System and method to improve operational status indication and performance based outcomes

• US 20060259338A1
• Filed: 05/12/2005
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Time Wise Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Time Wise Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Follet, Claudia, Powell, Harvey B., Rodrigue, Rodney, Weymouth, Peter
• Application Number:
  US11/127,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20060259338A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls

Abstract

A system and related method to assist a business in evaluating the rapid response to one or more product fabrication bid requests. The system includes a survey function for gathering information from individuals of identified groups. The information includes assigned values associated with a plurality of defined outcomes. The system also includes a calculation function to calculate opportunity scores associated with the values obtained for the outcomes through the survey function. A reporting function of the system applies the calculated opportunity scores to a visual representation, such as an innovation dashboard, of those outcomes that may be modified with the best chance of producing a positive effect on the status of the business. An optional function of the system is a planning function including worksheets to define steps to undertake to produce the improvements in the identified outcomes. The related method includes the steps of conducting the survey, obtaining normalized outcome rating and ranking values, optionally weighting those values by surveyed group, and calculating opportunity scores for each outcome. The method further includes the steps of reporting the calculated opportunity scores and by time weighted outcome groups and thereby identifying areas of the business to be improved with measurable impact.

Claims

1. A method to enable a business to generate a representation of operations status and identify operations to improve, the method comprising the steps of:

a. identifying one or more groups of individuals associated with the business;

b. surveying each of the one or more groups for rankings and ratings values of one or more outcomes associated with the operation of the business;

c. normalizing the outcome rankings and ratings values for each of the one or more outcomes for each of the one or more groups;

d. calculating opportunity scores for each of the one or more outcomes;

e. associating a time value with each of the one or more outcomes; and

f. generating a visual representation of the opportunity scores for each of the one or more outcomes including an indication of those outcomes with relatively high opportunity scores signifying those outcomes as targets for improvement.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of generating a plan of effort to improve selectable ones of those of the one or more outcomes having relatively high opportunity scores.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of weighting the normalized outcome rankings and ratings values as a function of the identity of a particular group.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein one of the one or more identified groups comprises external customers and the normalized rankings and ratings values from the external customers group are doubled in value in comparison to the normalized rankings and ratings values of others of the one or more groups.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the normalized rankings and ratings values are normalized through consensus building within each of the one or more groups.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the time value is selected from the group consisting of Far Lagging, Lagging, Leading, and Far Leading.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 where in the visual representation is an innovation dashboard table.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of creating one or more worksheets presenting steps to undertake to improve the opportunity scores for the one or more outcomes having relatively high opportunity scores.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the one or more worksheets each includes an indication of an outcome, a planned behavior to improve the outcome, a measure to define the effect of the planned behavior, a stretch goal, and a data source.

10. A system enable a business to generate a representation of operations status and identify operations to improve, the system comprising:

a. a survey function for surveying one or more individuals of one or more identified groups to obtain ranking and rating values for one or more outcomes associated with the operation of the business;

b. a calculation function to calculate opportunity scores for the one or more outcomes based upon the ranking and rating values obtained from the survey function; and

c. a reporting function to provide a visual representation, with an associated time value, of the outcomes having relatively higher opportunity scores, indicating outcomes that may be improved to improve business status.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a planning function to generate a plan to improve the outcomes identified by the reporting function as having relatively higher opportunity scores.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the planning function generates one or more worksheets presenting steps to undertake to improve the opportunity scores for the one or more outcomes having relatively high opportunity scores.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the one or more worksheets each includes an indication of an outcome, a planned behavior to improve the outcome, a measure to define the effect of the planned behavior, a stretch goal, and a data source.

14. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the associated time values are selected from the group consisting of Far Lagging, Lagging, Leading, and Far Leading.

15. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the survey function is configured to normalize the outcome rankings and ratings established by the one or more groups.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the outcome rankings and ratings are normalized by consensus within the group.

17. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the calculation function is configured to weight the outcome rankings and ratings from one group more heavily than others of the one or more groups.

18. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the visual representation is an innovation dashboard.

19. An apparatus to assist a business target and improve operational areas of weakness based on identified outcomes having importance to the operation of the business, the apparatus comprising a set of one or more worksheets configured to include a listing of one or more identified outcomes, steps to undertake to change the status of the one or more listed outcomes, one or more measures to measure the steps, one or more stretch goals, and one or more sources of information for the one or more measures.