Systems and methods for providing documentation having succinct communication with scalability

• US 20070250359A1
• Filed: 04/21/2006
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Process Assets, LLC
• Original Assignee: Process Assets, LLC
• Inventors: Olson, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 8,396,736 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/20 Software design
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/42 Graphical user interfaces

Abstract

Systems and methods for defining and documenting processes, procedures, standards and policies that are succinct and usable, and that are scalable to the complexity of the process and to abilities of the individual user. Steps of a particular process and a relationship of one or more of the steps are identified. Graphical representations of the steps and the relationship as a lean process are provided, wherein the lean process enhances and increases communication and minimizes documentation for providing the graphical representations, and wherein the representations comprise key process elements for the particular process, wherein the key process elements consist of one or more inputs, outputs, activities, process context, entry criteria, exit criteria, purposes, process flow, and roles, and wherein the representation is on a single page if a receiver of the non-verbal communication is an expert audience. If a receiver of the non-verbal communication is an intermediate audience, the non-verbal communication further comprises a process description table having the identified process steps that correspond to the representation of key process elements, wherein the process description table provides guidance and lessons learned relating to the particular process; and if a receiver of the non-verbal communication is a beginner audience, the non-verbal communication further comprises the process description table and training relating to the particular process.

Claims

1. A method for rendering optimized and customized process documentation, the:

method comprising;

identifying a process for documentation;

using a template to identify work products, activities and roles pertaining to said process;

combining a plurality of said activities to form one or more chunked activities;

preparing a graphical representation of said process that identifies said chunked activities and a relationship of said one or more chunked activities;

preparing a process activity template for each of said chunked activities that identifies process elements for each of said chunked activities;

using said process activity template for each of said chunked activities to prepare a corresponding process model representation to represent each chunked activity and includes said process elements for each of said chunked activities, wherein said process model representation for each chunked activity is on a single page; and

rendering said documentation, wherein said documentation comprises;

(i) said graphical representation of said process; and

(ii) said process model representation for each chunked activity.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein if said user of said process model representation is an intermediate audience, said process model representation further comprises a process description table on a separate page having steps that correspond to one or more of said process elements, and wherein said process description table comprises guidance relating to said steps.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein if said user of said process model representation is a beginner audience, said process model representation further comprises said process description table and training relating to said particular process on one or more separate pages.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein said process elements comprise one or more inputs, outputs, activities, process context, entry criteria, exit criteria, purposes, process flow, and roles.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a number of said process activity templates is directly proportional to a complexity of said process.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said documentation is a process guide.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising a step of generating a procedure that comprises one of:

(i) a checklist to perform a collection of activities;

(ii) a form to gather information; and

(iii) an ordered table to sequentially perform a collection of activities.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising a step of selectively chunking one or more activities of said procedure.

9. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising rendering said procedure in one of:

(i) an expert mode;

(ii) an intermediate mode; and

(iii) a beginner mode.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising developing a standard comprising:

identifying one or more sections of a work product;

providing a description for each of said one or more sections; and

rendering said standard.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising rendering said standard in one of:

(i) an expert mode;

(ii) an intermediate mode; and

(iii) a beginner mode.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising developing a policy comprising:

identifying one or more principles to follow;

obtaining authorization of said principles; and

rendering said policy.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, herein said single page is one of (i) a sheet of paper;

and (ii) a computer screen.

14. A computer program product for implementing within a computer system a method for rendering optimized and customized process documentation, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium for providing computer program code means utilized to implement the method, wherein the computer program code means is comprised of executable code for implementing the steps for;

receiving information relating to a process for documentation, wherein said information comprises work products, activities and roles that pertain to a process;

combining a plurality of said activities to form one or more chunked activities;

generating a graphical representation of said process that identifies said chunked activities and a relationship of said one or more chunked activities;

generating a process activity template for each of said chunked activities that identifies process elements for each of said chunked activities;

using information from said process activity template for each of said chunked activities to generate a corresponding process model representation to represent each chunked activity and includes said process elements for each of said chunked activities, wherein said process model representation for each chunked activity is on a single page; and

rendering said documentation, wherein said documentation comprise;

a. said graphical representation of said process; and

b. said process model representation for each chunked activity.

15. A computer program product as recited in claim 14, wherein if said user of said process model representation is an intermediate audience, said process model representation further comprises a process description table on a separate page having steps that correspond to one or more of said process elements, and wherein said process description table comprises guidance relating to said steps.

16. A computer program product as recited in claim 15, wherein if said user of said process model representation is a beginner audience, said process model representation further comprises said process description table and training relating to said particular process on one or more separate pages.

17. A computer program product as recited in claim 16, wherein said process elements comprise one or more inputs, outputs, activities, process context, entry criteria, exit criteria, purposes, process flow, and roles.

18. A computer program product as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

generating a procedure that comprises one of;

(i) a checklist to perform a collection of activities;

(ii) a form to gather information; and

(iii)an ordered table to sequentially perform a collection of activities;

selectively chunking one or more activities of said procedure; and

rendering said procedure in one of (i) an expert mode, (ii) an intermediate mode, and (iii) a beginner mode.

19. A computer program product as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

developing a standard comprising;

identifying one or more sections of a work product;

providing a description for each of said one or more sections; and

rendering said standard; and

rendering said standard in one of;

(i) an expert mode;

(ii) an intermediate mode; and

(iii) a beginner mode.

20. A computer program product as recited in claim 14, further comprising developing a policy comprising:

identifying one or more principles to follow;

obtaining authorization of said principles; and

rendering said policy.

21. Process documentation comprising:

a graphical representation of a process, wherein said graphical representation identifies one or more activities of said process that have been combined to form one or more chunked activities, and wherein said graphical representation further identifies a relationship of said one or more chunked activities;

a process model representation of one of said chunked activities, wherein said process model representation identifies a location for said chunked activity within said process, wherein said process model representation comprises process elements for said chunked activity, wherein said process model representation is on a single page if a user of said process documentation is an expert audience, wherein said process model representation further comprises a process description table on one or more separate pages having steps that correspond to one or more process elements and guidance relating to said steps if said user is an intermediate audience, and wherein said process model representation further comprises said process description table and training relating to said process on one or more separate pages if said user is a beginner audience.

22. Process documentation as recited in claim 21, wherein a number of said process model representations is directly proportional to a complexity of said process.

23. Process documentation as recited in claim 21, wherein said process documentation is a process guide.

24. Process documentation as recited in claim 21, further comprising a checklist to perform a collection of activities.

25. Process documentation as recited in claim 21, further comprising a form to gather information.

26. Process documentation as recited in claim 21, further comprising an ordered table to sequentially perform a collection of activities.

27. Process documentation as recited in claim 21, wherein said single page is a sheet of paper.

28. Process documentation as recited in claim 21, wherein said single page is a computer screen.

30. Optimized and customized process documentation as recited in claim 26, wherein a number of said process model representations is directly proportional to a complexity of said process.

29. Optimized and customized process documentation comprising:

a graphical representation of a process, wherein said graphical representation identifies one or more activities of said process that have been combined to form one or more chunked activities, a relationship of said one or more chunked activities, and one or more available states for said process; and

a process model representation of one of said chunked activities, wherein said process model representation is on a single page if a user of said process documentation is an expert audience, wherein said single page is one of (i) an electronic screen and (ii) a single side of a sheet of paper, and wherein said process model representation comprises;

at least a portion of said graphical representation;

a location for said chunked activity within said process;

process elements of said chunked activity, wherein said process elements comprise one or more inputs, outputs, activities, process context, entry criteria, exit criteria, purposes, process flow, and roles;

a process description table on one or more separate pages having steps that correspond to one or more process elements and guidance relating to said steps if said user is an intermediate audience; and

said process description table and training relating to said process on one or more separate pages if said user is a beginner audience.