Product development system and method using integrated process and data management
First Claim
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1. A system for managing development of a project by a plurality of users, the project including at least one discrete work deliverable, said system comprising:
- a memory device;
at least one category instance stored on said memory device, the category instance defined by a category definition and representing the discrete work deliverable, said category instance having a life-cycle comprising at least one stage defined by a stage definition, said stage being completed upon the entry by at least one user of substantive information required to create said discrete work deliverable;
means for notifying an appropriate user when substantive work is necessary to complete said stage of said category instance;
means for controlling the access of the appropriate user to each category instance, said controlling means responsive to said stage;
means for controlling the responsibility of the appropriate user for each category instance, said controlling means responsive to said stage; and
means for allowing said appropriate user to indicate that said substantive work is completed, thereby completing said stage of the life-cycle of said category instance.
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Abstract
A system, and related method, for managing the development of a project includes a memory device and at least one category definition stored in the memory device. Each category definition is representative of a discrete work deliverable required to complete the project being managed and has at least one stage. Each stage defines a portion of the definition'"'"'s life-cycle and is completed only upon the submission of substantive information required by the stage to create the discrete work deliverable.
77 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for managing development of a project by a plurality of users, the project including at least one discrete work deliverable, said system comprising:
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a memory device; at least one category instance stored on said memory device, the category instance defined by a category definition and representing the discrete work deliverable, said category instance having a life-cycle comprising at least one stage defined by a stage definition, said stage being completed upon the entry by at least one user of substantive information required to create said discrete work deliverable; means for notifying an appropriate user when substantive work is necessary to complete said stage of said category instance; means for controlling the access of the appropriate user to each category instance, said controlling means responsive to said stage; means for controlling the responsibility of the appropriate user for each category instance, said controlling means responsive to said stage; and means for allowing said appropriate user to indicate that said substantive work is completed, thereby completing said stage of the life-cycle of said category instance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A computer implemented method for managing development of a project by a plurality of users, the project including at least one discrete work deliverable, said method comprising the steps of:
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defining at least one category instance using a category definition, the category instance representing the discrete work deliverable and having a life-cycle comprising at least one stage defined by a stage definition, said stage being completed upon the entry by at least one user of substantive information required to complete said discrete work deliverable; storing said category instance and said stage definition on a memory device; controlling, in response to said stage, the responsibility of the appropriate user for each category instance; notifying an appropriate user when substantive work is necessary to complete said stage of said category instance; permitting, in response to said stage, the appropriate user to access each category instance; and allowing the appropriate user to indicate that the substantive work is completed, thereby completing the stage of the life-cycle of said category instance. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An article of manufacture having computer-readable program means for managing development of a project embodied thereon, the project including at least one discrete work deliverable, comprising:
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computer readable program means for defining at least one category instance using a category definition, the category instance representing the discrete work deliverable and having a life-cycle comprising at least one stage defined by a stage definition, said stage being completed upon the entry by at least one user of substantive information required to complete said discrete work deliverable; computer readable program means for storing said category instance and said stage definition on a memory device; computer readable program means for controlling, in response to said stage, the responsibility of the appropriate user for each category instance; computer readable program means for notifying an appropriate user when substantive work is necessary to complete said stage of said category instance; computer readable program means for permitting, in response to said stage, the appropriate user to access each category instance; and computer readable program means for allowing the appropriate user to indicate that the substantive work is completed, thereby completing the stage of the life-cycle of said category instance. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification