Project management method and system

• US 20070150327A1
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: RNCC Global Projects
• Original Assignee: RNCC Global Projects
• Inventors: Dromgold, Diane
• Application Number:
  US10/582,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20070150327A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2477 Temporal data queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/284 Relational databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063118 Staff planning in a project environment
• 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 10/06313 Resource planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06314 Calendaring for a resource
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment

Abstract

A computer based method and system is provided for facilitating the management of a project. The method includes receiving task data, associated resource data, associated timing data and associated task-related dependency data. This data is typically arranged to be viewed in a task-centric manner through a task-centric display interface where for each task or event all corresponding resources and a series of attributes associated with the tasks or events including the timing of the tasks or events, the human resources allocated to the tasks or events and task related dependency links. The task, timing and task-related dependency data is then grouped for each resource and the entries may be stored in a data store. The grouped data is then graphically represented on a resource-centric display interface from a resource-centric perspective as a compilation of a project management plan so that for each resource, the task, timing and task-related dependency data is collectively displayed relative to said resource in a one-to-many relationship.

Claims

1. A computer-based method for facilitating the management of a project including:

providing a project management database configured to receive a plurality of entries, including a series of tasks or events and a series of attributes associated with the tasks or events, the attributes including time-based attributes indicating the timing of the tasks or events, and resource-based attributes indicating at least the human resources allocated to the tasks or events;

generating at least a resource-centric display interface from the database in which each human resource is listed against its associated tasks, time-based attributes and task-related dependency links in a one-to-many relationship;

storing entries in the database; and

compiling a project management plan in which tasks, associated time-based attributes and dependency links are grouped in respect of each human resource.

2. A computer based method for facilitating the management of a project as claimed in claim 1 wherein the method includes iteratively:

generating and displaying project sub-plans for each individual human resource,

enabling the project sub-plans to be modified, and

combining the modified sub-plans into an overall modified project management plan in which the tasks dependency links and associated time-based attributes are listed for each of the human resources.

9. A computer based method of facilitating the management of a project as claimed in claim 1 wherein the dependency links are linked both to tasks allocated to the same human resource as well to tasks allocated to other human resources.

10. A computer based method for facilitating the management of a project as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least some of the human resources are comprised of teams of individuals who may be assigned to sub-projects.

11. A computer based method for facilitating the management of a project as claimed in claim 1 wherein resources-based attributes include non-human resources required in the implementation of the project, chosen from a group including equipment, supplies, premises, and associated costs.

12. A computer based method for facilitating the management of a project as claimed in claim 1 wherein both the project management plan and the individual plans making up the project management plan are arranged in a Gantt chart-type format, with each resource and associated task and timing data being row-specific.

13. A computer-based method for facilitating the management of a project having a series of tasks or events as claimed in claim 1 wherein said task data is represented as a series of tasks, and said task-related dependency data is represented as a series of incoming and outgoing dependency links, each incoming link originating from tasks allocated to a human resource on which a particular task depends, and each outgoing link being directed to a task depending on said particular task.

21. A computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions for causing a computer to perform a method according to claim 1 and for interacting with a database.

22. A computer readable medium containing program code, the program code being operative to instruct at least one programmable processor to execute the project management method according to claim 1.

3. A computer-based method for facilitating the management of a project having a series of tasks or events, said method comprising:

receiving task data, associated resource data, associated timing data and associated task-related dependency data, said data being arranged to be viewed in a task-centric manner through a task-centric display interface in which each for each task all corresponding resources are grouped;

for each resource, grouping all corresponding task, timing and task-related dependency data,

graphically representing said grouped data on a resource-centric display interface from a resource-centric perspective so that for each resource the task, timing and task-related dependency data is collectively displayed relative to said resource in a one-to-many relationship.

25. A computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions for causing a computer to perform a method according to claim 3 and for interacting with a database.

26. A computer readable medium containing program code, the program code being operative to instruct at least one programmable processor to execute the project management method according to claim 3.

4. A computer-based method for facilitating the management of multiple projects, each project having a series of tasks, said method comprising:

receiving a plurality of project management datasets, each dataset including project data, task data, associated resource data, associated timing data and task-related dependency data with said data being viewable through a task-centric graphical interface,

for each resource, grouping all corresponding task, timing and dependency data,

graphically representing said grouped data on a resource-centric interface so that for each resource, the project, task, timing and dependency data is collectively displayed in a one-to-many relationship relative to said resource.

5. A computer-based method for facilitating the management of a project having a series of tasks or events as claimed in claim 4 wherein the method includes, at a resource-centric level, enabling individual tasks to be re-allocated to other resources, typically via a resource-centric interface.

6. A computer-based method for facilitating the management of a project having a series of tasks or events as claimed in claim 4 wherein the method includes enabling said resource-centric project management dataset to be alternately displayed in a task-centric format, where for each task the resource and timing data is collectively displayed.

27. A computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions for causing a computer to perform a method according to claim 4 and for interacting with a database.

28. A computer readable medium containing program code, the program code being operative to instruct at least one programmable processor to execute the project management method according to claim 4.

7. A computer-based method for planning a project including:

receiving a project management dataset including task data, associated human resource data and associated timing data,

for each human resource, grouping all corresponding task, timing and dependency data,

providing a resource-centric interface wherein said grouped data is graphically represented from a resource-centric perspective so that for each resource, the task and timing data are collectively displayed relative to said resource in a one-to-many relationship,

capturing modifications to said graphical representation and adjusting at least one of corresponding task and timing data,

storing at least one of modified task and timing data.

29. A computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions for causing a computer to perform a method according to claim 7 and for interacting with a database.

30. A computer readable medium containing program code, the program code being operative to instruct at least one programmable processor to execute the project management method according to claim 7.

8. A computer-based method for planning a project including:

receiving a project management dataset including task data, associated human resource data, associated timing data and associated task-related dependency data;

deconstructing and regrouping the project management dataset for each human resource so that it is grouped with its corresponding task, timing and dependency data,

graphically representing said grouped data so that for each resource, the task, timing and dependency data are collectively displayed relative to said resource in a one-to-many relationship.

31. A computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions for causing a computer to perform a method according to claim 8 and for interacting with a database.

32. A computer readable medium containing program code, the program code being operative to instruct at least one programmable processor to execute the project management method according to claim 8.

14. A system for facilitating the computer-based management of a project, having a series of tasks, said system comprising:

a data store for storing a project management dataset, said project management dataset including task data, resource data, timing data and dependency data;

a task-based project management application which is arranged to access said data store, and to allow the graphical display and manipulation of said dataset in a task-centric manner, in which said application graphically displays the associated data for each task,

a resource-based project management application which is arranged to access said data store, and which groups for each resource all corresponding task, timing and dependency data in a resource-centric manner, so each resource is linked with its task and timing data in a one-to-many relationship, and

a graphical representation component for graphically representing said resource-centric data such that each resource is linked with its tasks, timing and dependency data in a one-to-many relationship.

20. A system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the system includes a link inserter for enabling dependency-based links to be inserted between dependent tasks or events associated with the human resources.

15. A system for facilitating the computer-based management of a project having a series of tasks, said system comprising:

a project management application which stores a series of data on tasks in a first data store, each task having associated resource, timing and dependency data, said application graphically displaying data associated with each task in a task-centric format,

a function integrated within the project management application which is able to access the said first data store, and which aggregates data associated with each resource and stores it in a second data store, so that each resource is linked with its task, timing and dependency data in a one-to-many relationship,

a graphical representation means adapted to generate a graphical representation of either the first or second data stores, and

a switching application for switching between graphical representations of the task-centric or resource-centric views.

16. A system for facilitating the computer-based management of a project having a series of tasks, said system comprising a data store for storing a project management dataset, said project management dataset including task data, resource data dependency, and timing data, and

a task-based project management application which is arranged to access said data store, and to allow the graphical display and manipulation of said dataset in a task-centric manner, in which said application graphically displays the associated data for each task, and

a resource-based project management application which is arranged to access said data store, and which is arranged to group for each resource all corresponding task and timing data in a resource-centric manner, so each resource is linked with its task and timing data in a one-to-many relationship, said application including or interfacing with a graphical representation component for graphically representing said resource-centric data such that each resource is linked with its tasks, timing and dependency data in a one-to-many relationship.

17. A system for facilitating the computer-based management of a project, having a series of tasks, said system comprising:

a data store for storing a project management dataset, said project management dataset including task data, resource data, timing data and dependency data;

a graphical user interface application for accessing said dataset, graphically displaying the associated data for each task and manipulating said dataset in a task-centric manner,

a resource-based project management application for reorganising and updating said dataset, said reorganising and updating including grouping task and timing data in a resource-centric manner, so each resource is linked with its task and timing data in a one-to-many relationship,

a graphical representation component for graphically representing said resource-centric data such that each resource is linked with its task, timing and dependency data in a one-to-many relationship.

18. A system for facilitating the computer-based management of multiple projects, each project having a series of tasks, said system comprising:

a plurality of data stores for storing a plurality of project management datasets, each dataset including project data, task data, associated resource data and associated timing data,

a resource-based project management application which is arranged to access said plurality of data stores, and which is arranged to group for each resource all corresponding task and timing data in a resource-centric manner, so each resource is linked with its task and timing data in a one-to-many relationship,

a graphical representation component for graphically representing said resource-centric data such that for each resource, project, task, timing and dependency data for that resource across each project is collectively displayed in a one-to-many relationship relative to said resource.

19. A system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the system includes a plurality of display interfaces, each display interface having individual human resources listed against events or tasks associated with that resource.

23. A computer readable medium containing program code, the program code being operative to instruct at least one programmable processor to execute a resource-based project management application which is arranged to access a data store associated with a project, and which is arranged to group for each resource in that project all corresponding task, timing and dependency data in a resource-centric manner, so each resource is linked with its task, timing and dependency data in a one-to-many relationship, said application including or interfacing with program code capable of graphically representing said resource-centric data such that for each resource, task, timing and dependency data for that resource, is collectively displayed in a one-to-many relationship relative to said resource.

24. A computer readable medium containing program code, the program code being operative to instruct at least one programmable processor to execute a resource-based project management application which is arranged to access data stores associated with a plurality of specified projects, and which groups for each resource all corresponding task, timing and dependency data in a resource-centric manner, so each resource is linked with its task, timing and dependency data in a one-to-many relationship, said application including or interfacing with program code capable of graphically representing said resource-centric data such that for each resource, project, task, timing and dependency data for that resource across each project, is collectively displayed in a one-to-many relationship relative to said resource.