Method and apparatus for facilitating management of information technology investment

• US 6,578,004 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2000
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Prosight Limited (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Cimral, John, Lawler, Mark S., Yokoyama, Doug, Tzur, Avrami, Ofer, Amir
• Primary Examiner(s): Kazimi, Hani M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Jagdish
• Application Number:
  US09/560,670
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7-11, 717/101, 717/105
• US Class Current: 705/7.39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0635 Risk analysis of enterprise or organisation activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06393 Score-carding, benchmarking or key performance indicator [KPI] analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

A method and apparatus to facilitate management of IT investment includes storing data associated with performance metrics of a number of information technology (IT) projects, and generating a number of “scorecards” for a number of IT portfolios, using the stored data, with each scorecard indicating status of the IT projects of an IT portfolio relative to performance metrics, each IT portfolio having a subset of the IT projects. The method/apparatus further includes generating a number of “dashboards” for the IT projects, using also the stored data, with each dashboard graphically illustrating one or more aspects of at least one IT project, and facilitating navigation from a scorecard to a corresponding one of the dashboards for a selected IT project by a user of the scorecard through selection of a representation of the IT project.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing data associated with performance metrics of a plurality of information technology (IT) projects;

generating a plurality of scorecards for a plurality of IT portfolios, using said stored data, wherein said generating of scorecards comprises generating a plurality of rows and columns for each of said scorecards, and populating measures of the performance metrics of each IT project in columns of a row, and wherein said generating of scorecards further comprises generating, for one or more of the scorecards, a cross-project composite measure for at least one of the performance metrics, and populating the generated cross-project composite measure in the corresponding column of a cross-project summary row, with each scorecard showing where IT projects of an IT portfolio stand on said performance metrics, each IT portfolio having a subset of said IT projects;

generating one or more investment maps of said IT portfolios, using also said stored data, showing where said IT portfolios stand on a plurality of performance metrics; and

facilitating navigation from a selected one of said one or more investment maps to a corresponding one of said scorecards for a selected IT portfolio by a user of the selected investment map through selection of a representation of the IT portfolio.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said populating of the generated cross-project composite measure comprises populating a selected one of a composite metric value and a graphical composite indicator of the performance metric in the corresponding column of a cross-project summary row.

3. A method comprising:

storing data associated with performance metrics of a plurality of information technology (IT) projects;

generating a plurality of scorecards for a plurality of IT portfolios, using said stored data, with each scorecard showing where IT projects of an IT portfolio stand on said performance metrics, each IT portfolio having a subset of said IT projects;

generating one or more investment maps of said IT portfolios, using also said stored data, wherein said generating of one or more investment maps comprises generating a plurality of graphical representations for the IT portfolios of each investment map, and placing the graphical representations in the investment map in accordance with their IT portfolios'"'"' technology type and risk, said investment maps showing where said IT portfolios stand on a plurality of performance metrics; and

facilitating navigation from a selected one of said one or more investment maps to a corresponding one of said scorecards for a selected IT portfolio by a user of the selected investment map through selection of a representation of the IT portfolio.

4. A method comprising:

storing data associated with performance metrics of a plurality of information technology (IT) projects;

generating a plurality of scorecards for a plurality of IT portfolios, using said stored data, with each scorecard showing where IT projects of an IT portfolio stand on said performance metrics, each IT portfolio having a subset of said IT projects;

generating one or more investment maps of said IT portfolios, using also said stored data, wherein said generating of one or more investment maps comprises generating a plurality of graphical representations for the IT portfolios of each investment map with at least a selected one of the size of each of the graphical representations representing the investment size of the IT portfolio, and the color of each of the graphical representations representing the soundness of the IT portfolio, each investment map showing where said IT portfolios stand on a plurality of performance metrics; and

facilitating navigation from a selected one of said one or more investment maps to a corresponding one of said scorecards for a selected IT portfolio by a user of the selected investment map through selection of a representation of the IT portfolio.

5. A method comprising:

storing data associated with performance metrics of a plurality of information technology (IT) projects;

generating a plurality of scorecards for a plurality of IT portfolios, using said stored data, with each scorecard showing where IT projects of an IT portfolio stand on said performance metrics, each IT portfolio having a subset of said IT projects;

generating one or more investment maps of said IT portfolios, using also said stored data, showing where said IT portfolios stand on a plurality of performance metrics;

facilitating navigation from a selected one of said one or more investment maps to a corresponding one of said scorecards for a selected IT portfolio by a user of the selected investment map through selection of a representation of the IT portfolio;

generating a plurality of dashboards for said IT projects, using also said stored data, with each dashboard graphically illustrating one or more aspects of at least one IT project; and

facilitating navigation from a scorecard to a corresponding one of said dashboards for a selected IT project by a user of the scorecard through selection of a representation of said IT project.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein each generation of a dashboard for an IT project comprises generating a plurality of graphs for a plurality of aspects of the IT project, and placing and tiling said graphs.

7. A method comprising:

storing data associated with performance metrics for a plurality of information technology (IT) projects;

generating a plurality of dashboards for said IT projects, using said stored data, with each dashboard graphically illustrating one or more aspects of at least one IT project;

generating a scorecard for an IT portfolio, using also said stored data, with the scorecard showing where IT projects of the IT portfolio stand on said performance metrics; and

facilitating navigation from said scorecard to a corresponding one of said dashboards for a selected IT project by a user of the scorecard through selection of a representation of said IT project.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said storing comprises storing data associated with performance metrics that include selected ones of budget metrics, staffing metrics, project size and quality metrics, and progress metrics.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said generating of scorecards comprises generating a plurality of rows and columns for each of said scorecards, and populating measures of the performance metrics of each IT project in columns of a row.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said generating of scorecards further comprises generating, for one or more of the scorecards, a cross-project composite measure for at least one of the performance metrics, and populating the generated cross-project composite measure in the corresponding column of a cross-project summary row.

11. A method comprising:

storing data associated with performance metrics of a plurality of information technology (IT) projects; and

generating a plurality of scorecards for a plurality of IT portfolios, using said stored data, with each scorecard showing where IT projects of an IT portfolio stand on said performance metrics, each IT portfolio having a subset of said IT projects, each scorecard having a plurality of rows and columns with measures of the performance metrics of a project populating corresponding columns of a row, and at least one column having a cross project composite measure of the performance metric populated in the column of a cross project summary row.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said measures and cross project measures of the performance metrics comprise selected ones of metric values and graphical indicators.

13. A method comprising:

storing data associated with performance metrics of a plurality of information technology (IT) projects; and

generating an investment map of a plurality of IT portfolios, using said stored data, showing at least where said IT portfolios stand on technology type, risk, investment size and soundness, with placement of each graphical representation of an IT project denoting the technology type and risk of the IT portfolio, a first visual attribute of the graphical representation denoting an amount of investment in the IT portfolio, and a second visual attribute of the graphical representation denoting soundness of the IT portfolio.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said first and second visual attributes of the graphical representation comprise size and color of the graphical representation.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a storage medium having stored therein

data associated with performance metrics of a plurality of information technology (IT) projects,

first programming instructions to generate a plurality of scorecards for a plurality of IT portfolios, using said stored data, and generate a plurality of rows and columns for each of said scorecards, and populate measures of the performance metrics of each IT project in columns of a row, and generate, for one or more of the scorecards, a cross-project composite measure for at least one of the performance metrics, and populate the generated cross-project composite measure in the corresponding column of a cross-project summary row, with each scorecard showing where IT projects of an IT portfolio stand on said performance metrics, each IT portfolio having a subset of said IT projects,

second programming instructions to generate one or more investment maps of said IT portfolios, using also said stored data, showing where said IT portfolios stand on a plurality of performance metrics,

third programming instructions to facilitate navigation from a selected one of said investment maps to a corresponding one of said scorecards for a selected IT portfolio by a user of the investment map through selection of a representation of the IT portfolio; and

at least one processor coupled to the storage medium to execute said first, second and third programming instructions.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said first programming instructions populate a selected one of a composite metric value and a graphical composite indicator of the performance metric in the corresponding column of a cross-project summary row.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a storage medium having stored therein

data associated with performance metrics of a plurality of information technology (IT) projects,

first programming instructions to generate a plurality of scorecards for a plurality of IT portfolios, using said stored data, with each scorecard showing where IT projects of an IT portfolio stand on said performance metrics, each IT portfolio having a subset of said IT projects,

second programming instructions to generate one or more investment maps of said IT portfolios, using also said stored data, and generate a plurality of graphical representations for the IT portfolios and placing the graphical representations in said investment map in accordance with their IT portfolios'"'"' technology type and risk, each investment map showing where said IT portfolios stand on a plurality of performance metrics,

third programming instructions to facilitate navigation from a selected one of said investment maps to a corresponding one of said scorecards for a selected IT portfolio by a user of the investment map through selection of a representation of the IT portfolio; and

at least one processor coupled to the storage medium to execute said first, second and third programming instructions.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a storage medium having stored therein

data associated with performance metrics of a plurality of information technology (IT) projects,

first programming instructions to generate a plurality of scorecards for a plurality of IT portfolios, using said stored data, with each scorecard showing where IT projects of an IT portfolio stand on said performance metrics, each IT portfolio having a subset of said IT projects,

second programming instructions to generate one or more investment maps of said IT portfolios, using also said stored data, and generate a plurality of graphical representations for the IT portfolios with at least a selected one of the size of each of the graphical representations representing the investment size of the IT portfolio, and the color of each of the graphical representations representing the soundness of the IT portfolio, each investment map showing where said IT portfolios stand on a plurality of performance metrics,

third programming instructions to facilitate navigation from a selected one of said investment maps to a corresponding one of said scorecards for a selected IT portfolio by a user of the investment map through selection of a representation of the IT portfolio; and

at least one processor coupled to the storage medium to execute said first, second and third programming instructions.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a storage medium having stored therein

data associated with performance metrics of a plurality of information technology (IT) projects,

first programming instructions to generate a plurality of scorecards for a plurality of IT portfolios, using said stored data, with each scorecard showing where IT projects of an IT portfolio stand on said performance metrics, each IT portfolio having a subset of said IT projects,

second programming instructions to generate one or more investment maps of said IT portfolios, using also said stored data, showing where said IT portfolios stand on a plurality of performance metrics,

third programming instructions to facilitate navigation from a selected one of said investment maps to a corresponding one of said scorecards for a selected IT portfolio by a user of the investment map through selection of a representation of the IT portfolio;

fourth programming instructions to generate a plurality of dashboards for said IT projects, using also said stored data, with each dashboard graphically illustrating one or more aspects of at least one IT project,

and fifth programming instructions to facilitate navigation from a scorecard to a corresponding one of said dashboards for a selected IT project by a user of the scorecard through selection of a representation of said IT project; and

at least one processor coupled to the storage medium to execute said first, second, third, fourth, and fifth programming instructions.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said fourth programming instructions generate a plurality of graphs for a plurality of aspects of the IT project, and place and tile said graphs.

21. An apparatus comprising:

one or more storage medium having stored therein

data associated with performance metrics for a plurality of information technology (IT) projects,

first programming instructions to generate a plurality of dashboards for said IT projects, using said stored data, with each dashboard graphically illustrating one or more aspects of at least one IT project,

second programming instructions to generate a scorecard for an IT portfolio, using also said stored data, with the scorecard showing where IT projects of the IT portfolio stand on said performance metrics, and

third programming instructions to facilitate navigation from said scorecard to a corresponding one of said dashboards for a selected IT project by a user of the scorecard through selection of a representation of said IT project; and

at least one processor coupled to the one or more storage medium to execute the first, second and third programming instructions.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said data associated with performance metrics include selected ones of budget metrics, staffing metrics, project size and quality metrics, and progress metrics.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said second programming instructions generate a plurality of rows and columns for each of said scorecards, and populate measures of the performance metrics of each IT project in columns of a row.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said second programming instructions generate, for one or more of the scorecards, a cross-project composite measure for at least one of the performance metrics, and populate the generated cross-project composite measure in the corresponding column of a cross-project summary row.

25. An apparatus comprising:

one or more storage medium having stored therein

data associated with performance metrics of a plurality of information technology (IT) projects, and

programming instructions to generate a plurality of scorecards for a plurality of IT portfolios, using said stored data, with each scorecard showing where IT projects of an IT portfolio stand on said performance metrics, each IT portfolio having a subset of said IT projects, each scorecard having a plurality of rows and columns with measures of the performance metrics of a project populating corresponding columns of a row, and at least one column having a cross project composite measure of the performance metric populated in the column of a cross project summary row; and

at least one processor coupled to the at least one storage medium to execute the programming instructions.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said measures and cross project measures of the performance metrics comprise selected ones of metric values and graphical indicators.

27. An apparatus comprising:

one or more storage medium having stored therein

data associated with performance metrics of a plurality of information technology (IT) projects, and

programming instructions to generate an investment map of a plurality of IT portfolios, using said stored data, showing at least where said IT portfolios stand on technology type, risk, investment size and soundness, with placement of each graphical representation of an IT project denoting the technology type and risk of the IT portfolio, a first visual attribute of the graphical representation denoting an amount of investment in the IT portfolio, and a second visual attribute of the graphical representation denoting soundness of the IT portfolio; and

at least one processor coupled to the at least one storage medium to execute said programming instructions.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said first and second visual attributes of the graphical representation comprise size and color of the graphical representation.