Which question would help to assess the impact of applications?

Assessing the impact of applications involves understanding how effectively they are functioning and their influence on operational performance. By asking about their performance and any instances of downtime, you can gauge not only the reliability of the applications but also their overall contribution to business processes. High performance with minimal downtime typically indicates a positive impact on productivity and user satisfaction, whereas frequent downtimes or performance issues could suggest detrimental effects that may need to be addressed.

The other options focus on different aspects: the budget addresses financial constraints, the total cost of ownership relates to economic evaluation, and the timing of system upgrades touches on maintenance practices. While these factors are important, they do not directly measure the operational impact of the applications themselves. Thus, in terms of assessing actual performance and influence, inquiring about performance and downtime is the most relevant approach.