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Project planning system and method for accommodating AD HOC requests within a fixed core development cycle

  • US 7,139,720 B1
  • Filed: 11/14/2000
  • Issued: 11/21/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for managing the planning and performance of multiple software projects, the multiple software projects comprising one or more projects that are identified as a mandatory type, one or more projects that are identified as nonmandatory type, and one or more projects of an ad hoc type that arise intermittently and are subject to change, the method comprising:

  • using a processing system for managing the planning and performance of multiple software projects, the processing system performing the following steps;

    calculating a number of working hours available for performance of the multiple software projects;

    estimating the time required for completion of each project;

    based on said time estimates, allocating a first amount of time for performance of said mandatory projects, allocating a second amount of time for performance of said ad hoc projects, and allocating a third amount of time to be held in reserve, wherein the sum of the first, second, and third amounts of time is less than or equal to said available hours, and the third amount of time is less than a preselected threshold value;

    assigning tasks associated with the projects for performance;

    periodically inputting an actual time spent in performing the projects and a current status of each project;

    based on the actual time spent and current status for each project, re-estimating the time required for completing each project;

    for each mandatory type project, determining if there exists a negative or positive time imbalance between the allocated time for completion and the re-estimated time for completion;

    if there exists a negative time imbalance, reallocating time held in reserve to one or more mandatory type projects to eliminate the time imbalance;

    if there exists a positive time imbalance, performing one or more of the following operations to eliminate the positive time imbalance;

    re-identifying one or more nonmandatory projects as mandatory;

    reallocating time from one or more mandatory type projects to time held in reserve;

    reallocating time from one or more mandatory type projects to one or more ad hoc projects; and

    reallocating time from one or more mandatory type projects to establish an earlier estimated completion date for one or more projects;

    for each ad hoc type project, determining if there exists a negative or positive time imbalance between the allocated time for completion and the re-estimated time for completion;

    if there exists a negative time imbalance, reallocating time held in reserve to one or more ad hoc projects to eliminate the time imbalance;

    if there exists a positive time imbalance, performing one or more of the following operations to eliminate the positive time imbalance;

    reallocating time from one or more ad hoc projects to one time held in reserve;

    reallocating time from one or more ad hoc projects to one or more mandatory type projects;

    reallocating time from one or more ad hoc projects to one or more nonmandatory projects and re-identifying the one or more nonmandatory projects as mandatory; and

    reallocating the time from one or more ad hoc projects to establish an earlier estimated completion date for one or more projects.

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