Method And System For Determining The Relative Priority Of In-Process Project Work Tasks And Focusing Improvements In Task Time Estimates
First Claim
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.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
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 includes 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, and 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.
-
Citations
13 Claims
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A system for determining the relative priority of in-process project work, either assigned or available-to-be-assigned project tasks, and focusing improvements in task time estimates, comprising:
-
a computer processor operable to execute computer program instructions; and a computer memory operable to store computer program instructions executable by the computer processor, for performing the steps of; selecting 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; determining 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; determining 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; determining 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. capturing 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; capturing 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; capturing 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; computing 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; processing 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 of the selected project along the predefined project network; processing 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; processing 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; comparing 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 determining 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.
-
-
13. A computer-executable program product for determining the relative priority of in-process project work and focusing improvements in task time estimates, the computer-executable program product comprising computer executable instructions tangibly embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium that when executed by the computer perform the method steps comprising:
-
selecting 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 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 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.
-
Specification