BUSINESS UNIT OUTSOURCING MODEL

• US 20090204416A1
• Filed: 08/15/2008
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Bell, David, Ryan, Peter, Mead, Sherry E., Huang, Yinchi, Cooke, Bryan K., King, Nigel
• Granted Patent: US 9,852,428 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

Tools for configuring enterprise applications. In an aspect, an enterprise application can be configured to account for relationships between multiple business units within an enterprise, including without limitation relationships between the business functions provided by various business units. In another aspect, the disclosed tools provide a framework for identifying and/or defining relationships between business units. The tools might also provide a user interface for a user to identify one or more business units and/or business functions and defines a relationship between them. Based on this definition, an enterprise application can be configured to account for this relationship.

Claims

1. A method of configuring an enterprise application, the method comprising:

providing, in a computer system, a framework for defining a set of relationships between a plurality of business units, the framework comprising a business unit definition that is used to define representations of a plurality of business units, a business function definition that is used to define one or more business functions, and a relationship definition that is used to define a relationship between one or more business units and one or more business functions;

providing, from the computer system, a user interface for a user to define a relationship between a plurality of business units;

receiving, via the user interface, an identification of a first business unit;

receiving, via the user interface, a selection of a first business function of the first business unit;

receiving, via the user interface, an identification of a second business unit;

receiving, via the user interface, a definition of a business function agency relationship between the first business unit and the second business unit, the business function agency relationship pertaining to the first business function;

receiving, via the user interface, a definition of a control to be implemented with respect to the business function agency relationship;

configuring an enterprise application to reflect the business function agency relationship between the first business unit and the second business unit, wherein configuring the enterprise application comprises storing, in a database, a set of data representing the business function agency relationship between the first business unit and the second business unit;

receiving, at the enterprise application, a transaction pertaining to the first business function;

determining, based on the set of data stored in the database, that the business function agency relationship governs processing of the transaction; and

processing the transaction according to the business function agency relationship.

2. In an enterprise application, a method of defining relationships between two or more business units in an enterprise, the method comprising:

providing a user interface for a user to define a relationship between a plurality of business units;

receiving, via the user interface, an identification of a first business unit;

receiving, via the user interface, a selection of a first business function of the first business unit;

receiving, via the user interface, an identification of a second business unit;

receiving, via the user interface, a definition of a business function agency relationship between the first business unit and the second business unit, the business function agency relationship pertaining to the first business function; and

storing a set of data representing the business function agency relationship between the first business unit and the second business unit.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the set of data is stored in a database.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

displaying, for a user, a confirmation of the defined business function agency relationship.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing for the user to define, via the user interface, one or more business functions to be performed by the first business unit;

wherein receiving a selection of a first business function of the first business unit comprises receiving a selection of one of the one or more business functions defined by the user.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, via the user interface, a definition of a control to be implemented with respect to the business function agency relationship.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the control comprises a service level agreement pertaining to the business function agency relationship.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the control comprises a limitation on performance of the business function.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the business function agency relationship is a client relationship, such that the first business unit performs the first business function on behalf of the second business unit.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a request, at the enterprise application, for the first business function to be performed for the second business unit;

determining, based on the set of data, that the first business unit should perform the first business function on behalf of the second business unit; and

providing for the first business unit to perform the first business function on behalf of the second business unit.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

implementing, with respect to a performance of the first business function, a control defined with respect to the business function agency relationship.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the business function agency relationship is a related business function relationship, such that a transaction processed by the first business function in the first business unit is further processed by a second business function in the second business unit.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

identifying a transaction that has been processed by the first business function in the first business unit;

determining, based on the set of data, that the transaction should be further processed by the second business function; and

providing for the second business unit to perform the second business function to further process the transaction.

14. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, via the user interface, a definition of a second business function agency relationship between the first business unit and a third business unit, the second business function agency relationship pertaining to the first business function; and

storing, in the database, a set of data representing the second business function agency relationship between the first business unit and the third business unit.

15. A computer system, comprising:

a database for storing data used by an enterprise application;

one or more processors in communication with the database; and

one or more computer readable storage media in communication with the one or more processors, the one or more computer readable storage media having encoded thereon a computer program comprising a set of instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to perform one or more operations, the set of instructions comprising;

instructions for providing a user interface for a user to define a relationship between a plurality of business units;

instructions for receiving, via the user interface, an identification of a first business unit;

instructions for receiving, via the user interface, a selection of a first business function of the first business unit;

instructions for receiving, via the user interface, an identification of a second business unit;

instructions for receiving, via the user interface, a definition of a business function agency relationship between the first business unit and the second business unit, the business function agency relationship pertaining to the first business function; and

instructions for storing, in the database, a set of data representing the business function agency relationship between the first business unit and the second business unit.

16. The computer system of claim 15, further comprising a web server configured to transmit one or more webs page for display in a web browser operated by the user, the one or more web pages comprising the user interface.

17. A computer readable storage medium having encoded thereon a computer program for defining, in an enterprise application, relationships between a plurality of business units, the computer program comprising a set of instructions executable by a computer system to perform one or more operations, the set of instructions comprising:

instructions for providing a user interface for a user to define a relationship between a plurality of business units;

instructions for receiving, via the user interface, an identification of a first business unit;

instructions for receiving, via the user interface, a selection of a first business function of the first business unit;

instructions for receiving, via the user interface, an identification of a second business unit;

instructions for receiving, via the user interface, a definition of a business function agency relationship between the first business unit and the second business unit, the business function agency relationship pertaining to the first business function; and

instructions for storing, in the database, a set of data representing the business function agency relationship between the first business unit and the second business unit.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the enterprise application comprises the computer program.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the computer program is integrated with a configuration utility for the enterprise application.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the configuration utility is an installation program for the enterprise application.

21. A method of configuring an enterprise application, the method comprising:

providing, in a computer system, a framework for defining a set of relationships between a plurality of business units, the framework comprising a business unit definition that is used to define representations of a plurality of business units, a business function definition that is used to define one or more business functions, and a relationship definition that is used to define a relationship between one or more business units and one or more business functions;

providing, from the computer system, a user interface to receive, from a user, first input for selecting a first representation of a first business unit, second input for selecting a second representation of a second business unit, third input for selecting a business function, and fourth input for defining a relationship among the first business unit, the second business unit, and the business function; and

configuring an enterprise application to reflect the defined relationship among the first business unit, the second business unit and the business function.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein configuring an enterprise application comprises storing, in a database, a set of data representing the defined relationship.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the relationship is a business function client relationship, such that the first business unit performs the business function on behalf of the second business unit.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the relationship is a relationship is a related business function relationship, such that a transaction processed by the business function in the first business unit is further processed by another business function in the second business unit

25. A computer readable storage medium have encoded thereon a computer program comprising a set of instructions executable by a computer system to perform one or more operations, the computer program comprising:

a framework for defining a set of relationships between a plurality of business units, the framework comprising a business unit definition that is used to define representations of a plurality of business units, a business function definition that is used to define one or more business functions, and a relationship definition that is used to define a relationship between one or more business units and one or more business functions;

a user interface for receiving, from a user, first input for selecting a first representation of a first business unit, second input for selecting a second representation of a second business unit, third input for selecting a business function, and fourth input for defining a relationship among the first business unit, the second business unit, and the business function; and

a configuration engine for configuring an enterprise application to reflect the defined relationship among the first business unit, the second business unit and the business function.

26. The computer readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the enterprise application comprises the computer program.