, and is examined with respect to the effects of an optimization of the at least one module to be examined on the overall consumption of resources of the software system. A respective consumption of resources of one or more modules not to be examined of the plurality of modules is varied according to at least one predetermined criterion, thereby obtaining a modified software system. The overall consumption of resources of the modified software system is determined taking into consideration the variation of the modules not to be examined. The determined overall consumption of resources of the modified software system is then compared to the overall consumption of resources of the unmodified software system.