Dynamic project management system

• US 5,765,140 A
• Filed: 11/17/1995
• Issued: 06/09/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shenzhen Technology Co. Ltd, Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Knudson, James George, Vivian, William Lawrence, Crego, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): McElheny, Jr., Donald E.
• Application Number:
  US08/559,970
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 395/209, 395/211, 395/201, 395/207, 395/208, 395/232, 395/926, 705/8, 705/9
• US Class Current: 705/7.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063118 Staff planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment

Abstract

A dynamic project management system includes a server network and a master database. The network is configured to identify a personnel resource pool including a plurality of users. A project planning tool is used to effect the project plan including a plurality of tasks to be performed by the users in accordance with respective time schedules. The network is configured for translating the project plan into the master database to effect an assignments table including a list of project tasks assigned for completion by each of the users. Time sheets are periodically prepared in the master database from the assignments table and include a list of the project tasks assigned to a respective user and a time period record for recording time entries therein. Actual time expended in performing the tasks is fed back to the project plan for managing completion of the tasks in accordance with the time schedules. In a preferred embodiment, a funding source is mapped to the project plan so that cumulative labor cost may be tracked based on actual time expended for the project tasks.

Claims

1. A dynamic project management system comprising:

a server network including a programmable computer server operatively joined to a plurality of personal computer user terminals;

a master database operatively accessible by said server and said user terminals;

means for identifying a personnel resource pool including a plurality of users each having an identification profile;

means for planning a project to effect a project plan including a plurality of tasks to be performed by said users from said resource pool in accordance with respective time schedules;

means for interfacing said project plan with said server network to effect in said master database an assignments table including a list of said project tasks assigned for completion by each of said users;

means for periodically preparing in said master database a plurality of time sheets from said assignments table including a list of said project tasks assigned to a respective user and a time period record for recording time entries indicative of actual time expended by each user in performing said tasks; and

said interfacing means being effective also for feeding back to said planning means from said master database said actual time expended for said tasks for managing completion of said tasks in accordance with said time schedules.

2. A system according to claim 1 further comprising means for administering said personnel resource pool to effect changes thereto and in turn changes to said assignments table.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein said administering means is effective also for mapping a funding source to said project and tracking cumulative labor cost therefore based on said actual time expended for said project tasks.

4. A system according to claim 3 further comprising a plurality of said server networks operatively joined to said master database to define a respective plurality of director-level computer servers each having a respective plurality of said user terminals, and wherein said planning and interfacing means reside at said director-level servers.

5. A system according to claim 4 further comprising a supernova-level programmable computer server operatively joined to said plurality of director-level servers and said master database, and including said personnel identifying means.

6. A system according to claim 5 further comprising a programmable mainframe computer system operatively joined to said supernova server and including personnel and funding data, and wherein said identifying means effect said personnel resource pool from said personnel data and organize said user profiles to correspond with respective ones of said director servers, and wherein said administering means map said funding source from said funding data to said project.

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein said user profile includes a unique identifier, and said planning means are effective to plan said project around users identified by said identifiers.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein said user profile further includes a directorate identification for assigning said users to respective ones of said director servers.

9. A method for dynamically managing a project in a server network including a programmable computer server and a master database operatively joined to a plurality of personal computer user terminals, said method comprising:

identifying a personnel resource pool including a plurality of users each having identification profile;

planning a project to effect a project plan including a plurality of tasks to be performed by said users from said resource pool in accordance with respective time schedules;

translating said project plan into said master database to effect an assignments table including a list of project tasks assigned for completion by each of said users;

preparing periodically in said master database time sheets from said assignments table including a list of said project tasks assigned to a respective user and a time period record for recording time entries indicative of actual time expended by each user in performing said tasks; and

feeding back to said project plan said actual time expended in performing said tasks for managing completion of said tasks in according with said time schedules.

10. A method according to claim 9 further comprising:

mapping a funding source to said project plan; and

tracking cumulative labor cost for said project plan based on said actual time expended for said project tasks.

11. A method according to claim 10 further comprising administering said personnel resource pool to effect changes thereto and in turn changes to said assignments table.

12. A method according to claim 10 further comprising revising said project plan based on at least one of progress in meeting said time schedules and said cumulative labor cost.

13. A method according to claim 10 further comprising planning and translating a plurality of said projects into a common assignments table to effect time sheets for said users containing all project tasks for each user.

14. A method according to claim 10 wherein said project planning step utilizes a preexisting project management tool to effect said project plan.

15. A method according to claim 10 wherein said user profile includes a unique identifier, and further comprising providing said user identifiers to said planning step for planning said project around users identified by said identifier.

16. A method according to claim 10 further comprising downloading personnel data from a preexisting computer system for identifying said personnel resource pool.