Enterprise project management system and method therefor

• US 20060053043A1
• Filed: 11/04/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 4Sight Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: 4Sight Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Clarke, Hernan J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,306,841 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063118 Staff planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06313 Resource planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06314 Calendaring for a resource
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

A project management system uses a work breakdown structure to define the project tasks. The work breakdown structure is organized as set of hierarchical related project tasks. The work breakdown structure can be loaded in part from a template. A calendar breakdown structure defines events associated with project resources. The calendar breakdown structure is defined on departmental basis. A resource breakdown structure defines available resources. The resource breakdown structure includes personnel and tools. The allocation of available resources to the project tasks is optimized within the constraints of the work breakdown structure and calendar breakdown structure. A histogram of project demand versus available resources is generated. The histogram of project demand versus available resources is used to optimize resource allocation.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of project management, comprising:

providing a work breakdown structure of dependencies between project tasks;

providing a resource breakdown structure of available resources;

providing a calendar breakdown structure of availability of the resources;

optimizing allocation of the resources to the project tasks within constraints of the resources in accordance with the work breakdown structure and calendar breakdown structure; and

scheduling the resources to complete the project tasks.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the step of optimizing allocation of available resources involves creation of a matrix for each resource defining tasks to be completed by the respective resource over time.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2, further including combining the matrices of each resource into a composite resource matrix.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 3, further including scheduling the project tasks based on the composite resource matrix.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the work breakdown structure is organized as a set of hierarchical related project tasks.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the resource breakdown structure includes personnel, tools and parts.

7. A method of managing project execution, comprising:

generating a set of hierarchical related task objects;

generating a plurality of calendars for project resources;

identifying a set of resources for performing the task objects;

allocating the set of resources to perform the task objects; and

optimizing the resource allocation to the task objects.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of optimizing the resource allocation involves creation of a matrix for each resource defining tasks to be completed by the respective resource over time.

9. The method of claim 8, further including combining the matrices of each resource into a composite resource matrix.

10. The method of claim 9, further including scheduling the project tasks based on the composite resource matrix.

11. The method of claim 7, further including loading the task objects from a template.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the resource breakdown structure includes personnel, tools and parts.

13. A computer system, comprising:

means for providing a work breakdown structure of dependencies between project tasks;

means for providing a resource breakdown structure of available resources;

means for providing a calendar breakdown structure of availability of the resources;

means for optimizing allocation of the resources to the project tasks within constraints of the resources in accordance with the work breakdown structure and calendar breakdown structure; and

means for scheduling the resources to complete the project tasks.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the optimizing allocation of available resources involves creation of a matrix for each resource defining tasks to be completed by the respective resource over time.

15. The computer system of claim 14, further including means for combining the matrices of each resource into a composite resource matrix.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the project tasks are scheduled based on the composite resource matrix.

17. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the work breakdown structure is organized as a set of hierarchical related project tasks.

18. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the resource breakdown structure includes personnel, tools and parts.

19. A computer program product usable with a programmable computer processor having a computer readable program code embodied therein, comprising:

computer readable program code which provides a work breakdown structure of dependencies between project tasks;

computer readable program code which provides a resource breakdown structure of available resources;

computer readable program code which provides a calendar breakdown structure of availability of the resources;

computer readable program code which optimizes allocation of the resources to the project tasks within constraints of the resources in accordance with the work breakdown structure and calendar breakdown structure; and

computer readable program code which schedules the resources to complete the project tasks.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the optimizing allocation of available resources involves creation of a matrix for each resource defining tasks to be completed by the respective resource over time.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, further including computer readable program code which combines the matrices of each resource into a composite resource matrix.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the project tasks are scheduled based on the composite resource matrix.