Method and software for identifying and creating connections and accountability in a business organization

• US 6,895,403 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2001
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James Cardwell, Karla P. Norwood Cardwell
• Original Assignee: James Cardwell, Karla P. Norwood Cardwell
• Inventors: Cardwell, James, Norwood Cardwell, Karla P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pardo, Thuy N.
• Application Number:
  US09/818,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20020055864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,512 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2, 707/6, 707/8, 707/10, 707/102, 707/104, 707/201, 707/204, 703/2, 705/12, 705/34, 718/101, 709/227, 709/229, 706/45, 379/265.05
• US Class Current: 707/758
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/944 Business related
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/959 Network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99938 Concurrency, e.g. lock management in shared database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A new and improved method for identifying and creating connections and accountability in a business organization is described herein. The inventive method allows individuals to view all the different levels of the organization so that they can be aware of how their task fits into the overall goal of the organization.

Claims

1. A computer-network-aided method for interconnecting multiple sections of an organization, the organization having multiple layers, the method comprising the steps of:

creating an electronic data table, the data table containing at least one objective of the organization, at least one goal of the organization, and priority levels for the at least one objective;

providing means for analyzing the at least one objective via a computer network;

providing means for organizing the at least one objective via the computer network;

creating at least one team project based on the at least one objective via the computer network;

connecting the at least one team project to the at least one objective, via the computer network, such that when the at least one objective is altered, the at least one team project is automatically updated to reflect the alteration to the at least one objective;

assigning at least one task based on the at least one team project;

connecting the at least one task to the at least one team project, via the computer network, such that when the at least one team project is altered, the at least one task is automatically updated to reflect the alteration to the at least one team project;

assigning priority levels to the at least one objective, the at least one team project, and the at least one task;

allowing an associated employee, with access to the data table, to access and edit, via the intranet, the at least one team project; and

,

providing means for comparing the at least one objective, the at least one team project, and the at least one task.

2. A computer-network-aided method for organizing a business entity, the method comprising the steps of:

creating a first informational database, the first informational database containing at least one business objective of the business entity;

creating a second informational database, the second informational database containing at least one project based on the at least one business objective;

allowing open access to and between the first and second informational databases, via a global computer network;

connecting the second informational database to the first informational database, via the global computer network, such that when the at least one objective is altered, the at least one project is automatically updated to reflect the alteration to the at least one objective;

editing at least one of the informational databases via the global computer network;

determining organizational priorities;

assigning a priority value to the at least one objective via the global computer network;

assigning a priority value to the at least one project via the global computer network;

creating a third informational database;

creating at least one task based on the at least one project;

allowing open access to and between the first, second, and third informational databases, via the global computer network; and

,

connecting the at least one task to the at least one project, via the global computer network, such that when the at least one project is altered, the at least one task is automatically updated, via the global computer network, to reflect the alteration to the at least one project.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

allowing limited access to the first and second informational databases, via the global computer network.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

allowing limited access between the first, second, and third informational databases.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

providing security measures, via the global computer network, for limiting access to the informational databases.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

editing at least one of the informational databases; and

,

updating at least one of the informational databases.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

developing critical measures associated with the first informational database;

developing evaluation criteria and deliverables for the second informational database; and

,

developing basic roles for the third informational database.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

accessing at least one of the informational databases from a remote location.

9. A computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method via a global computer network, the method comprising the steps of:

creating a first informational database on the global computer network, the first informational database containing at least one business objective of the business entity;

creating a second informational database on the global computer network, the second informational database containing at least one project based on the at least one business objective;

allowing open access to and between the first and second informational databases, via the global computer network;

connecting the second informational database to the first informational database, via the global computer network, such that when the at least one objective is altered, the at least one project is automatically updated to reflect the alteration to the at least one objective;

editing at least one of the informational databases, via the global computer network;

determining organizational priorities;

assigning a priority value to the at least one objective;

assigning a priority value to the at least one project;

creating a third informational database on the global computer network;

creating at least one task based on the at least one project;

allowing open access to and between the first, second, and third informational databases, via the global computer network; and

,

connecting the at least one task to the at least one project, via the global computer network, such that when the at least one project is altered, the at least one task is automatically updated to reflect the altercation to the at least one project.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

allowing limited access to the first and second informational databases.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

allowing limited access between the first, second, and third informational databases.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

providing security measures for limiting access to the informational databases.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

editing at least one of the informational databases; and

,

updating at least one of the informational databases.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

developing critical measures associated with the first informational database;

developing evaluation criteria and deliverables for the second informational database; and

,

developing basic roles for the third informational database.