Methods and apparatus for rapid deployment of a valuation system

• US 20020052766A1
• Filed: 12/19/2000
• Published: 05/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: GE Corporate Financial Services, Inc. (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Messmer, Richard Paul, Dingman, Brian Nathan, Johnson, Christopher Donald, Edgar, Marc Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,110,970 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis

Abstract

An integrated system organizes a company'"'"'s experiences, operating procedures, best practices, information sources, competitive information and analytical tools. The goal is increasing profitability within a due diligence process while facilitating ongoing operations. The system incorporates a method for collaborating on due diligence issues to affect knowledge building within due diligence teams. The method includes accessing stored, accumulated knowledge in a repository from prior due diligence exercises, applying to due diligence decisions criteria based on consolidated analytical building blocks of past due diligence exercises and storing newly accumulated knowledge from the current due diligence exercise into the repository of accumulated knowledge.

Claims

1. A method for collaborating on due diligence issues to affect efficient knowledge building within due diligence teams, said method comprising the steps of:

accessing stored, accumulated knowledge in a repository from prior due diligence exercises;

applying to due diligence decisions criteria based on consolidated analytical building blocks of past due diligence exercises; and

storing newly accumulated knowledge from the current due diligence exercise into the repository of accumulated knowledge.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of accessing stored, accumulated knowledge in a repository further comprises the step of accessing a suite of at least one of business processes, computer systems, analytical tools, financial models, data manipulation tools, business process tools, methodologies and analytics.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of accessing stored, accumulated knowledge in a repository further comprises the step of accessing a high level map and associated descriptions of the roles and responsibilities within the due diligence team such that team members can see who has functional responsibilities, how the team members as individuals fit into the due diligence team and who to contact for information.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of applying to due diligence decisions criteria based on consolidated analytical building blocks further comprises the step of accessing a due diligence project timeline with milestones and tasks arranged as at least one of Gantt charts, PERT charts and text such that key deliverable timing is developed at the beginning of the due diligence project with inputs from due diligence team members.

5. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of accessing a project feedback mechanism including graphical indicators for tracking key due diligence deliverables of at least one of types and quantities of underwriting completed, total project budget and status of deliverables.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said step of accessing a project feedback mechanism further comprises the step of accessing a due diligence project calendar with notable local and global dates identified.

7. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of storing contact information of due diligence team members and collaborators of at least one of telephone numbers, e-mail address and postal address information.

8. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of storing a due diligence project to do list and status for items on the to do list.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of storing newly accumulated knowledge further comprises the step of creating a shared storage place for various due diligence functions to store project files and information such that team members and collaborators can access and retrieve the information.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of storing newly accumulated knowledge further comprises the step of creating an information flow map that identifies sources and uses of information utilized to make due diligence decisions.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of accessing stored, accumulated knowledge further comprises the step of accessing historical best practices, collated and codified from past due diligence exercises.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of accessing stored, accumulated knowledge further comprises the step of accessing a database of relevant valuation information and facts associated with the due diligence to valuate a portfolio of assets.

14. A system according to claim 13 wherein said server configured with a suite of at least one of business processes, computer systems, analytical tools, financial models, data manipulation tools, business process tools, methodologies and analytics.

15. A system according to claim 13 wherein said server configured with a high level map and associated descriptions of the roles and responsibilities within the due diligence team such that team members can see who has functional responsibilities, how the team members as individuals fit into the due diligence team and who to contact for information.

16. A system according to claim 13 wherein said server configured with a due diligence project timeline with milestones and tasks arranged as at least one of Gantt charts, PERT charts and text to develop key deliverable timing with input from due diligence team members.

17. A system according to claim 13 wherein said server configured with a project feedback mechanism including graphical indicators for tracking key due diligence deliverables of at least one of types and quantities of underwriting completed, total project budget and status of deliverables.

18. A system according to claim 17 wherein said server configured with a due diligence project calendar with notable local and global dates identified.

19. A system according to claim 13 wherein said server configured with contact information of due diligence team members and collaborators of at least one of telephone numbers, e-mail address and postal address information.

20. A system according to claim 13 wherein said server configured with a due diligence project to do list and status for items on the to do list.

21. A system according to claim 13 wherein said server configured with a shared storage place for various due diligence functions to store project files and information such that team members and collaborators can access and retrieve the information.

22. A system according to claim 13 wherein said server configured with an information flow map that identifies sources and uses of information utilized to make due diligence decisions.

23. A system according to claim 13 wherein said server configured with historical best practices, collated and codified from past due diligence exercises.

24. A system according to claim 13 wherein said server configured with a database of relevant valuation information and facts associated with the due diligence to valuate a portfolio of assets.

26. A computer according to claim 25 programmed with a suite of at least one of business processes, computer systems, analytical tools, financial models, data manipulation tools, business process tools, methodologies and analytics.

27. A computer according to claim 25 programmed with a high level map and associated descriptions of the roles and responsibilities within the due diligence team such that team members can see who has functional responsibilities, how the team members as individuals fit into the due diligence team and who to contact for information.

28. A computer according to claim 25 programmed with a due diligence project timeline with milestones and tasks arranged as at least one of Gantt charts, PERT charts and text to develop key deliverable timing with input from due diligence team members.

29. A computer according to claim 25 programmed with a project feedback mechanism including graphical indicators for tracking key due diligence deliverables of at least one of types and quantities of underwriting completed, total project budget and status of deliverables.

30. A computer according to claim 29 programmed with a due diligence project calendar with notable local and global dates identified.

31. A computer according to claim 25 programmed with contact information of due diligence team members and collaborators of at least one of telephone numbers, e-mail address and postal address information.

32. A computer according to claim 25 programmed with a due diligence project to do list and status for items on the to do list.

33. A computer according to claim 25 programmed with a shared storage place for various due diligence functions to store project files and information such that team members and collaborators can access and retrieve the information.

34. A computer according to claim 25 programmed with an information flow map that identifies sources and uses of information utilized to make due diligence decisions.

35. A computer according to claim 25 programmed with historical best practices, collated and codified from past due diligence exercises.

36. A computer according to claim 25 programmed with a database of relevant valuation information and facts associated with the due diligence to valuate a portfolio of assets.

13. A system for enabling a due diligence team collaborating on due diligence issues to obtain efficient knowledge building, said system comprising:

at least one computer;

at least one server configured to store accumulated knowledge in a repository from prior due diligence exercises, apply consolidated analytical building blocks of past due diligence exercises to due diligence decision criteria and store newly accumulated knowledge from the current due diligence exercise into the repository of accumulated knowledge; and

a network connecting said at least one computer to said server.

25. A computer configured to provide a due diligence team collaborating on due diligence issues with efficient knowledge building, said computer programmed to:

store accumulated knowledge in a repository from prior due diligence exercises;

apply consolidated analytical building blocks of past due diligence exercises to due diligence decision criteria; and

store newly accumulated knowledge from the current due diligence exercise into the repository of accumulated knowledge.