Project management system for aiding users in attaining goals

• US 20020194046A1
• Filed: 06/07/2002
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Strategic Coach Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Strategic Coach Incorporated
• Inventors: Sullivan, Daniel J., Smith, Barbara Sue
• Granted Patent: US 7,774,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.36
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/963 Calendar or scheduling

Abstract

The present invention is a project management method, system and software product for aiding a user in attaining goals. The system has a goal field for describing a goal, a plurality of obstacle fields for describing a plurality of obstacles to be overcome in attaining the goal, and a plurality of strategy fields for describing a plurality of strategies for overcoming the plurality of obstacles to achieve a result correlated with the goal. Each obstacle field in the plurality of obstacle fields is linked to the goal field, has a unique associated strategy field in the plurality of strategy fields, and is linked with the unique associated strategy field.

Claims

1. A project management system for aiding a user in attaining goals, the system comprising:

(a) a goal field for describing a goal;

(b) a plurality of obstacle fields for describing a plurality of obstacles to be overcome in attaining the goal, each obstacle field in the plurality of obstacle fields being linked to the goal field; and

,

(c) a plurality of strategy fields for describing a plurality of strategies for overcoming the plurality of obstacles to achieve a result correlated with the goal;

(d) wherein each obstacle field in the plurality of obstacle fields has a unique associated strategy field in the plurality of strategy fields, and is linked with the unique associated strategy field.

2. The project management system as defined in claim 1 further comprising a strategy matrix having, for each strategy field in the plurality of strategy fields, an associated plurality of information fields for receiving information regarding a strategy described in the strategy field.

3. The project management system as defined in claim 2 wherein for each strategy field in the plurality of strategy fields the associated plurality of information fields comprises an associated personnel field for entering names of personnel required to implement a strategy designated in the strategy field.

4. The project management system as defined in claim 2 wherein for each strategy field in the plurality of strategy fields the associated plurality of information fields comprises an associated resource field for entering a description of resources required to implement a strategy designated in the strategy field.

5. The project management system as defined in claim 2 wherein for each strategy field in the plurality of strategy fields the associated plurality of information fields comprises an associated plurality of step fields for describing steps to be executed to implement a strategy designated in the strategy field.

6. The project management system as defined in claim 2 wherein

the strategy matrix comprises a plurality of rows,

the plurality of rows including an associated row for each strategy field in the plurality of strategy fields;

and,

the associated plurality of information fields for each strategy field in the plurality of strategy fields are located on the associated row.

7. The project management system as defined in claim 1 further comprising a strategy matrix including,

a plurality of rows, the plurality of rows including an associated row for each strategy field in the plurality of strategy fields, and

a plurality of columns, each column having an associated type of information.

8. A project management computer system for aiding a user in attaining goals, the system comprising:

(a) a strategy circle interface having;

(i) a goal field for describing a goal,

(ii) a plurality of obstacle fields for describing a plurality of obstacles to be overcome in attaining the goal, each obstacle field in the plurality of obstacle fields being linked to the goal field, and

(iii) a plurality of strategy fields for describing a plurality of strategies for overcoming the plurality of obstacles to achieve a result correlated with the goal,

(iv) wherein each obstacle field in the plurality of obstacle fields has a unique associated strategy field in the plurality of strategy fields, and is linked with the unique associated strategy field;

(b) a strategy matrix interface having, for each strategy field in the plurality of strategy fields, an associated plurality of information fields for receiving information regarding a strategy described in the strategy field; and

(c) information transfer means associated with the strategy circle interface and the strategy matrix interface for copying information entered into the plurality of strategy fields to the strategy matrix interface.

9. The project management computer system as defined in claim 8 wherein

the strategy matrix interface comprises a plurality of rows,

the plurality of rows including an associated row for each strategy field in the plurality of strategy fields;

and

the associated plurality of information fields for each strategy field in the plurality of strategy fields is located on the associated row.

10. The project management computer system as defined in claim 9 further comprising access control means for controlling access to information entered in the strategy circle interface and the strategy matrix interface, wherein the strategy matrix interface includes a confidentiality column for activating the access control means, the confidentiality column having, for each strategy field in the plurality of strategy fields, an associated confidentiality indicator for activating the access control means to control access to information entered in the associated row of the strategy matrix interface.

11. The project management computer system as defined in claim 9 further comprising a strategy record generation means for generating a plurality of strategy records from information entered into the strategy circle interface and the strategy matrix interface, the plurality of strategy records including an associated strategy record for each goal in a plurality of goals, the associated strategy record being generated using the information entered into the strategy circle interface and the strategy matrix interface for the goal.

12. The project management computer system as defined in claim 11 further comprising a search means for searching through the plurality of strategy records for a selected search term.

14. The computer program product as defined in claim 13 wherein

the strategy matrix interface comprises a plurality of rows,

the plurality of rows including an associated row for each strategy field in the plurality of strategy fields;

and

the associated plurality of information fields for each strategy field in the plurality of strategy fields is located on the associated row.

15. The computer program product as defined in claim 14 further comprising access control generation means recorded on the recording medium for generating an access control means for controlling access to information entered in the strategy circle interface and the strategy matrix interface, wherein the strategy matrix interface includes a confidentiality column for activating the access control means, the confidentiality column having, for each strategy field in the plurality of strategy fields, an associated confidentiality indicator for activating the access control means to control access to information entered in the associated row of the strategy matrix interface.

16. The computer program product as defined in claim 14 further comprising a strategy record generation means recorded on the recording medium for generating a plurality of strategy records from information entered into the strategy circle interface and the strategy matrix interface, the plurality of strategy records including an associated strategy record for each goal in a plurality of goals, the associated strategy record being generated using the information entered into the strategy circle interface and the strategy matrix interface for the goal.

17. The computer program product as defined in claim 16 further comprising a search means for searching through the plurality of strategy records for a selected search term.

18. A method of planning a project using the project management computer system as defined in claim 8, the method comprising;

determining a goal associated with completing the project;

describing the goal in the goal field using measurable terms;

determining a plurality of obstacles to be overcome to complete the project and reach the goal;

describing the plurality of obstacles in the plurality of obstacle fields;

determining a plurality of strategies for overcoming the plurality of obstacles, the plurality of strategies including, for each obstacle in the plurality of obstacles, an associated strategy for overcoming the obstacle; and

,

describing the plurality of strategies in the plurality of strategy fields.

19. The method as defined in claim 18 further comprising

for each strategy in the plurality of strategies,

determining information regarding the strategy;

and

describing the information in the associated plurality of information fields for the strategy.

13. A computer program product for configuring a computer system to aid a user in attaining goals, the computer program product comprising:

(a) a recording medium;

(b) a strategy circle generation means recorded on the recording medium for generating a strategy circle interface having

(i) a goal field for describing a goal,

(ii) a plurality of obstacle fields for describing a plurality of obstacles to be overcome in attaining the goal, each obstacle field in the plurality of obstacle fields being linked to the goal field, and

(iii) a plurality of strategy fields for describing a plurality of strategies for overcoming the plurality of obstacles to achieve a result correlated with the goal,

(iv) wherein each obstacle field in the plurality of obstacle fields has a unique associated strategy field in the plurality of strategy fields, and is linked with the unique associated strategy field;

(c) a strategy matrix generation means recorded on the recording medium for generating a strategy matrix interface having, for each strategy field in the plurality of strategy fields, an associated plurality of information fields for receiving information regarding a strategy described in the strategy field; and

(d) information transfer generation means recorded on the recording medium for generating an information transfer means associated with the strategy circle interface and the strategy matrix interface for copying information entered into the plurality of strategy fields to the strategy matrix interface.