Method and apparatus for a creative guidance system

• US 20060020500A1
• Filed: 07/22/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Julie Ann Turner
• Original Assignee: Julie Ann Turner
• Inventors: Turner, Julie Ann
• Application Number:
  US11/187,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20060020500A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• 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 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls

Abstract

A system, methods and apparatus for use in creating a dynamic plan for achieving a desired outcome is provided. Methods for identifying and describing the desired outcome by an individual or group are provided, methods for evaluating the current set of circumstances of the group or individual are provided, and methods for developing a navigationally modeled plan for executing the steps necessary to achieve the desired outcome using a variety of evaluation and dynamic feedback tools are provided. A system combining certain conceptual models for planning and the above methods to produce a plan for execution to attain the desired goals by an individual or group is provided. Software implementing the methods and system is provided. Apparatus in a kit form for use in leading a group through the planning process of the invention is provided.

Claims

1. A method for creating a visually representable plan to achieve a desired goal, comprising the steps of:

providing a dynamic, navigational planning method to individual or group users and stakeholders who are participants;

training the participants to use the tools of the arc and the spiral, the related and recurring sequence of planning steps they represent, and the mnemonic names or acronyms for each sequence of steps;

initiating a planning process by focusing the participants on describing desired future outcomes, experiences and potential desired goals and creating a dynamically adaptable plan to generate desired outcomes which do not yet exist, the process comprising the step of;

describing the desired goal as a future set of circumstances wherein one or more participants will attain certain desired attributes and experiences;

collecting information about the current set of circumstances by surveying the participants, planning situation and environment, assessing this information through the use of analytical tools, and analyzing the results of this survey step to assess, measure and evaluate the current set of circumstances and focus the scope of the planning;

after the previous steps are completed, creating a navigational plan and corresponding timeline for executing actions to transition from the current set of circumstances to the desired goal, enabling users to dynamically navigate and constantly adjust and adapt the plan and corresponding timeline to incorporate emerging opportunities and address challenges, and to accordingly reallocate resources in real time to attain desired result(s); and

visually representing said plan as at least one navigable arc along which may be placed executable steps and milestones for completing the executable steps, which, when executed will enable the participants to achieve the desired goal.

2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising the steps of:

consistently re-executing the steps of collecting and assessing information to reflect changes in the current set of circumstances from time to time and re-evaluating and updating the current set of circumstances; and

updating elements of the plan and the visually represented navigable arc and the corresponding timeline to adapt to and address these changes in the current set of circumstances and to re-orient the plan to the desired goal(s), again representing the executable steps and milestones along the arc, incorporating the updated information, and communicating these navigational changes to the participants.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of describing the future set of circumstances comprises the steps of developing and describing the future set of circumstances as group of clearly identifiable experiences and attributes which the participants will recognize, experience and benefit from when the desired goal is attained.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of developing and describing is used to create a Vision statement that may be represented in written, visual, audio or electronic form.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of developing and describing the future set of circumstances is performed as an organized group dialogue event using enhanced dialogue sessions to create a description that may be represented in written, visual, audio or electronic form.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of developing and describing further comprises the steps of creating a Mission statement that may be represented in written, visual, audio or electronic form, which includes identifying a purpose the participants wish to achieve, the enterprise, business, work or activity the participants will act within to achieve the purpose, and a statement of values to be used in guiding the enterprise to achieve the Mission.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the steps of creating a Mission statement are performed during an organized group event using enhanced dialogue sessions.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of collecting information about the current set of circumstances further comprises the steps of surveying the participants

to collect objective information about the current set of circumstances, analyzing the information collected to determine additional information, assessing the collected information to determine the resources and attributes available to the participants, and monitoring the current set of circumstances on an ongoing basis by collecting new information which is used to update the description of the current set of circumstances.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the steps of surveying, analyzing, assessing the resources and scope and monitoring are re-executed on an ongoing basis during the execution of the plan.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of creating a plan which may be visually represented as at least one navigable arc further comprises creating a schedule or timeline for the total, and identifying executable steps to be executed using play and related creative tools, techniques, games or toys as a method of considering alternative approaches to problem-solving and of identifying executable steps.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of using play further comprises conducting an organized event wherein the participants use role-playing to consider alternative approaches to problem-solving.

12. A method of creating a plan that is visually represented as a series of navigable arcs or series of arcs, or an integrated or master arc or interrelated spiral comprised of arcs, or which may be expressed as any written, audio, visual or electronic representation of the plan generated through the use of these tools, steps and methods, comprising the steps of:

providing software for execution on a participant'"'"'s computer;

executing a software module for providing a dynamic, navigational planning method having unique tools to individual or group users and stakeholders who are participants;

executing a software module training the participants to use the unique tools of the arc and the spiral, the related and recurring sequence of planning steps they represent, and the mnemonic names or acronyms for each sequence of steps;

executing a software module planning process which aids the participants in describing desired future outcomes, experiences and potential desired goals and creating a dynamically adaptable plan to generate desired outcomes which do not yet exist, the planning process comprising the step of;

executing a software module for creating description of the desired goal as a future set of circumstances to be attained wherein one or more participants will have certain desired attributes and experiences;

executing a software module collecting information about the current set of circumstances by surveying the participants, planning situation and environment, assessing this information through the use of analytical tools, and analyzing the results of this survey step to assess, measure and evaluate the current set of circumstances and focus the scope of the planning;

after the previous steps are completed, executing software for creating a navigational plan and corresponding timeline for executing actions to transition from the current set of circumstances to the desired goal, the software enabling users to dynamically navigate and constantly adjust and adapt the plan and corresponding timeline to incorporate emerging opportunities and address challenges, and to accordingly reallocate resources in real time to attain desired result(s); and

executing software that visually represents said plan as at least one navigable arc along which may be placed executable steps and milestones for completing the executable steps, which, when executed, will enable the participants to achieve the desired goal.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

executing a software module which provides a displayed, printed, audio, visual or machine readable stored timeline of actions to be taken by the participants to implement the plan and to initiate and execute the transition to the future goal.

14. The method of claim 13, and further comprising the steps of:

executing a software module that assists the user in reevaluating the plan by verifying the progress made and the resources and conditions that exist on a periodic basis, reallocating resources or scheduling the addition of resources to continue progress on the actions in the plan, and revises the executable steps and the milestones associated with the executable steps to dynamically update the plan, and outputs an updated representation of the plan.

15. The method of claim 14 and further comprising the steps of:

executing a software module or set of collaborative tools available over a computer or electronic network that assists the participant in creating a communication system to communicate the plan and the visual representations of the plan to the participants, to empower the participants to interact with and modify the portion of the plan they are to execute, and to provide feedback paths to the other participants and to revise the plan based on their results.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the method of creating a communication system further comprises creating an electronic communication system on a network.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the method of creating a communication system further comprises the steps of creating an Internet-based online collaborative space and related tools.

18. A kit for the creation of plans which may be visually represented as one or more navigable arcs and which may be expressed as any written, audio, visual or electronic representation of the plan, comprising:

a container for portably containing the elements for convenient use;

a tutorial for instructing the user in the use of the apparatus for creation of plans by identifying a future set of circumstances, analyzing a present set of circumstances, identifying strategic objectives to be performed to transition from the present set of circumstances to the future set of circumstances;

materials including worksheets for performing the method of creation of plans;

materials for visually representing the transition from the present set of circumstances to the future set of circumstances as an arc with the strategic goals being placed along a navigable journey along the arc; and

visual aid materials for providing explanatory graphics depicting the arc and spirals comprised of one or more arcs to aid the user in understanding and performing the plan creation method and in using the navigable arc visual representation;

whereby upon opening the container a user may utilize the tutorial and learn to use the apparatus to create a plan for transitioning from the present set of circumstances to the future set of circumstances and may create a visual representation of the plan in the form of at least one navigable arc.

19. The kit of claim 18, and further comprising:

arc templates that a particular plan may be written on and which may be combined to form at least one plan visually represented as an arc.

20. The kit of claim 18, and further comprising arc templates that a particular plan may be written on and which may be combined to form at least one plan visually represented as a series of interrelated arcs.

21. The kit of claim 20 wherein the series of interrelated arcs is arranged to form a plan visually represented as a spiral.

22. The kit of claim 21 wherein the series of interrelated arcs is arranged to form a plan visually represented as a three-dimensional spiral.

23. The kit of claim 18 and further comprising software recorded on computer media for providing the tutorial and a computer based arc generation tool for creating visually represented plans in the form of at least one navigable arc.

24. The kit of claim 18 and further comprising:

software disks including the tutorial in the form of an executable program; and

manuals for the software disks.

25. The kit of claim 18 and further comprising at least one of:

software including the tutorial;

visual aids for conducting a facilitated training session to teach users the method for creating plans visually represented as a navigable arc;

materials for recording descriptions of the present set of circumstances, the future set of circumstances, strategic objectives, and for representing the plan as a navigable arc;

arc templates for enabling the user to create visual representations of plans as navigable arcs;

spiral templates for enabling the user to create visual representations of plans as a series of navigable arcs;

toys for encouraging users to create descriptions of desired future circumstances;

three-dimensional spiral representations which the user can personalize by recording plans upon for enabling the user to create visual representations of plans as a three-dimensional spiral formed of a series of navigable arcs.

26. A computer program product comprising:

application computer program code for executing a method for creating a plan for attaining a future desired goal visually represented as one or more navigable arcs, the application program code being responsive to a user commands and executing the steps of;

displaying and creating forms for surveying and collecting information from the participants to be used in describing a desired future set of circumstances the participant will experience when a goal is attained;

displaying and creating forms for surveying and analyzing a present set of circumstances and capabilities in the participants and software for providing visual representations of the present circumstances;

executing games and role-playing software for use by the participants in play sessions to create possible approaches to problems and to create executable steps to be used as part of the plan; and

outputting visual representations of executable plans in the form of navigable arcs having defined executable steps developed during the play sessions and with user provided milestones for executing the steps arranged along the visual arcs;

whereby the plan for transitioning from a present set of circumstances to a desired future set of circumstances which represents a state of the participants after a goal is attained is visually presented in the form of one or more arcs and the schedule of executable steps is represented as a journey along one or more of the arcs.

27. A method for creating a plan that is visually represented as a navigable arc, comprising the steps of:

providing software for an individual to use;

using the software, guiding the individual in creating a description of a future desired set of circumstances;

using the software, guiding the individual in performing a series of surveys to characterize the present set of circumstances; and

subsequently, using the software to create a plan which is a set of objectives to be performed in order to transition from the present set of circumstances to the desired set of circumstances;

wherein the plan is visually represented as an arc having a beginning associated with the present set of circumstances and an end associated with the desired set of circumstances and the objectives to be performed are represented as steps along a navigable arc.