System and method for optimizing project subdivision using data and requirements focuses subject to multidimensional constraints

• US 7,584,160 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2006
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kraemer, James R., Friedlander, Robert R., Khan, Anwer Mujahid, Hennessy, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vincent; David R
• Assistant Examiner(s): OLUDE AFOLABI, OLATOYOSI
• Application Number:
  US11/553,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20080114779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 706/45
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for creating optimized sub-projects for a project. Boundary conditions, input regarding output objects, and input regarding “as-is” data sources are received. The output objects are decomposed into data objects and logical processes used to create the output objects. Value clusters are determined. The data objects are organized into “to be” data structures and the “to be” which are mapped to the “as-is” data sources. Additional processes are determined for moving data from a source to a target. An affinity matrix is created based on the value clusters. Finally, an optimization operation is executed with an optimization engine to produce the optimized sub-projects. The optimization engine takes as inputs the above information.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for creating an optimally integrated information technology project for an organization, the computer-implemented method comprising:

defining a solution model for an information technology project, wherein defining the solution model further comprises;

receiving a first set of input regarding output objects, wherein the output objects are a set of outputs the information technology project is designed to deliver;

receiving a second set of input regarding existing data sources;

decomposing the output objects into output data objects and process data objects, wherein a processor decomposes the output objects into the data output objects and the process data objects;

organizing the data output objects into future data structures;

determining value clusters, wherein value clusters are comprised of data value clusters and process value clusters, wherein the data value clusters are comprised of matrices, wherein the matrices associate a set of values with a set of data sources based on a relationship between the data sources and the data output objects;

creating an affinity matrix, wherein the affinity matrix is based on the data value clusters and the process value clusters, and wherein the affinity matrix is comprised of a set of rows and a set of columns, wherein the set of rows comprise a set of sub-projects, and wherein the set of columns are associated with the set of data sources, and wherein each cell in the affinity matrix comprises a number indicating whether a corresponding sub-project on a row accesses a data source among the set of data sources;

mapping the future data structures to the existing data resources;

producing the solution model for inputting into an optimization engine;

receiving boundary conditions, wherein the boundary conditions are comprised of resource data, constraint data, and political concern data;

determining transformation issues, wherein transformation issues comprise additional constraints for getting data from a source to a target through defined transformations;

executing an optimization operation, wherein executing the optimization operation further comprises;

inputting the solution model, the resource data, the constraint data, the political concern data, and the transformation issues into the optimization engine, wherein the optimization engine comprises a commercially available software program located on the processor, wherein the commercially available software program provides a set of results that mathematically define the optimized project as a set of data structures comprised of optimized sub-projects;

receiving a set of adjustments for the optimized project produced from the optimization engine;

repeating optimization and receiving the optimized project until feedback is no longer required on the set of results; and

storing the optimized project in a storage device located on the processor.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the information technology system project comprises one of a set of data processing systems, applications, the data, reports, flows, algorithms, databases, and other infrastructure used to maintain the data and operations of the organization.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

selecting the of optimized sub-projects into a plan for creating an optimal project definition.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein resource data reflects resources available for the optimal project.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the process data objects describe processes used to create the data output objects.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the affinity matrix indicates a relationship between groups of the set of data sources and groups of the output objects, and indicates the relationship between groups of available logical processes and groups of the output objects.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the set of adjustments for the optimized project produced from the optimization engine further comprises:

adjusting one of the boundary conditions, the output objects, the existing data sources, the data output objects, the logical processes used to create the output objects, the value clusters, the future data structures, the mapping of the future data structures to the existing data sources, the additional processes for moving data from the source to the target, the affinity matrix, and combinations thereof to form adjusted input; and

re-executing the optimization operation, wherein the optimization engine takes as input the adjusted input.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the output objects comprise one of screens, reports, queries, applications, deliverables, an interactive graphical user interface, and combinations thereof.

9. A computer program product stored on a recordable-type computer readable medium for creating an optimally integrated information technology project for an organization, the computer program product comprising:

computer useable program code for defining a solution model for an information technology project, wherein defining the solution model further comprises;

computer useable program code for receiving a first set of input regarding output objects, wherein the output objects are a set of outputs the information technology project is designed to deliver;

computer useable program code for receiving a second set of input regarding existing data sources;

computer useable program code for decomposing the output objects into output data objects and process data objects, wherein a processor decomposes the output objects into the data output objects and the process data objects;

computer useable program code for organizing the data output objects into future data structures;

computer useable program code for determining value clusters, wherein value clusters are comprised of data value clusters and process value clusters, wherein the data value clusters are comprised of matrices, wherein the matrices associate a set of values with a set of data sources based on a relationship between the data sources and the data output objects;

computer useable program code for creating an affinity matrix, wherein the affinity matrix is based on the data value clusters and the process value clusters, and wherein the affinity matrix is comprised of a set of rows and a set of columns, wherein the set of rows comprise a set of sub-projects, and wherein the set of columns are associated with the set of data sources, and wherein each cell in the affinity matrix comprises a number indicating whether a corresponding sub-project on a row accesses a data source among the set of data sources;

computer useable program code for mapping the future data structures to the existing data resources; and

computer useable program code for producing the solution model for inputting into an optimization engine;

computer useable program code for receiving boundary conditions, wherein the boundary conditions are comprised of resource data, constraint data, and political concern data;

computer useable program code for determining transformation issues, wherein transformation issues comprise additional constraints for getting data from a source to a target through defined transformations;

computer useable program code for executing an optimization operation, wherein executing the optimization operation further comprises;

computer useable program code for inputting the solution model, the resource data, the constraint data, the political concern data, and the transformation issues into the optimization engine, wherein the optimization engine comprises a commercially available software program located on the processor, wherein the commercially available software program provides a set of results that mathematically define the optimized project as a set of data structures comprised of optimized sub-projects;

computer useable program code for receiving a set of adjustments for the optimized project produced from the optimization engine;

computer useable program code for repeating optimization and receiving the optimized project until feedback is no longer required on the optimized project; and

computer useable program code for storing the optimized project in a storage device located on the processor.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the information technology system project comprises one of a set of data processing systems, applications, reports, flows, algorithms, databases, and other infrastructure used to maintain the set of data and operations of the organization.

11. The computer program product of claim 9 further comprising the step of:

computer usable program code for selecting the set of optimized sub-projects into a plan for creating an optimal project definition.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the process data objects describe processes used to create the data output objects.

13. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the affinity matrix indicates the relationship between groups of the set of data sources and groups of the output objects, and indicates the relationship between groups of available logical processes and groups of the output objects.

14. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein receiving the set of adjustments for the optimized project produced from the optimization engine further comprises:

adjusting one of the boundary conditions, the output objects, the existing data sources, the data output objects, the logical processes used to create the output objects, the value clusters, the future data structures, the mapping of the future data structures to the existing data sources, the additional processes for moving data from the source to the target, the affinity matrix, and combinations thereof to form adjusted input; and

re-executing the optimization operation, wherein the optimization engine takes as input the adjusted input.

15. A data processing system comprising:

a processor;

a bus connected to the processor;

a computer usable medium connected to the bus, wherein the computer usable medium contains a set of instructions for creating an optimally integrated information technology project for an organization, wherein the processor is adapted to carry out the set of instructions;

to define a solution model for an information technology project, wherein defining the solution model further comprises;

to receive a first set of input regarding output objects, wherein the output objects are a set of outputs the information technology project is designed to deliver;

to receive a second set of input regarding existing data sources;

to decompose the output objects into output data objects and process data objects, wherein a processor decomposes the output objects into the data output objects and the process data objects;

to organize the data output objects into future data structures;

to determine value clusters, wherein value clusters are comprised of data value clusters and process value clusters, wherein the data value clusters are comprised of matrices, wherein the matrices associate a set of values with a set of data sources based on a relationship between the data sources and the data output objects;

to create an affinity matrix, wherein the affinity matrix is based on the data value clusters and the process value clusters, and wherein the affinity matrix is comprised of a set of rows and a set of columns, wherein the set of rows comprise a set of sub-projects, and wherein the set of columns are associated with the set of data sources, and wherein each cell in the affinity matrix comprises a number indicating whether a corresponding sub-project on a row accesses a data source among the set of data sources;

to map the future data structures to the existing data resources; and

to produce the solution model for inputting into an optimization engine;

to receive boundary conditions, wherein the boundary conditions are comprised of resource data, constraint data, and political concern data;

to determine transformation issues, wherein transformation issues comprise additional constraints for getting data from a source to a target through defined transformations;

to execute an optimization operation, wherein executing the optimization operation further comprises the set of instructions;

to input the solution model, the resource data, the constraint data, the political concern data, and the transformation issues into the optimization engine, wherein the optimization engine comprises a commercially available software program located on the processor, wherein the commercially available software program provides a set of results that mathematically define the optimized project as a set of data structures comprised of optimized sub-projects;

to receive a set of adjustments for the optimized project produced from the optimization engine;

to repeat optimization and receiving the optimized project until feedback is no longer required on the optimized project; and

storing the optimized project on a storage device located on the processor.

16. The data processing system of claim 15 wherein the information technology system project is one of a set of data processing systems, applications, reports, flows, algorithms, databases, and other infrastructure used to maintain the data and operations of the organization.

17. The data processing system of claim 15 wherein the processor is further adapted to carry out the set of instructions to:

select the set of optimized sub-projects into a plan for creating an optimal project definition.

18. The data processing system of claim 15 wherein the resource data reflects resources available for the optimal project.

19. The data processing system of claim 15 wherein the affinity matrix indicates a relationship between groups of the set of data sources and groups of the output objects, and indicates the relationship between groups of available logical processes and the groups of the output objects.

20. The data processing system of claim 15 wherein the processor is further adapted to carry out the set of instructions to:

adjust one of the boundary conditions, the output objects, the existing data sources, the data output objects, the logical processes used to create the output objects, the value clusters, the future data structures, the mapping of the future data structures to the existing data sources, the additional processes for moving data from the source to the target, the affinity matrix, and combinations thereof to form adjusted input; and

re-execute the optimization operation, wherein the optimization engine takes as input the adjusted input.