System and method for performing a mindflow process

• US 6,629,096 B1
• Filed: 08/09/1999
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mindflow Technologies (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Reddy, Jayaram P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Homere, Jean R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wassum, Luke S
• Application Number:
  US09/371,711
• Time in Patent Office: 1,513 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3-5, 707/10, 707/104.1, 706/45-48, 705/7-11
• US Class Current: 707/603
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/022 Knowledge engineering; Knowledge acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/944 Business related
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A system for performing a mindflow process includes a memory coupled to a processor. The memory stores a number of knowledge modules. Each knowledge module comprises a process having a number of subprocesses. The processor stores a knowledge item generated by a first knowledge worker in the memory based upon the results of a first query session. The processor further retrieves the knowledge item generated by the first knowledge worker based upon the results of a second query session with a second knowledge worker. The processor further initiates a graphical user interface having a number of displays. Each display corresponds to a subprocess of a selected knowledge module and at least one display is operated by the second knowledge worker to perform a portion of the process using the retrieved knowledge item.

Claims

1. A system for performing a business process, comprising:

a memory operable to store a plurality of knowledge modules, wherein each knowledge module comprises a business process, the business process comprising a plurality of subprocesses; and

a processor coupled to the memory and operable to;

store a knowledge item generated by a first knowledge worker in the memory, wherein the knowledge item is indexed in the memory according to the results of a first query session and the first query session comprises a plurality of questions presented to the first knowledge worker and a plurality of answers provided by the first knowledge worker in response to the plurality of questions;

retrieve the knowledge item generated by the first knowledge worker based upon the results of a second query session with a second knowledge worker, wherein the second query session comprises a plurality of questions presented to the second knowledge worker and a plurality of answers provided by the second knowledge worker in response to the plurality of questions; and

initiate a graphical user interface comprising a plurality of displays, wherein each display corresponds to a subprocess of a selected knowledge module and at least one display is operated by the second knowledge worker to perform a portion of the process using the retrieved knowledge item.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected knowledge module comprises one of a sourcing-strategy module, a cost-savings module, a resource-planning module, a product-development module, or an account-management module.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of subprocesses is arranged according to a business model.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the subprocesses comprise a first subprocess and a second subprocess; and

the graphical user interface comprises a first display corresponding to the first subprocess and a second display corresponding to the second subprocess.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the memory comprises a knowledge warehouse operable to store a plurality of knowledge items; and

the processor is further operable to retrieve a plurality of knowledge items based upon the results of the second query session, each knowledge item comprising information used by the second knowledge worker to perform a portion of the business process.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is further operable to:

determine a plurality of parameters associated with the business process;

assign a weighting factor to each parameter;

determine a prioritization of the parameters for each knowledge item based upon input of the second knowledge worker; and

determine a value index for each knowledge item based upon the weighting factor of each parameter and the prioritization of the parameters.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the memory further comprises a document archive operable to store a plurality of documents, each document associated with a particular knowledge, module and including information about a query session associated with the particular knowledge module.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the memory comprises a data warehouse operable to store a plurality of software applications; and

the processor is further operable to execute selected software applications to perform a portion of the business process.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the memory comprises a knowledge warehouse operable to store a plurality of knowledge items;

a particular knowledge item stored in the knowledge warehouse is generated by a knowledge worker and indexed by information associated with the knowledge item; and

the processor is further operable to;

perform a review session with a system administrator wherein the system administrator reviews the integrity of the particular knowledge item; and

modify the information of the particular knowledge item based upon the results of the review session.

10. A method for performing a business process on a computer, comprising:

storing a plurality of knowledge modules wherein each knowledge module comprises a business process, the business process comprising a plurality of subprocesses;

storing a knowledge item generated by a first knowledge worker, wherein the knowledge item is indexed in the memory according to the results of a first query session and the first query session comprises a plurality of questions presented to the first knowledge worker and a plurality of answers provided by the first knowledge worker in response to the plurality of questions;

retrieving the knowledge item generated by the first knowledge worker based upon the results of a second query session with a second knowledge worker, wherein the second query session comprises a plurality of questions presented to the second knowledge worker and a plurality of answers provided by the second knowledge worker in response to the plurality of questions; and

initiating a graphical user interface comprising a plurality of displays, wherein each display corresponds to a subprocess of a selected knowledge module and at least one display is operated by the second knowledge worker to perform a portion of the process using the retrieved knowledge item.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the selected knowledge module comprises one of a sourcing-strategy module, a cost-savings module, a resource-planning module, a product-development module, or an account-management module.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of subprocesses is arranged according to a business model.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the subprocesses comprise a first subprocess and a second subprocess, and the step of initiating comprises initiating a graphical user interface having a first display corresponding to the first subprocess aid a second display corresponding to the second subprocess.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

storing a plurality of knowledge items; and

retrieving a plurality of knowledge items based upon the results of the second query session, wherein each knowledge item comprises information used by the second knowledge worker to perform a portion of the business process.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining a plurality of parameters associated with the business process;

assigning a weighting factor to each parameter;

determining a prioritization of the parameters for each knowledge item based upon the input of the second knowledge worker; and

determining a value index for each knowledge item based upon the weighting factor of each parameter and the prioritization of the parameters.

16. The method of claim 10, farther comprising storing a plurality of documents, each document associated with a particular knowledge module and including information about a query session associated with the particular knowledge module.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

storing a plurality of software applications; and

executing selected software applications to perform a portion of the business process.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

storing a knowledge item generated by a knowledge worker indexed by information associated with the knowledge item;

performing a review session with a system administrator wherein the system administrator reviews the integrity of the knowledge item; and

modifying the information of the knowledge item based upon the results of the review session.

19. A knowledge module performed by a knowledge worker operating a computer, the knowledge module comprising:

a business process comprising a plurality of subprocesses;

a first subprocess associated with the business process and operable to perform a query session with the knowledge worker, wherein the query session comprises a plurality of questions presented to the knowledge worker and a plurality of answers provided by the knowledge worker in response to the plurality of questions;

a second subprocess associated with the business process and operable to retrieve a plurality of knowledge items from a memory based upon the results of the query session, wherein each retrieved knowledge item comprises information used by the knowledge worker to perform a portion of the business process;

a third subprocess associated with the business process and operable to perform a second query session; and

a fourth subprocess associated with the business process and operable to store a particular knowledge item in the memory based upon the results of the second query session, the particular knowledge item comprising information generated by the knowledge worker to perform a portion of the business process.

20. The knowledge module of claim 19, wherein the business process comprises one of a sourcing-strategy process, a cost-savings process, a resource-planning process, a product-development process, or an account-management process.

21. The knowledge module of claim 19, further comprising a third subprocess associated with the business process and operable to:

determine a plurality of parameter associated with the business process;

assign a weighting factor to each parameter;

determine a prioritization of the parameters for each knowledge item based upon input of the, knowledge worker; and

determine a value index for each knowledge item based upon the weighting factor of each parameter and the prioritization of the parameters.

22. The knowledge module of claim 21, further comprising a fourth subprocess associated with the business process and operable to:

receive input from the knowledge worker selecting a knowledge item based upon the determined value index; and

select a plurality of software applications in response to the selected knowledge item, wherein the software applications are operated by the knowledge worker to perform a portion of the business process.

23. The knowledge module of claim 19, wherein the knowledge worker comprises a first knowledge worker and further comprising a third subprocess associated with the business process, the third subprocess operable to retrieve a plurality of documents from the memory based upon the results of the query session, wherein each document is associated with the knowledge module and comprises information about a query session performed by a second knowledge worker.