Integrated idea management method and software with protection mechanism

• US 20060106627A1
• Filed: 11/17/2004
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Inventors: Al-Nujaidi, Yaagoub
• Application Number:
  US10/990,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20060106627A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/310
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management

Abstract

An idea management system for a company or other entity is implemented in a computer network that can be accessed from employee work sites. The system has a pre-defined workflow and built in security process. Submitters of ideas and those authorized to review the submission are electronically notified about the review and evaluation process as it proceeds. Employees submit their ideas and documents explaining the ideas directly to the system. An established review group or committee reviews and otherwise processes the submitted ideas. Status records of implementation of approved ideas are maintained for monitoring purposes.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of obtaining and managing information regarding ideas for an entity comprising steps of:

receiving a computer information from a submitter in formation concerning an idea, the information including an identification of the submitter, a categorization, title and description of the idea, a description of benefits from the idea, and identification of a submitter selected review organization in the entity which is to be responsible for assessing and taking action on the idea;

storing the received information from the submitter concerning the idea in a memory;

electronically transferring the stored information concerning the idea to members of the review organization for assessing the idea;

electronically transferring the stored information concerning the idea to persons designated to vote on accepting the submitted idea;

receiving electronic votes on the submitted idea from the persons designated to vote;

electronically transferring the stored information to evaluators designated by the entity to evaluate the feasibility of the idea;

receiving electronic indications of the feasibility evaluations of the idea from the evaluators; and

electronically notifying the submitter of the electronic votes and feasibility evaluations of the idea.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of:

making the stored information regarding the idea accessible to others in the entity in addition to the submitter, members of the review organization and evaluators on request by such others.

3. The method of claim 2, further including the step of:

receiving and storing additional information from the submitter, members of the review organization, evaluators and such others before and during review and evaluation.

4. The method of claim 1, further including the step of:

receiving and storing additional information from the submitter, members of the review organization, evaluators before and during review and evaluation.

5. The method of claim 1, further including the step of receiving a status assignment from a member of the review organization indicating the present status of review of the idea.

6. The method of claim 5, further including the step of forming a record in the stored information of the status of review of the submitted idea.

7. The method of claim 6, further including the step of making the record of the status of review of the submitted idea available on request.

8. The method of claim 1, further including the step of forming output records of the stored information on request.

9. A data processing system for obtaining and managing information regarding ideas for an entity, the data processing system comprising:

a processor for performing the steps of;

receiving a computer information from a submitter in formation concerning an idea, the information including an identification of the submitter, a categorization, title and description of the idea, a description of benefits from the idea, and identification of a submitter selected review organization in the entity which is to be responsible for assessing and taking action on the idea;

storing the received information from the submitter concerning the idea in a memory;

electronically transferring the stored information concerning the idea to members of the review organization for assessing the idea;

electronically transferring the stored information concerning the idea to persons designated to vote on accepting the submitted idea;

receiving electronic votes on the submitted idea from the persons designated to vote;

electronically transferring the stored information to evaluators designated by the entity to evaluate the feasibility of the idea;

receiving electronic indications of the feasibility evaluations of the idea from the evaluators; and

electronically notifying the submitter of the electronic votes and feasibility evaluations of the idea.

a data output display for providing displays of the stored information from the processor.

10. The data processing system of claim 9, wherein the processor performs the step of:

making the stored information regarding the idea accessible to others in the entity in addition to the submitter, members of the review organization and evaluators, on request by such others.

11. The data processing system of claim 10, wherein the processor performs the step of:

receiving and storing additional information from the submitter, members of the review organization, evaluators and such others before and during review and evaluation.

12. The data processing system of claim 9, wherein the processor performs the step of:

receiving and storing additional information from the submitter, members of the review organization, evaluators before and during review and evaluation.

13. The data processing system of claim 9, wherein the processor performs the step of:

receiving a status assignment from a member of the review organization indicating the present status of review of the idea.

14. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the processor performs the step of:

forming a record in the stored information of the status of review of the submitted idea

15. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein the processor performs the step of:

making the record of the status of review of the submitted idea available on request.

16. A computer program product stored in signal bearing media for causing a data processor to obtain and manage information regarding ideas for an entity, the computer program product containing instructions stored in machine-readable code and causing the processor to perform the following steps:

receiving a computer information from a submitter in formation concerning an idea, the information including an identification of the submitter, a categorization, title and description of the idea, a description of benefits from the idea, and identification of a user submitted review organization in the entity which is to be responsible for assessing and taking action on the idea;

storing the received information from the submitter concerning the idea in a memory;

electronically transferring the stored information concerning the idea to members of the review organization for assessing the idea;

electronically transferring the stored information concerning the idea to persons designated to vote on accepting the submitted idea;

receiving electronic votes on the submitted idea from the persons designated to vote;

electronically transferring the stored information to evaluators designated by the entity to evaluate the feasibility of the idea;

receiving electronic indications of the feasibility evaluations of the idea from the evaluators; and

electronically notifying the submitter of the electronic votes and feasibility evaluations of the idea.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, further including the product containing in the instructions stored in machine-readable code instructions for causing the processor to perform the step of:

making the stored information regarding the idea accessible to others in the entity in addition to the submitter, members of the review organization and evaluators, on request by such others.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, further including the product containing in the instructions stored in machine-readable code instructions for causing the processor to perform the step of:

receiving and storing additional information from the submitter, members of the review organization, evaluators and such others before and during review and evaluation.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, further including the product containing in the instructions stored in machine-readable code instructions for causing the processor to perform the step of:

receiving and storing additional information from the submitter, members of the review organization, evaluators before and during review and evaluation.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, further including the product containing in the instructions stored in machine-readable code instructions for causing the processor to perform the step of:

receiving a status assignment from a member of the review organization indicating the present status of review of the idea.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, further including the product containing in the instructions stored in machine-readable code instructions for causing the processor to perform the step of:

forming a record in the stored information of the status of review of the submitted idea

22. The computer program product of claim 21, further including the product containing in the instructions stored in machine-readable code instructions for causing the processor to perform the step of:

making the record of the status of review of the submitted idea available on request