Methods, systems, and computer program products for financial analysis and data gathering

• US 7,974,896 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Wittmann, Barbara, Farrenkopf, Eckhard, Busse, Daniela K.
• Primary Examiner(s): MILEF, ELDA G
• Application Number:
  US11/486,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20080015919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06395 Quality analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer readable media are provided for controlling operations of an enterprise. In one exemplary embodiment, a method is provided that includes creating an alert model that may be parameterized by a user to monitor the behavior of one or more operational drivers. The method may also include monitoring the behavior of the one or more operational drivers based on the alert model and sending an alert message when the behavior of the one or more operational driver causes a deviation from a preset standard. The method may further include analyzing the alert message to determine one or more behaviors contributing to the alert and communicating the alert message to others in order to collaborate on correcting the deviation from the preset standard. Moreover, the method may include generating a report summary regarding the alert.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for controlling operations of an enterprise, the method comprising:

creating an alert model comprising;

receiving a user selection of a data variable that affects the financial results of the enterprise;

receiving a user selection of a parameter used for calculating a projected value of the data variable;

receiving a user selection of a threshold of a deviation between the projected value and a planned value of the data variable;

receiving a user selection of a subset of data related to the deviation between the projected value and the planned value;

calculating, using a processor, the deviation between the projected value and the planned value;

sending, using a processor, an alert message when the calculated deviation exceeds the threshold;

generating and storing, using a processor, alert-related data after the user first responds to the alert message, the alert-related data comprising the selected data variable, the selected parameter, the alert message, and the user-selected subset of data;

receiving, from the user, a request for the stored alert-related data;

storing, using the processor, the steps to correct the deviation in the alert-related data; and

generating a report summary regarding the alert message and the steps to correct the deviation.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the alert model is stored as a query in a data warehouse.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the deviation is based on the plan revenue of the enterprise.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the threshold of the deviation is a measured deviation between projected data and plan data.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the alert model comprises a projected trend of the behavior of the data variable.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the projected trend comprises historical behavior of the data variable.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein sending the alert message comprises:

creating a virtual work room that allows the sharing of project-related tools, services, and information from a single point of access.

8. A computer-readable storage medium including program instructions for performing, when executed by a processor, a method for controlling operations of an enterprise, comprising:

creating an alert model comprising;

receiving a user selection of a data variable that affects the financial results of the enterprise;

receiving a user selection of a parameter used for calculating a projected value of the data variable;

receiving a user selection of a threshold of a deviation between the projected value and a planned value of the data variable;

receiving a user selection of a subset of data related to the deviation between the projected value and the planned value;

calculating the deviation between the projected value and the planned value;

sending an alert message when the calculated deviation exceeds the threshold;

generating and storing, using a processor, alert-related data after the user first responds to the alert message, the alert-related data comprising the selected data variable, the selected parameter, the alert message, and the user-selected subset of data;

receiving a request for the stored alert-related data;

storing, using the processor, the steps to correct the deviation in the alert-related data; and

generating a report summary regarding the alert message and the steps to correct the deviation.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the alert model is stored as a query in a data warehouse.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the deviation is based on the plan revenue of the enterprise.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the threshold of the deviation is a measured deviation between projected data and plan data.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the alert model comprises a projected trend of the behavior of the data variable.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the projected trend comprises historical behavior of the data variable.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein sending the alert message comprises:

creating a virtual work room that allows the sharing of project-related tools, services, and information from a single point of access.