Method and estimator for providing capacacity modeling and planning

• US 6,738,736 B1
• Filed: 10/06/2000
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture LLP (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Bond, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US09/684,154
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 703/2, 709/226, 709/102, 709/104, 709/FOR.163, 700/100, 700/106, 702/182
• US Class Current: 703/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method for providing an estimate for building a capacity modeling and planning function in an information technology organization includes conducting the tasks involved in building the capacity modeling and planning function. The tasks include the planning, analyzing, designing, building, testing, and deploying the capacity modeling and planning function. Each task includes process, organization, and technology infrastructure elements.

Claims

1. A method for providing an estimate for building a capacity modeling and planning function in an information technology organization, the method comprising:

obtaining a plurality of estimating factors;

determining a difficulty rating for each of said estimating factors;

generating a time allocation for building said capacity modeling and planning based on said estimating factor and said difficulty rating; and

generating a cost for building said capacity modeling and planning based on said time allocation.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein obtaining said estimating factor further includes receiving said estimating factors from a client.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said estimating factors include the number of at least one of business activities, business procedures, capacity modeling and planning roles, methods fitness, metrics servers, new team members, other training days, software components, and software selection.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said difficulty rating is selected from the group of simple, moderate, or complex.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said time allocation includes time allocated for a plurality of individual team members where said individual team members include at least one of partner, manager, consultant, and analyst.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said cost depends on said time allocation and a billing rate for said individual team member.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said cost is broken down for each of a plurality of stages for building said capacity modeling and planning where said stages include at least one of a plan and manage stage, a capability analysis stage a capability release design stage, a capability release build and test stages, and a deployment stage.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said time allocation is used to generate a project work plan.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said work plan is broken down for each of a plurality of stages for building said capacity modeling and planning where said stages are a plan and manage stage, a capability analysis stage, a capability release design stage, a capability release build and test stages, and a deployment stage.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein said plan and manage stage is broken down for each of a plurality of task packages where said task packages are plan project execution, organize project resources, control project work, and complete project.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said billing rate is used to generate a financial summary of said cost.

12. A computer system for allocating time and computing cost for building a capacity modeling and planning function in an information technology system, comprising:

a processor;

a software program for receiving a plurality of estimating factors and difficulty rating for each of said estimating factors and generating a time allocation and cost for building said capacity modeling and planning; and

a memory that stores said time allocation and cost under control of said processor.