Computerized systems and methods for managing relationships

• US 20050267887A1
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Duncan Robins
• Original Assignee: Duncan Robins
• Inventors: Robins, Duncan G.
• Application Number:
  US11/139,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20050267887A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

Methods and systems for managing relationships and assisting relationship stewards in allocating resources among a plurality of steward-entity relationships. The methods and systems include allowing users to define steward-entity relationships and relationship tiers. Additionally, users assign relationship objectives to each relationship tier together with accommodation limits. The users then assign each of the steward-entity relationships to a relationship tier. This data and optionally data regarding interactions between entities and/or additional relationship data may be received by a computerized database and analyzed in a computerized system to produce one or more computerized relationship maps. The relationship maps may be used in whole or in part to provide feedback to one or more users regarding the steward-entity relationships.

Claims

1. A computerized method of managing relationships, the method comprising:

identifying a plurality of entities and assigning each entity an entity identifier;

designating one or more of the entities as relationship stewards by further assigning each relationship steward a steward identifier;

allowing each relationship steward to identify one or more entities with whom the steward has a relationship to define one or more steward-entity relationships corresponding to the relationship steward, wherein each steward-entity relationship is assigned a relationship identifier;

defining two or more relationship tiers for each relationship steward each tier having a tier identifier, wherein each relationship tier has relationship objectives, and wherein each relationship tier accommodates a number of steward-entity relationships;

allowing each relationship steward to assign the corresponding steward-entity relationships to one of the two or more relationship tiers creating a relationship tier assignment for each relationship;

receiving the entity identifiers, the steward identifiers, the relationship identifiers, the tier identifiers, and the relationship tier assignments into a computerized database;

analyzing the entity identifiers, the steward identifiers, the relationship identifiers, the tier identifiers, and the relationship tier assignments in a computerized system associated with the computerized database to produce a planned relationship map; and

providing feedback based at least in part on the planned relationship map to at least one of the group consisting of an entity, a relationship steward, and an auditor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein defining two or more relationship tiers includes defining a first tier accommodating the fewest steward-entity relationships, a second tier accommodating a greater number of steward-entity relationships, and one or more additional tiers accommodating progressively greater numbers of steward-entity relationships.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first three tiers of the two or more relationship tiers collectively accommodate from about 100 steward-entity relationships to about 250 steward-entity relationships.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first tier accommodates from about 10 relationships to about 25 relationships;

wherein the second tier accommodates from about 20 relationships to about 75 relationships; and

wherein the third tier accommodates from about 70 relationships to about 150 relationships.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein defining two or more relationship tiers includes allowing customized relationship objectives for at least one of the tiers, wherein at least one of the group consisting of an entity, a relationship steward, and an auditor may define the customized relationship objectives.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the relationship objectives for each defined relationship tier include at least one factor from the group consisting of interaction frequency, interaction quality, interaction duration, and business statistics associated with the steward-entity relationship.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising producing at least one map from the group consisting of an actual relationship map and a hypothetical relationship map, wherein providing feedback includes providing feedback based at least in part on one or more of the planned relationship map, the actual relationship map, and the hypothetical relationship map.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein producing a hypothetical relationship map comprises:

identifying at least one auditor;

allowing the at least one auditor to identify one or more hypothetical steward-entity relationships between entities and relationship stewards, wherein each hypothetical steward-entity relationship is assigned a hypothetical relationship identifier;

allowing the at least one auditor to assign the hypothetical steward-entity relationships to one of two or more relationship tiers creating a hypothetical relationship tier assignment for each relationship;

receiving the entity identifiers, the steward identifiers, the hypothetical relationship identifiers, the tier identifiers, and the hypothetical relationship tier assignments into a computerized database; and

analyzing the entity identifiers, the steward identifiers, the hypothetical relationship identifiers, the tier identifiers, and the relationship tier hypothetical assignments in a computerized system associated with the computerized database to produce a hypothetical relationship map.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein producing an actual relationship map comprises:

allowing at least two of the plurality of entities to have one or more interactions over time;

recording interaction evaluation parameters for at least some of the interactions over time; and

comparing the interaction evaluation parameters with the relationship objectives of each relationship tier in a computerized system to produce an actual relationship map.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein each interaction has an impact on one or more steward-entity relationships, and wherein recording interaction evaluation parameters includes recording at least a relationship trust account indicator representative of the impact of the interaction on the one or more steward-entity relationships.

11. A relationship management system for assisting relationship stewards in allocating resources among a plurality of steward-entity relationships, the system comprising:

at least one user interface system having at least one data input apparatus adapted to allow one or more users to input data regarding at least one steward-entity relationship, and having at least one data reporting apparatus adapted to display information regarding at least one steward-entity relationship;

a server system including at least one program and at least one database adapted to receive data from at least the at least one user computer and adapted to store data including at least the data input by the one or more users;

wherein the server system includes a relationship identification routine adapted to transmit instructions to at least one of the user interface systems instructing at least one of the users to identify at least one steward-entity relationship, to define two or more relationship tiers, to define relationship objectives for each tier, to define each tier as accommodating a number of steward-entity relationships, and to assign one or more steward-entity relationships to a relationship tier;

wherein the server system includes a relationship advisor routine adapted to analyze the at least one steward-entity relationship, the two or more relationship tiers, the relationship objectives, and the relationship tier assignments for the steward-entity relationships to produce a relationship map, adapted to utilize the relationship map to prepare one or more relationship reports, and adapted to transmit the one or more relationship reports to at least one of the user computers for display on the data reporting apparatus to advise the one or more users; and

a computer network connecting the server system and the at least one user interface system.

12. The relationship management system of claim 11, wherein the at least one user interface system is adapted to receive steward-entity relationship data from at least one user selected from the group consisting of relationship stewards, auditors, and entities.

13. The relationship management system of claim 12, wherein the relationship identification routine is adapted to tag the steward-entity relationships, the relationship tiers, the relationship objectives, the tier accommodation limits, and the steward-entity relationship tier assignments to identify the user that input the data.

14. The relationship management system of claim 13, wherein the relationship advisor routine is adapted to produce at least one relationship map from the group consisting of a planned relationship map, an actual relationship map, and a hypothetical relationship map.

15. The relationship management system of claim 14, wherein the one or more relationship reports is based at least in part on a comparison of two or more of the planned relationship map, the actual relationship map, and the hypothetical relationship map to advise the user of differences between the compared maps.

16. The relationship management system of claim 14, wherein the hypothetical relationship map is produced at least from data tagged as being input by one or more auditors, and wherein the planned relationship map is produced at least from data tagged as being input by one or more relationship stewards.

17. The relationship management system of claim 14, wherein the server further includes a relationship monitoring routine adapted to transmit instructions to at least one of the user interface systems instructing at least one user to input interaction data regarding interactions within one or more steward-entity relationship;

wherein the input interaction data includes interaction evaluation parameters for each interaction; and

wherein the actual relationship map is produced at least from interaction data.

18. A computer-implemented system that implements a program in which relationships between entities are monitored and managed to assist relationship stewards in allocating resources among a plurality of steward-entity relationships, the system comprising:

a data input system for entering information regarding a plurality of entities including one or more relationship stewards and including a relationship identification routine adapted to instruct at least one user to define at least one steward-entity relationship, to define two or more relationship tiers, to define relationship objectives for each tier, to define each tier as accommodating a number of steward-entity relationships, and to assign one or more steward-entity relationships to a relationship tier;

a monitoring system for collecting information regarding interactions between the plurality of entities, including interactions within one or more steward-entity relationships, wherein the information collected includes interaction evaluation parameters for each interaction;

a server system in communication with the data input system and the monitoring system including at least one program and at least one database adapted to access the information collected from the data input system and the monitoring system, wherein the program is adapted to prepare a relationship map based at least in part on one or more factor selected from the group consisting of the defined relationship tiers, the relationship tier to which the steward-entity relationships are assigned, the collected information regarding the interactions between the plurality of entities, the collected interaction evaluation parameters, and a user-selectable factor, and wherein the program is further adapted to prepare a relationship report based at least in part on the relationship map and to transmit the relationship report to at least one user; and

a reporting system in communication with the server system adapted to receive the relationship report from the server system for presentation to the at least one user.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the server system is adapted to produce one or more relationship maps selected from the group consisting of planned relationship maps, actual relationship maps, and hypothetical relationship maps.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the server system is adapted to produce one or more relationship reports based at least in part on a comparison of two or more of the planned relationship maps, the actual relationship maps, and the hypothetical relationship maps to advise the user of differences between the compared relationship maps.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the hypothetical relationship maps are produced at least from information entered into the data input system by one or more auditors;

wherein the planned relationship maps are produced at least from information entered into the data input system by one or more relationship stewards; and

wherein the actual relationship maps are produced at least from information collected from the monitoring system.