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Method And System For Determining The Relative Priority Of In-Process Project Work Tasks And Focusing Improvements In Task Time Estimates

  • US 20140032257A1
  • Filed: 11/13/2012
  • Published: 01/30/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2010
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. A method for determining the relative priority of assigned or available-to-be-assigned project tasks in a pre-defined project network and focusing improvements in task time estimates, comprising the steps of:

  • providing a computer system comprising a processor, a memory device and a user interface;

    utilizing the user interface to select a project that has a predefined project network;

    identifying all of the Critical Chain (CC) tasks, its corresponding Feeding Path tasks and any user defined Contractual Milestone path tasks of the selected project along the predefined project network;

    identifying the amount of Allocated Time Buffer (ATB) assigned to each of the Critical Chain (CC) tasks, its corresponding Feeding Path tasks and any user defined Contractual Milestone path tasks to account for variability in the time required to complete the Required Work Content (RWC) for each task of the selected project along the predefined project network;

    utilizing the processor to determine the Required Work Content (RWC) to complete each of the Critical Chain (CC) tasks, its corresponding Feeding Path tasks and any user defined Contractual Milestone path tasks of the selected project along the predefined project network;

    utilizing the processor to determine the total amount of time TTOTAL required to complete all of the Critical Chain (CC) tasks, its corresponding Feeding Path tasks and any user defined Contractual Milestone path tasks of the selected project along the predefined project network;

    utilizing the processor to determine a total planned Time Buffer (TB) for the movement of the selected project through all of the Critical Chain (CC) tasks, its corresponding Feeding Path tasks and any user defined Contractual Milestone path tasks of the selected project along the predefined project network and storing said determined total planned Time Buffer (TB) in the memory device;

    utilizing the total amount of time TTOTAL required to complete all of the Required Work Content (RWC) for Critical Chain (CC) tasks in the project network in conjunction with the total Time Buffer (TB) for the Critical Chain to determine a time to complete (TCOMPLETE) the selected project.utilizing the processor to capture resource assignment data at regular Reporting Intervals (RI) that relates to the selected project and the assignment of resources to tasks available to be worked on in the predefined project network;

    utilizing the processor to capture task update data at regular Reporting Intervals (RI) that relates to the selected project and the amount of work remaining to complete each task assigned to a resource to be worked on in the predefined project network;

    utilizing the processor to capture task update data at regular Reporting Intervals (RI) that relates to the selected project and the amount of time a task available to be assigned to work on in the predefined project network will be delayed;

    utilizing the processor to compute the Planned Time Buffer Remaining (TBRP) at each of the Critical Chain (CC) tasks, its corresponding Feeding Path tasks and any user defined Contractual Milestone path tasks of the selected project along the predefined project network;

    utilizing the processor to process the captured task update data, for the selected project, to determine the expected downstream Time Buffer Remaining (TBR) for the project'"'"'s Critical Chain (CC), its corresponding Feeding Paths and any user defined Contractual Milestones along the predefined project network;

    utilizing the processor to process the captured task update data, for the selected project, to determine the expected completion of the selected project along the predefined project network and comparing the expected completion of the selected project to planned completion of the selected project through the predefined project network;

    utilizing the processor to process the determined amount of downstream Time Buffer Remaining (TBR) in relation to the total planned Time Buffer (TB) for the selected project'"'"'s Critical Chain (CC), its corresponding Feeding Paths and any user defined Contractual Milestones at the completion of each selected project;

    utilizing the processor to compare the determined amount of downstream Time Buffer Remaining (TBR) to the planned amount of downstream Time Buffer Remaining (TBRP) for each assigned or available-to-be-assigned task in the selected project'"'"'s Critical Chain (CC), its corresponding Feeding Paths and any user defined Contractual Milestones and computing the ratio TBR/TBRP wherein said ratio yields a Buffer Recovery Percent (BRP) for the selected project; and

    utilizing the processor to determine the Buffer Recovery Percent (BRP) for each assigned or available-to-be-assigned task in every selected project'"'"'s Critical Chain (CC), its corresponding Feeding Paths and any user defined Contractual Milestones at Regular Intervals (RI) as the assigned or available-to-be-assigned task work toward completion in the predefined project network and setting relative priorities to all the assigned or available-to-be-assigned tasks wherein the task with the lowest Buffer Recovery Percent (BRP) has the highest priority.

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