System and model for performance value based collaborative relationships

• US 7,280,977 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2003
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Kulkarni, Devadatta M., Meerwarth, Tracy L., Briody, Elizabeth K., Catlin, Linda B., Sengir, Gu, Trotter, Robert T. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Van Doren; B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOFTIS, JOHNNA RONEE
• Application Number:
  US10/682,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20050080655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 703/6, 705/8, 705/7, 705/11, 705/14, 715/734
• US Class Current: 705/7.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

The present invention provides a model for assessing performance of a dynamic collaborative relationship. The present invention provides a method of modeling dynamic relationships by inputting data related to the collaborative relationship into a model, which comprises a plurality of components key to the collaborative relationship. Each of these components is interrelated with the model, and the model generates a value indicative of a condition or performance of the relationship. The relationship value can be analyzed by comparison with baseline values correlated to exemplary collaborative relationships. The present invention further provides methods of developing a model capable of assessing dynamic collaborative relationships.

Claims

1. A method of modeling a collaborative relationship comprising:

a) inputting data relative to the collaborative relationship into a computer model, wherein said data relates to joint work, communication, interaction, and social structure of the collaborative relationship;

b) analyzing said data with said model by using at least one method of analysis selected from the group consisting of statistical analysis, egocentric network analysis, sociometric analysis, network visualization analysis, and combinations thereof, wherein said model comprises components including level of joint work, level of communication, quality of interaction and connectivity of social structure of relationship, wherein said level of joint work comprises a joint work importance component and a joint work frequency component, said quality of interaction component comprises a cooperation component, a conflict component, and a trust component, and said model tracks interrelationships between said components, wherein said analyzing computes a weighted value for each of said respective components, and wherein said model generates an output value; and

c) determining a condition of the collaborative relationship that is related to said output value generated by said model.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said model tracks at least one of said components as a function of time.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said model tracks each of said components as a function of time.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said time relates to a stage of a life cycle of the collaborative relationship.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least some of said data includes a time identifier.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said level of communication component comprises a communication frequency component and a communication importance component.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said connectivity of social structure component comprises a first subgroup related to a structure of the collaborative relationship and a second subgroup of related to role dynamics of the collaborative relationship.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said first subgroup of components comprises a density component, a transitivity component, and a betweeness centrality component, and said second subgroup comprises a reach component and a fragmentation component.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said connectivity of social structure of relationship component comprises a density component, a transitivity component, a centrality component, a reach component, and a fragmentation component.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said components employs system dynamics.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said systems dynamics incorporates stocks, converters, and flows within said model to change said components with respect to time.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of said components is assigned a relative weighted value with respect to a total value for all of said components, wherein said total value relates to said output value.

13. The method according to claim 1, determining further comprises comparing said output value to a baseline value that is also generated by said model.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising validating an accuracy of said model by comparing said output value to an exemplary value representing an exemplary collaborative relationship generated by said model.

15. A method of modeling relationship dynamics of collaborative relationships, the method comprising:

a) inputting data relative to the collaborative relationship into a computer model, wherein said data relates to joint work, communication, interaction, and social structure of the collaborative relationship;

b) determining an output value of the collaborative relationship by analyzing said data with said model by using at least one method of analysis selected from the group consisting of statistical analysis, egocentric network analysis, sociometric analysis, network visualization analysis, and combinations thereof, wherein said model comprises components including level of joint work, level of communication, quality of interaction and connectivity of social structure of relationship, wherein said level of joint work comprises a joint work importance component and a joint work frequency component, said quality of interaction component comprises a cooperation component, a conflict component, and a trust component, and said model tracks interrelationships between said components and at least a portion of said components as a function of time, wherein said analyzing computes a weighted value for each of said respective components;

c) determining a condition of the collaborative relationship by comparing said output value to a baseline value generated by said model.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said model tracks each of said components as a function of time.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein said time relates to a stage of a life cycle of the collaborative relationship.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein at least some of said data includes a time identifier.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein said baseline value corresponds to a representative lifecycle stage.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein said level of communication component comprises a communication frequency component and a communication importance component.

21. The method according to claim 15, wherein said connectivity of social structure component comprises a first subgroup of components related to structure of the collaborative relationship and a second subgroup of components related to role dynamics of the collaborative relationship.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein said first subgroup of components comprises a density component, a transitivity component, and a centrality component, and said second subgroup comprises a reach component and a fragmentation component.

23. The method according to claim 15, wherein said connectivity of social structure component comprises a density component, a transitivity component, a centrality component, a reach component, and a fragmentation component.

24. The method according to claim 15, wherein at least one of said components employs system dynamics to account for said function of time.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein said systems dynamics incorporates stocks, converters, and flows within said model to change said components with respect to said time.

26. The method according to claim 15, wherein each of said components is assigned a relative weighted value with respect to a total value for all of said components, wherein said total value relates to said output value.

27. The method according to claim 15, further comprising validating an accuracy of said model by comparing said output value to an exemplary value representing an exemplary collaborative relationship generated by said model.