Systems and Methods for Project Management Task Prioritization

• US 20090133027A1
• Filed: 11/21/2007
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kornienko, Ivan S., Sneden, Jeffrey C., Richer, Patrick R., Khandker, Nefaur R., Stephen, Kenneth, Kelley, Jason E., Gunning, Mark B.
• Application Number:
  US11/943,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20090133027A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A project management task prioritization system is provided to refine the prioritization factors for tasks in a project based on changes to the order of performing the tasks. The initial proposed order for performing the tasks is provided by the system to the person responsible for the task in a graphical format that allows the person to drag and drop the tasks, adjusting the order of the tasks to their preferred order. A neural network comparator is used to compare the task prioritization factors associated with each pair of tasks that are altered in order to determine a relative priority. The neural network system updates the task prioritization factors based on the changes in order the tasks are to be performed.

Claims

1. A method of determining prioritization factors for tasks in a project comprising at least a first task and a second task, the method comprising:

providing an initial order for performing the tasks in the project, the initial order specifying the first task being performed ahead of the second task;

receiving inputs to change the order for performing the tasks to move the second task ahead of the first task;

determining a relative priority of the first and second tasks based on said inputs; and

updating the prioritization factors for the first and second tasks.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the providing of the initial order comprises:

displaying a first graphical object representing the first task and a second graphical object representing the second task.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the receiving of the inputs comprises:

receiving user inputs to drag and drop the second object ahead of the first object.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the relative priority of the first and second tasks is determined using the prioritization factors in common to both the first task and the second task.

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

using a comparator to determine the relative priority of the first and second tasks.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the prioritization factors are dimensions in a neural network system, and the comparator is a neural network comparator.

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

receiving inputs to change the order for performing the tasks to move a third task ahead of the first and second tasks;

wherein one learning cycle is used for the neural network comparator to determine the relative priority of the third task to the first task and another learning cycle is used to determine the relative priority of the third task to the second task.

8. A software product comprising a machine readable medium including a program of instructions for determining prioritization factors for tasks in a project comprising at least a first task and a second task, wherein the program of instructions upon being executed on a device causes the device to perform activities comprising:

providing an initial order for performing the tasks in the project, the initial order specifying the first task being performed ahead of the second task;

receiving inputs to change the order for performing the tasks to move the second task ahead of the first task;

determining a relative priority of the first and second tasks based on said inputs; and

updating the prioritization factors for the first and second tasks.

9. The software product according to claim 8, wherein the providing of the initial order comprises:

displaying a first graphical object representing the first task and a second graphical object representing the second task.

10. The software product according to claim 9, wherein the receiving inputs to change the task order further causes the device to perform activities comprising:

receiving user inputs to drag and drop the second object ahead of the first object.

11. The software product according to claim 8, wherein the relative priority of the first and second tasks is determined using the prioritization factors in common to both the first task and the second task.

12. The software product according to claim 8, further causing the device to perform activities comprising:

using a comparator to determine the relative priority of the first and second tasks.

13. The software product according to claim 12, wherein the prioritization factors are dimensions in a neural network system, and the comparator is a neural network comparator.

14. The software product according to claim 13, further causing the device to perform activities comprising:

receiving inputs to change the order for performing the tasks to move a third task ahead of the first and second tasks;

wherein one teaming cycle is used for the neural network comparator to determine the relative priority of the third task to the first task and another learning cycle is used to determine the relative priority of the third task to the second task.

15. A system configured to determine prioritization factors for tasks in a project comprising at least a first task and a second task, the system comprising:

an electronically readable storage medium configured to store an initial order for performing the tasks in the project, the initial order specifying the first task being performed ahead of the second task;

a display device configured to display the initial order of the tasks in the project;

means for receiving inputs to change the order for performing the tasks to move the second task ahead of the first task;

a processor configured to execute instructions to determine a relative priority of the first and second tasks based on said inputs, the processor further being configured to update the prioritization factors for the first and second tasks.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the display device is further configured to display a first graphical object representing the first task and a second graphical object representing the second task.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the means for receiving inputs is further configured to:

receive user inputs to drag and drop the second object ahead of the first object.

18. The system according to claim 15, further comprising:

a comparator to determine the relative priority of the first and second tasks.

19. The system according to claim 18, further comprising:

a neural network system comprising the comparator, wherein the prioritization factors are dimensions in the neural network system.