Method and apparatus for a process and project management computer system

• US 6,023,702 A
• Filed: 12/10/1998
• Issued: 02/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Parncutt, Geoff, Leisten, Udo, Voesch, Ekkehard, Bandat, Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, RUAY L
• Application Number:
  US08/765,848
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/2, 707/3, 707/4, 707/5, 707/6, 707/100, 707/200, 705/7, 395/840, 364/488
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

The inventive concept comprises a system platform for a synergistic, role modular work process environment. A work process object (WPO) (1001) is created, residing in a data base, and stored in a memory of the process and project management computer system (1030). All data concerning the process and project management are reported to said work process object (WPO) (1001) and said work process object (WPO) (1001) is used as a common data base. According to the inventive concept, each view must be supported by a specific workplace, represented by digital data and enforcing the rules for the specific role. A work process information model supports the dynamic definition and use of a data base object representing a work process, boch in its process and project planning modes and its execution. According to the inventive concept, one object supports simultaneously all modes delimited by dynamically moving boundaries. Workplace implementation enforces over-all rules for each role in the inventive system.

Claims

1. A method for process and project management of a business on a computer system (1030), comprising the steps of:

creating at least one process schema (101) said process schema modeling the execution sequence of activities comprised by said business as a directed graph, and

creating a project schema (102) corresponding to said process schema said project schema modeling at least one task comprising a subset of said activities as a unit of work, and

generating a process instance (103) derived from said process schema modeling a certain specimen of said business,

generating a project instance (104) derived (114) from said process instance (103) and derived (113) from said project schema (102) and said project instance being an executable process and project management instance of said specimen of said business, and

creating a work process object (1001) (WPO), said work process object (1001) (WPO) offering combined access to said process schema, to said project schema, to said process instance and to said project instance.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

evolving said work process object (1001) (WPO) in stages starting with said creating of said process schema (101) as a first stage,

proceeding with said creating of said project schema (102) as a second stage,

proceeding with said generating of said process instance (103) as a third stage,

proceeding with said generating of said project instance (104) as a fourth stage,

proceeding with said executing of said project instance (104) as a fifth stage, and

building said stages by applying specifications of each stage to said preceding stages, wherein said specifications are provided by views comprising user dialogs and provided by said process schema, by said project schema, by said process instance and by said project instance respectively.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

delimiting in any of said stages, domains of completion of said stages by a domain boundary for stepwise completion of said stage, and

defining a number of views providing rules under which said domain boundaries can be moved within said stage, wherein said views are represented by user dialogues for users (1021, 1022, 1023, 1024, 1025, and

     1026) involved in said project.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the step of creating at least one process schema comprises a step of defining a sub-graph of said directed graph as a bundle of activities, and

wherein the step of generating a process instance further includes creating multiple instances of said sub-graph of said bundle of activities said multiple instances of said bundle of activities allowed to be executed in parallel, and delimiting in any of said multiple instances of said bundle of activities domains of completion by a domain boundary for stepwise completion.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of generating the project schema comprises a step of defining said task by a task envelope, and wherein the step of generating the project instance comprises the step of applying said task envelope to said process instance.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein said task envelope is a horizontal task envelope comprising activities of said directed graph with a common preceding activity, and wherein said task envelope is a vertical task envelope comprising activities of said directed graph preceding each other.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of:

supporting a definition of a degree of overlap of adjacent tasks for activities that could otherwise execute in parallel in said process.

8. The method according to claim 5 wherein said task envelope is a task stack comprising activities of said directed graph forming a loop and wherein each iteration of said loop defines a separate task.

9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

presenting a user (1021, 1022, 1023, 1024, 1025, and

     1026) of a process and project management computer system an integrated view of process and project management.

10. A computer system (1030) carrying out a method for process and project management according to claim 1, said computer system comprising:

a memory for storing said work process object (1001) (WPO) as a data base commonly used for process and project management;

input means (1002) for entering dialogue information from a user (1021, 1022, 1023, 1024, 1025, and

     1026) to said computer system (1030);

output means (1005) for delivering dialogue information from said computer system (1030) to said user (1021, 1022, 1023, 1024, 1025, and

     1026); and

a processor (1004) for controlling a flow of information between said input means (1002), said output means (1005), and said memory;

wherein said processor (1004) comprises means for reporting all data according to said process and project management to said work process object (1001) (WPO).

11. A computer readable medium storing a computer program for causing a computer system to perform the method according to claim 1.