Method, apparatus, and computer program product for assessing a user's current information management system

• US 20060242125A1
• Filed: 04/25/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Storage Technologies Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Storage Technologies Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Tummins, James William
• Application Number:
  US11/114,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20060242125A1
• 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

A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed for assessing a user'"'"'s current information management system. Multiple contiguous information management system stages are defined. Multiple implementation levels are defined. Particular characteristics for the implementation levels for each one of the stages are specified. Questions are generated regarding the particular characteristics. A value is assigned to potential answers to the questions. Answers are received from a user to the questions. The stage in which the user'"'"'s current information management system exists is determined utilizing the received answers.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for assessing a user'"'"'s current information management system, said method comprising:

defining a plurality of contiguous information management system stages;

defining a plurality of implementation levels;

specifying particular characteristics for said plurality of implementation levels for each one of said plurality of stages;

generating a plurality of questions regarding said particular characteristics;

receiving answers from a user to said plurality of questions; and

determining in which one of said plurality of stages said user'"'"'s current information management system exists utilizing said received answers.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

associating a total answer value with each one of said plurality of stages, wherein said total answer value indicates in which one of said plurality of stages said user'"'"'s current information management system exists.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

assigning an answer value to each potential answer to said plurality of questions;

determining an answer value for each one of said received answers to each one of said plurality of questions;

determining said user'"'"'s total answer value by totaling all answer values for each one of said received answers to each one of said plurality of questions; and

determining in which one of said plurality of stages said user'"'"'s current information management system exists by comparing said user'"'"'s total answer value to said total answer value associated with each one of said plurality of stages.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

weighting an answer value for a selected one of said plurality of questions more heavily than answer values for others of said plurality of questions; and

determining said user'"'"'s total answer value by totaling all answer values for each one of said received answers to each one of said plurality of questions, wherein said answer value for said selected one of said plurality of questions represents a greater percentage of said total answer value than any answer value for any of said other of said plurality of questions.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

for each one of said plurality of implementation levels, associating a total answer value with each one of said plurality of stages, wherein said total answer value indicates in which one of said plurality of stages said user'"'"'s current information management system exists.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

associating each one of said plurality of questions with one of said plurality of implementation levels;

assigning an answer value to each potential answer to said plurality of questions;

determining an answer value for each one of said received answers to each one of said plurality of questions;

determining said user'"'"'s total answer value for one of said plurality of levels by totaling all answer values for each one of said received answers to ones of said plurality of questions that are associated with said one of said plurality of implementation levels; and

determining, for said one of said plurality of implementation levels, in which one of said plurality of stages said user'"'"'s current information management system exists by comparing said user'"'"'s total answer value to said total answer value associated with each one of said plurality of stages.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving answers from a plurality of other users to said plurality of questions; and

determining in which one of said plurality of stages an average user'"'"'s current information management system exists.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

associating a total answer value with each one of said plurality of stages, wherein said total answer value indicates in which one of said plurality of stages an information management system exists;

assigning an answer value to each potential answer to said plurality of questions;

determining an answer value for each one of said received answers to each one of said plurality of questions for each one of said plurality of other users;

determining an answer value for each one of said received answers to each one of said plurality of questions for each one of said user;

determining said user'"'"'s total answer value by totaling all answer values for each one of said received answers to each one of said plurality of questions;

determining an average aggregate total answer value by totaling all answer values for each one of said received answers to each one of said plurality of questions for said plurality of other users and computing an average of said totaled answer values;

determining in which one of said plurality of stages said user'"'"'s current information management system exists by comparing said user'"'"'s total answer value to said total answer value associated with each one of said plurality of stages;

determining in which one of said plurality of stages an average user'"'"'s current information management system exists by comparing said average aggregate total answer value to said total answer value associated with each one of said plurality of stages; and

comparing said one of said plurality of stages in which an average user'"'"'s current information management system exists to said one of said plurality of stages in which said user'"'"'s current information management system exists.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

recommending actions said user can take to cause said user'"'"'s current information management system to evolve to a next one of said plurality of stages beyond said one of said plurality of stages in which said user'"'"'s current information management system exists.

10. An apparatus in a data processing system for assessing a user'"'"'s current information management system, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of contiguous information management system stages;

a plurality of implementation levels;

particular characteristics being specified for said plurality of implementation levels for each one of said plurality of stages;

a plurality of questions regarding said particular characteristics;

said data processing system including a CPU executing code for receiving answers from a user to said plurality of questions; and

said CPU executing code for determining in which one of said plurality of stages said user'"'"'s current information management system exists utilizing said received answers.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

a total answer value being associated with each one of said plurality of stages, wherein said total answer value indicates in which one of said plurality of stages said user'"'"'s current information management system exists.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

an answer value assigned to each potential answer to said plurality of questions;

said CPU executing code for determining an answer value for each one of said received answers to each one of said plurality of questions;

said CPU executing code for determining said user'"'"'s total answer value by totaling all answer values for each one of said received answers to each one of said plurality of questions; and

said CPU executing code for determining in which one of said plurality of stages said user'"'"'s current information management system exists by comparing said user'"'"'s total answer value to said total answer value associated with each one of said plurality of stages.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

an answer value for a selected one of said plurality of questions being weighted more heavily than answer values for others of said plurality of questions; and

said CPU executing code for determining said user'"'"'s total answer value by totaling all answer values for each one of said received answers to each one of said plurality of questions, wherein said answer value for said selected one of said plurality of questions represents a greater percentage of said total answer value than any answer value for any of said other of said plurality of questions.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

for each one of said plurality of implementation levels, a total answer value being associated with each one of said plurality of stages, wherein said total answer value indicates in which one of said plurality of stages said user'"'"'s current information management system exists.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:

each one of said plurality of questions being associated with one of said plurality of implementation levels;

an answer value assigned to each potential answer to said plurality of questions;

said CPU executing code for determining an answer value for each one of said received answers to each one of said plurality of questions;

said CPU executing code for determining said user'"'"'s total answer value for one of said plurality of levels by totaling all answer values for each one of said received answers to ones of said plurality of questions that are associated with said one of said plurality of implementation levels; and

said CPU executing code for determining, for said one of said plurality of implementation levels, in which one of said plurality of stages said user'"'"'s current information management system exists by comparing said user'"'"'s total answer value to said total answer value associated with each one of said plurality of stages.

16. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

answers being received from a plurality of other users to said plurality of questions; and

said CPU executing code for determining in which one of said plurality of stages an average user'"'"'s current information management system exists.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

a total answer value being associated with each one of said plurality of stages, wherein said total answer value indicates in which one of said plurality of stages an information management system exists;

an answer value assigned to each potential answer to said plurality of questions;

said CPU executing code for determining an answer value for each one of said received answers to each one of said plurality of questions for each one of said plurality of other users;

said CPU executing code for determining an answer value for each one of said received answers to each one of said plurality of questions for each one of said user;

said CPU executing code for determining said user'"'"'s total answer value by totaling all answer values for each one of said received answers to each one of said plurality of questions;

said CPU executing code for determining an average aggregate total answer value by totaling all answer values for each one of said received answers to each one of said plurality of questions for said plurality of other users and computing an average of said totaled answer values;

said CPU executing code for determining in which one of said plurality of stages said user'"'"'s current information management system exists by comparing said user'"'"'s total answer value to said total answer value associated with each one of said plurality of stages;

said CPU executing code for determining in which one of said plurality of stages an average user'"'"'s current information management system exists by comparing said average aggregate total answer value to said total answer value associated with each one of said plurality of stages; and

said CPU executing code for comparing said one of said plurality of stages in which an average user'"'"'s current information management system exists to said one of said plurality of stages in which said user'"'"'s current information management system exists.

18. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

said CPU executing code for recommending actions said user can take to cause said user'"'"'s current information management system to evolve to a next one of said plurality of stages beyond said one of said plurality of stages in which said user'"'"'s current information management system exists.

19. A computer program product for assessing a user'"'"'s current information management system, said product comprising:

instructions for defining a plurality of contiguous information management system stages;

instructions for defining a plurality of implementation levels;

instructions for specifying particular characteristics for said plurality of implementation levels for each one of said plurality of stages;

instructions for generating a plurality of questions regarding said particular characteristics;

instructions for receiving answers from a user to said plurality of questions; and

instructions for determining in which one of said plurality of stages said user'"'"'s current information management system exists utilizing said received answers.

20. The product according to claim 19, further comprising:

instructions for associating a total answer value with each one of said plurality of stages, wherein said total answer value indicates in which one of said plurality of stages said user'"'"'s current information management system exists;

instructions for assigning an answer value to each potential answer to said plurality of questions;

instructions for determining an answer value for each one of said received answers to each one of said plurality of questions;

instructions for determining said user'"'"'s total answer value by totaling all answer values for each one of said received answers to each one of said plurality of questions; and

instructions for determining in which one of said plurality of stages said user'"'"'s current information management system exists by comparing said user'"'"'s total answer value to said total answer value associated with each one of said plurality of stages.