Methods and systems for portfolio planning

• US 7,664,664 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2003
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Schofield, Alison, King, Nigel
• Primary Examiner(s): Sterrett; Jonathan G
• Application Number:
  US10/422,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20040230468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,491 Days
• Field of Search: 705 7- 9
• US Class Current: 705/7.28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0635 Risk analysis of enterprise or organisation activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis

Abstract

Computer implemented methods provide a unified framework for the creation, evaluation and selection of requests for funding, of proposed projects and of proposed products within an enterprise. Processes enable the systematic gathering of assumptions that form the basis for generating proposals and project or product scenarios based upon changes in the assumptions. The generated scenarios may be evaluated against predefined criteria and predefined strategic objectives for the enterprise.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of approving or disapproving a request for funding of a proposal within an enterprise over a computer network, the proposal including a plurality of characteristics, the method comprising:

launching over the computer network, via a first Web-based interface displayed on a computer, a business process for the request for funding of the proposal; and

displaying, via a second Web-based interface displayed on a computer, information indicative of approval or disapproval of the request for funding of the proposal;

wherein the business process includes;

generating, at least one computer in a set of one or more computers, one or more Web-based setup interfaces that enable users to specify a set of assumptions required to complete the request for funding and a set of assumptions required to complete the proposal,

receiving, at least one computer in a set of one or more computers, information specified by one or more users via the one or more Web-based setup interfaces displayed on one or more computers indicative of the set of assumptions required to complete the request for funding,

receiving, at least one computer in a set of one or more computers, information specified by one or more users via the one or more Web-based setup interfaces displayed on one or more computers indicative of the set of assumptions required to complete the proposal,

insuring, at least one computer in a set of one or more computers, that all assumptions required to complete the request for funding are stated, and

insuring, at least one computer in the set of one or more computers, that all assumptions required to complete the proposal are stated;

wherein the business process, when all assumptions are stated, further includes;

selecting at least one computer in the set of one or more computers, based upon user input, one of a plurality of balanced scorecards generated using one or more balanced scorecard techniques that assign weights to strategic criteria associated with a balanced scorecard dependent of how well a given proposal satisfies the strategic criteria of the balanced scorecard, each of the plurality of balanced scorecards defining;

a plurality of strategic criteria associated with the balanced scorecard, and

a weighting value for each one of the plurality of strategic criteria associated with the balanced scorecard against which to evaluate the given proposal;

creating at least one computer in the set of one or more computers, based upon user input, a plurality of different scenarios for the proposal, each of the plurality of different scenarios setting a different value for at least one of the plurality of characteristics;

forwarding over the computer network, using at least one computer in the set of one or more computers, information configured to generate a user interface enabling users to evaluate each of the plurality of different scenarios against the selected balanced scorecard;

selecting at least one computer in the set of one or more computers, based upon user input received via the user interface enabling users to evaluate each of the plurality of different scenarios against the selected balanced scorecard, one of the plurality of different scenarios according to information received at the at least one computer in the set of computer system in response to the evaluation thereof against the selected balanced scorecard;

configuring at least one computer in the set of one or more computers the proposal according to the selected one of the plurality of different scenarios;

forwarding over the computer network, using at least one computer in the set of one or more computers, a request for funding of the configured proposal to a financial approver for the enterprise;

forwarding over the computer network, using at least one computer in the set of one or more computers, information to the financial approver for the enterprise requesting approval of the requested funding from the financial approver;

forwarding over the computer network, using at least one computer in the set of one or more computers, the configured proposal to a technological approver for the enterprise;

forwarding over the computer network, using at least one computer in the set of one or more computers, information to the technological approver requesting technological approval of the configured proposal from the technological approver;

forwarding over the computer network, using at least one computer in the set of one or more computers, the configured proposal to a marketing approver for the enterprise;

forwarding over the computer network, using at least one computer in the set of one or more computers, information requesting marketing approval of the configured proposal from the marketing approver;

generating information at least one computer in the set of one or more computers disapproving the request for funding if requesting approval from any of the approvers is unsuccessful; and

generating information approving the request for funding if requesting approval from each of the approvers is successful.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein forwarding over the computer network, using the at least one computer in the set of one or more computers, information to the financial approver for the enterprise requesting approval of the requested funding from the financial approver includes at least one of:

forwarding over the computer network, using at least one computer in the set of one or more computers, information requesting a determination of a risk of the requested funding;

forwarding over the computer network, using at least one computer in the set of one or more computers, information requesting a determination of a potential profitability of the proposal; and

forwarding over the computer network, using at least one computer in the set of one or more computers, information requesting a determination of an availability of funds for the proposal.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the business process further includes:

accepting an approval of the request for funding from the financial approver at at least one computer in the set of one or more computers;

wherein the approval of the request for funding from the financial approver is accepted when information is received at the at least one computer system indicating that the risk and the potential profitability are determined by the financial approver to be acceptable, and when information is received at the at least one computer system indicating that the funds are determined by the financial approver to be available for the proposal.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein forwarding over the computer network, using the at least one computer in the set of one or more computers, information to the technological approver requesting technological approval of the configured proposal from the technological approver includes at least one of:

forwarding over the computer network, using at least one computer in the set of one or more computers, information requesting a determination of technological risks of the proposal, and forwarding over the computer network, using at least one computer in the set of one or more computers, information requesting a determination of a strategic fit of a technology of the proposal to a technological strategy of the enterprise.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the business process further includes:

accepting an approval of the configured proposal from the technological approver at at least one computer in the set of one or more computers;

wherein the approval of the configured proposal from the technological approver is accepted when information is received at the at least one computer in the set of one or more computers indicating that the technological risks are determined by the technological approver to be acceptable, and when information is received at the at least one computer in the set of one or more computers indicating that the configured proposal is determined by the technological approver to fit within the technological strategy of the enterprise.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein forwarding over the computer network, using the at least one computer in the set of one or more computers, information to the marketing approver requesting marketing approval of the configured proposal from the marketing approver includes at least one of:

forwarding over the computer network, using at least one computer in the set of one or more computers, information requesting a determination of a market risk of the proposal; and

forwarding over the computer network, using at least one computer in the set of one or more computers, information requesting a determination of the portfolio fit of the proposal within a predetermined or new portfolio of the enterprise.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the business process further including:

accepting an approval of the configured proposal from the marketing approver at at least one computer in the set of one or more computers;

wherein the approval of the configured proposal from the marketing approver is accepted when information is received at the at least one computer in the set of one or more computers indicating that the market risk is determined by the marketing approver to be acceptable, and information is received at the at least one computer in the set of one or more computers indicating that the configured proposal is determined by the marketing approver to fit within the predetermined or new portfolio.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the proposal includes a project proposal.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the proposal includes a product proposal.

10. A computer system for obtaining an approval or a disapproval of a request for funding of a proposal within an enterprise, the proposal including a plurality of characteristics, the computer system comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one data storage device;

a plurality of processes spawned by said at least one processor, the processes including processing logic for;

launching a business process for the request for funding of the proposal; and

generating information indicative of the approval or disapproval of the request for funding of the proposal;

wherein the business process includes;

generating one or more Web-based setup interfaces that enable users to specify a set of assumptions required to complete the request for funding and a set of assumptions required to complete the proposal,

receiving information specified by one or more users via the one or more Web-based setup interfaces indicative of the set of assumptions required to complete the request for funding,

receiving information specified by one or more users via the one or more Web-based setup interfaces indicative of the set of assumptions required to complete the proposal,

insuring that all assumptions required to complete the request for funding are stated, and

insuring that all assumptions required to complete the proposal are stated;

wherein the business process, when all assumptions are stated, further includes;

selecting, based upon user input, one of a plurality of balanced scorecards generated using one or more balanced scorecard techniques that assign weights to strategic criteria associated with a balanced scorecard dependent of how well a given proposal satisfies the strategic criteria of the balanced scorecard, each of the plurality of balanced scorecards defining;

a plurality of strategic criteria against associated with the balanced scorecard, and

a weighting value for each of the plurality of strategic criteria associated with the balanced scorecard against which to evaluate the given proposal;

creating, based upon user input, a plurality of different scenarios for the proposal, each of the plurality of different scenarios setting a different value for at least one of the plurality of characteristics;

forwarding information configured to generate a user interface enabling users to evaluate each of the plurality of different scenarios against the selected balanced scorecard;

selecting, based upon user input received via the user interface enabling users to evaluate each of the plurality of different scenarios against the selected balanced scorecard, one of the plurality of different scenarios according to information received in response to the evaluation thereof against the selected balanced scorecard;

configuring the proposal according to the selected one of the plurality of different scenarios;

forwarding a request for funding of the configured proposal to a financial approver for the enterprise;

forwarding information to the financial approver for the enterprise requesting approval of the requested funding from the financial approver;

forwarding the configured proposal to a technological approver for the enterprise;

forwarding information to the technological approver requesting technological approval of the configured proposal from the technological approver;

forwarding the configured proposal to a marketing approver for the enterprise;

forwarding information to the marketing approver requesting marketing approval of the configured proposal from the marketing approver;

generating information disapproving the request for funding if requesting approval from any of the approvers is unsuccessful; and

generating information approving the request for funding if requesting approval from each of the approvers is successful.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein forwarding information to the financial approver for the enterprise requesting approval of the requested funding from the financial approver includes at least one of:

forwarding information to the financial approver requesting a determination of a risk of the requested funding;

forwarding information to the financial approver requesting a determination of a potential profitability of the proposal; and

forwarding information to the financial approver requesting a determination of an availability of funds for the proposal.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the business process further includes:

accepting an approval of the request for funding from the financial approver;

wherein the approval of the request for funding from the financial approver is accepted when information is received indicating that the risk and the potential profitability are determined by the financial approver to be acceptable, and when information is received indicating that the funds are determined to be available for the proposal.

13. The computer system of claim 10, wherein forwarding information to the technological approver requesting technological approval of the configured proposal from the technological approver includes at least one of:

forwarding information to the technological approver requesting a determination of technological risks of the proposal; and

forwarding information to the technological approver requesting a determination of a strategic fit of a technology of the proposal to a technological strategy of the enterprise.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the business process further includes:

accepting an approval of the configured proposal from the technological approver;

wherein the approval of the configured proposal from the technological approver is accepted when information is received indicating that the technological risks are determined by the technological approver to be acceptable, and when information is received indicating that the configured proposal is determined by the technological approver to fit within the technological strategy of the enterprise.

15. The computer system of claim 10, wherein forwarding information to the marketing approver requesting marketing approval of the configured proposal from the marketing approver includes at least one of:

forwarding information to the marketing approver requesting a determination of a market risk of the proposal; and

forwarding information to the marketing approver requesting a determination of the portfolio fit of the proposal within a predetermined or new portfolio of the enterprise.

16. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the business process further includes:

accepting an approval of the configured proposal from the marketing approver;

wherein the approval of the configured proposal from the marketing approver is accepted when information is received indicating that the market risk is determined by the marketing approver to be acceptable, and information is received indicating that the configured proposal is determined by the marketing approver to fit within the predetermined or new portfolio.

17. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the proposal includes a project proposal.

18. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the proposal includes a product proposal.

19. A machine-readable storage medium having data stored thereon representing sequences of instructions which, when executed by a computing device, causes said computing device to obtain an approval or a disapproval of a request for funding of a proposal within an enterprise, the proposal including a plurality of characteristics, the machine-readable storage medium comprising:

instructions for spawning a plurality of processes by said computing device, the processes including processing logic for;

launching a business process for the request for funding of the proposal; and

generating information indicative of the approval or disapproval of the request for funding of the proposal;

wherein the business process includes;

generating one or more Web-based setup interfaces that enable users to specify a set of assumptions required to complete the request for funding and a set of assumptions required to complete the proposal,

receiving information specified by one or more users via the one or more Web-based setup interfaces displayed on one or more computers indicative of the set of assumptions required to complete the request for funding,

receiving information specified by one or more users via the one or more Web-based setup interfaces displayed on one or more computers indicative of the set of assumptions required to complete the proposal,

insuring that all assumptions required to complete time request for funding are stated, and

insuring that all assumptions required to complete the proposal are stated;

wherein the business process, when all assumptions are stated, further includes;

selecting, based upon user input, one of a plurality of balanced scorecards generated using one or more balanced scorecard techniques that assign weights to strategic criteria associated with a balanced scorecard dependent of how well a given proposal satisfies the strategic criteria of the balanced scorecard, each of the plurality of balanced scorecards defining;

a plurality of strategic criteria against associated with the balanced scorecard, and

a weighting value for each of the plurality of strategic criteria associated with the balanced scorecard against which to evaluate the given proposal;

creating, based upon user input, a plurality of different scenarios for the proposal, each of the plurality of different scenarios setting a different value for at least one of the plurality of characteristics;

forwarding information configured to generate a user interface enabling users to evaluate each of the plurality of different scenarios against the selected balanced scorecard;

selecting, based upon user input received via the user interface enabling users to evaluate each of the plurality of different scenarios against the selected balanced scorecard, one of the plurality of different scenarios according to information received in response to the evaluation thereof against the selected balanced scorecard;

configuring the proposal according to the selected one of the plurality of different scenarios;

forwarding a request for funding of the configured proposal to a financial approver for the enterprise;

forwarding information to the financial approver for the enterprise requesting approval of the requested funding from the financial approver;

forwarding the configured proposal to a technological approver for the enterprise;

forwarding information to the technological approver requesting technological approval of the configured proposal from the technological approver;

forwarding the configured proposal to a marketing approver for the enterprise;

forwarding information to the marketing approver requesting marketing approval of the configured proposal from the marketing approver;

generating information disapproving the request for funding if requesting approval from any of the approvers is unsuccessful; and

generating information approving the request for funding if requesting approval from each of the approvers is successful.

20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein forwarding information to the financial approver for the enterprise requesting approval of the requested funding from the financial approver includes at least one of:

forwarding information to the financial approver requesting a determination of a risk of the requested funding;

forwarding information to the financial approver requesting a determination of a potential profitability of the proposal; and

forwarding information to the financial approver requesting a determination of an availability of funds for the proposal.

21. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the business process further includes:

accepting an approval of the request for funding from the financial approver;

wherein the approval of the request for funding from the financial approver is accepted when information is received indicating that the risk and the potential profitability are determined by the financial approver to be acceptable, and when information is received indicating that the funds are determined to be available for the proposal.

22. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein forwarding information to the technological approver requesting technological approval of the configured proposal from the technological approver includes at least one of:

forwarding information to the technological approver requesting a determination of technological risks of the proposal; and

forwarding information to the technological approver requesting a determination of a strategic fit of a technology of the proposal to a technological strategy of the enterprise.

23. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the business process further includes:

accepting an approval of the configured proposal from the technological approver;

wherein the approval of the configured proposal from the technological approver is accepted when information is received indicating that the technological risks are determined by the technological approver to be acceptable, and when information is received indicating that the configured proposal is determined by the technological approver to fit within the technological strategy of the enterprise.

24. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein forwarding information to the marketing approver requesting marketing approval of the configured proposal from the marketing approver includes at least one of:

forwarding information to the marketing approver requesting a determination of a market risk of the proposal; and

forwarding information to the marketing approver requesting a determination of the portfolio fit of the proposal within a predetermined or new portfolio of the enterprise.

25. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the business process further includes:

accepting an approval of the configured proposal from the marketing approver;

wherein the approval of the configured proposal from the marketing approver is accepted when information is received indicating that the market risk is determined by the marketing approver to be acceptable, and information is received indicating that the configured proposal is determined by the marketing approver to fit within the predetermined or new portfolio.

26. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the proposal includes a project proposal.

27. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the proposal includes a product proposal.