System and Methods for Diagnosing and Managing Organization Change

• US 20080313557A1
• Filed: 06/02/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Changeanalytix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Changeanalytix, Inc.
• Inventors: Kass, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US12/131,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20080313557A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/765
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A system and methods for diagnosing and managing organizational change. A method for diagnosing solutions to organizational performance issues comprises: receiving a list of issues which affect performance of an organization; in response to user input selecting a predefined category for each issue, generating a diagnostic chart including each issue in a column corresponding to the selected category; creating arrows connecting issues on the diagnostic chart based on user input specifying causal connections between issues; in response to user selection of a particular issue on the diagnostic chart, displaying a theme chart including all issues from the diagnostic chart connected to the particular issue; identifying a direct connection arrow between a first issue and second issue on the theme chart which are already connected indirectly through one or more other issues; and automatically removing from display the direct connection arrow, so as to clarify information displayed to the user.

Claims

1. A method for assisting a user in diagnosing solutions to issues affecting performance of an organization, the method comprising:

receiving a list of issues which affect performance of an organization;

in response to user input selecting a predefined category for each issue on said list, generating a diagnostic chart including each issue in a column corresponding to the selected category;

creating arrows connecting issues on the diagnostic chart based on user input specifying causal connections between issues;

in response to user selection of a particular issue on the diagnostic chart, displaying a theme chart including all issues from the diagnostic chart connected to the particular issue;

identifying a direct connection arrow between a first issue and second issue on the theme chart which are already connected indirectly through one or more other issues; and

automatically removing from display said direct connection arrow, so as to clarify information displayed to the user.

2. A computer-readable medium having processor-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

downloading a set of processor-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

4. A method for identifying issues affecting performance of an organization, the method comprising:

receiving user input of a plurality of issues affecting performance of an organization;

in response to user input categorizing each of said plurality of issues, creating a chart including each issue displayed in a column based on its categorization;

generating arrows connecting issues on the chart based on user input specifying causal connections between issues;

in response to user selection of a particular issue displayed on the chart, displaying a subset of the chart including all issues connected directly and indirectly to the particular issue; and

automatically removing a connecting arrow directly between a first issue and second issue on the chart subset when the first issue and second issue are already connected indirectly through one or more other issues, so as to clarify information displayed to the user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of creating a chart includes displaying the chart in a user interface of a computer system.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of creating a chart includes specifying at least four categories for categorization of issues and displaying issues in columns corresponding to said at least four categories.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of creating a chart includes displaying each issue in a box in the column corresponding to the user specified categorization of the issue.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of generating arrows includes generating a connecting arrow directed from a first box towards a second box on the chart based on user input specifying that the issue in the first box is causing the issue in the second box.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

automatically sorting issue boxes displayed on the chart based on incoming and outgoing arrows connected to each issue box, wherein issue boxes having more outgoing arrows than incoming arrows are placed towards the chart top and issue boxes having more incoming arrows are placed towards the chart bottom, so as to display issues which are causing other issues at the top of the chart.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of generating arrows includes receiving user input specifying causal connection strength between issues on the chaff.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

automatically sorting issue boxes displayed on the chart based, at least in part, on said causal connection strength.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of generating arrows includes receiving user input specifying importance of issues on the chart.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

automatically sorting issue boxes displayed on the chart based, at least in part, on said importance of issues.

14. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of displaying a subset of the chart includes identifying all incoming and outgoing arrows directly connected to the particular issue and displaying all issues associated with said incoming and outgoing arrows.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of displaying a subset includes displaying the issues in chains, wherein the chains are based on causal connections among issues.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of displaying a subset includes displaying an issue with only outgoing arrows at the chart top, so as to indicate the issue is causing other issues.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of displaying a subset includes displaying an issue with only incoming arrows at the chart bottom, so as to indicate the issue is symptom caused by other issues.

18. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of automatically removing a connecting arrow operates in response to user invocation of a feature for automatically removing such connecting arrows.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

restoring the connecting arrow in response to user input for undoing removal of such connecting arrows.

20. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

a computer-readable medium having processor-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 4.

21. A system for diagnosing issues affecting organizational performance, the system comprising:

a computer having a processor and memory;

a user input module for receiving user input of a plurality issues affecting organizational performance of an organization, categorizing each of said plurality of issues and specifying causal connections among issues;

a diagnostic module that generates a chart displaying the plurality of issues in columns, with each issue placed in a column corresponding to its categorization for display, and displaying arrows connecting issues on the chart based on specified causal connections between issues;

a linkage module which displays a subset of the chart including all issues linked directly and indirectly to the particular issue in response to user selection of a particular issue displayed on the chart; and

a shortcuts module that, when invoked, automatically removes a connecting arrow directly between a first issue and second issue on the chart subset when the first issue and second issue are already linked indirectly through one or more other issues, so as to clarify information displayed to the user.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said diagnostic module displays the chart in a user interface of the computer system.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said diagnostic module displays issues in at least four columns, with issues placed in a given column based on their categorization.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein said diagnostic module displays each issue in a box in a column based on the categorization of the issue.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said module for generating displays a connecting arrow directed from a first box towards a second box on the chart based on user input specifying that the issue in the first box is causing the issue in the second box.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

a sort module for automatically sorting issue boxes displayed on the chart based on incoming and outgoing arrows connected to each issue box.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said sort module places issue boxes having more outgoing arrows than incoming arrows towards the chart top and places issue boxes having more incoming arrows towards the chart bottom, so as to display issues which are causing other issues at the top of the chart.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein said user input module receives user input specifying causal connection strength between issues on the chart.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

a sort module for automatically sorting issue boxes displayed on the chart based, at least in part, on said causal connection strength.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein said user input module receives user input specifying importance of issues on the chart.

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising:

a sort module for automatically sorting issue boxes displayed on the chart based, at least in part, on said importance.

32. The system of claim 21, wherein said linkage module displays issues in chains, wherein the chains are based on causal connections among issues.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein linkage module displays an issue with only outgoing arrows at the chain top, so as to indicate the issue is causing other issues.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein said linkage module displays an issue with only incoming arrows at the chain bottom, so as to indicate the issue is symptom caused by other issues.

35. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

a theme module for displaying and storing a subset of the chart based on causal connections among issues.

36. The system of claim 21, wherein said shortcuts module restores the connecting arrow in response to user input for undoing removal of such connecting arrows.