Facilitation of multi-project management using task hierarchy

• US 20050229151A1
• Filed: 06/08/2005
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Realization Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Realization Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Kapoor, Ajai, Shankar, Ravi, Gupta, Sanjeev, Hoang, Anthony, Muthu, Subramanian, Pati, Prakash, Chandrasekaran, Sridharan
• Granted Patent: US 7,774,742 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/101
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/10 Requirements analysis; Specification techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/20 Software design
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A method on a computer for providing critical chain-based project management is disclosed. The method includes receiving at least one project plan for a project comprising a plurality of tasks and calculating a task priority for each of the plurality of tasks based on the at least one project plan. The method further includes receiving at least one sub-task for a first task of the plurality of tasks and assigning the at least one sub-task a task priority identical to the task priority of the first task. In one alternative, the method further includes receiving a new task priority for the first task, assigning the new task priority to the first task and assigning the new task priority to the at least one sub-task of the first task. The method may also include an interface to allow starting of sub-tasks only when the parent task is started.

Claims

1. A method on a computer for providing critical chain-based project management, comprising:

receiving at least one project plan for a project comprising a plurality of tasks;

calculating a task priority for each of the plurality of tasks, based on the at least one project plan;

receiving at least one sub-task for a first task of the plurality of tasks; and

assigning the at least one sub-task a task priority identical to the task priority of the first task.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the element of providing project management further comprises:

providing critical chain-based project management across a plurality of projects.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

generating buffers for each of the plurality of projects, wherein at least one project plan corresponds to each project;

reconciling project resources among the plurality of projects; and

executing the at least one project plan, including allowing a user to manage the buffers across the plurality of projects.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at least one sub-task for a second task of the plurality of tasks; and

assigning the at least one sub-task a task priority identical to the task priority of the second task.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a new task priority for the first task;

assigning the new task priority to the first task; and

assigning the new task priority to the at least one sub-task of the first task.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allocating project resources to at least one sub-task.

7. A computer system for providing critical chain-based project management, comprising:

an interface for receiving at least one project plan for a project comprising a plurality of tasks wherein at least one sub-task corresponds to a first task of the plurality of tasks;

a processor configured for;

calculating a task priority for each of the plurality of tasks, based on the at least one project plan; and

assigning the at least one sub-task a task priority identical to the task priority of the first task.

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the computer system comprises:

a computer system for providing critical chain-based project management across a plurality of projects.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the processor comprises:

a processor further configured for;

generating buffers for each of the plurality of projects, wherein at least one project plan corresponds to each project;

reconciling project resources among the plurality of projects; and

executing the at least one project plan, including allowing a user to manage the buffers across the plurality of projects.

10. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the interface further comprises an interface for receiving a new task priority for the first task and wherein the processor further comprises a processor configured for:

assigning the new task priority to the first task; and

assigning the new task priority to the at least one sub-task of the first task.

11. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the interface comprises a graphical user interface.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the interface is provided over a network, such as a WAN.

13. A computer readable medium including computer instructions for providing project management, the computer instructions including instructions for:

receiving at least one project plan for a project comprising a plurality of tasks;

calculating a task priority for each of the plurality of tasks, based on the at least one project plan;

receiving at least one sub-task for a first task of the plurality of tasks; and

assigning the at least one sub-task a task priority identical to the task priority of the first task.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the computer instructions comprise computer instructions for providing critical chain-based project management across a plurality of projects.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions for:

generating buffers for each of the plurality of projects, wherein at least one project plan corresponds to each project;

reconciling project resources among the plurality of projects; and

executing the at least one project plan, including allowing a user to manage the buffers across the plurality of projects.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions for:

receiving a new task priority for the first task;

assigning the new task priority to the first task; and

assigning the new task priority to the at least one sub-task of the first task.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the first and second instructions for receiving further comprise instructions for:

a graphical user interface provided over a network, such as a WAN, for receiving at least one project plan for a project comprising a plurality of tasks wherein at least one sub-task corresponds to a first task of the plurality of tasks.