Monitoring and integration of an organization's planning processes

• US 8,046,703 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Glatzel, Dina, Van Skyhawk, Ingrid, Busch, Carsten, Rothley, Martina, Holle, Andreas, Saager, Dirk, Finke, Sabine, Kneisel, Boris
• Primary Examiner(s): Hutton, Jr.; Doug
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dasgupta; Soumya
• Application Number:
  US11/364,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20070203775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,065 Days
• Field of Search: 715/764, 715/751
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A planning monitor and control system is provided for use with an enterprise computing system. The system generates a user interface planning visual display that includes a list view area containing a list of planning projects predefined to be included in a list of planning projects of interest to a user. At least one of the listed planning projects includes an electronically linked electronic planning document that is created and maintained in an application software program module of the enterprise computing system that is separate from the planning monitor and control system. Planning information is generated in the linked planning document as part of the listed planning project to which the planning document is associated. The planning visual display also includes a planning project details view area in which non-final content from the linked planning document is displayed for the associated planning project included in the list view.

Claims

1. A storage device for use with a planning monitor and control system, the planning monitor and control system for use with an enterprise computing system, the storage device comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising executable instructions that when executed by a processor-coupled to a display device result in;

a planning view on a display device, the planning view comprising;

a list view area containing a list of planning projects predefined to be included in a list of planning projects of interest to a user for whom the planning visual display is intended to be viewed, at least one of the listed planning projects including a first electronically linked electronic planning document that is created and maintained by a first application software program of the enterprise computing system that is separate from the planning monitor and control system, at least one other of the listed planning projects including a second electronically linked electronic planning document that includes a timeline and is created and maintained by a second application software program of the enterprise computing system that is different from the first application software program and separate from the planning monitor and control system, wherein planning information is generated in the first linked planning document as part of the listed planning project to which the planning document is associated, wherein planning information is generated in the second linked planning document as part of the listed planning project to which the second linked planning document is associated and wherein the list view area includes an indicator to warn of a missed or upcoming deadline for one of the listed planning projects; and

a planning project details view area in which non-final content from the first linked planning document is displayed for the associated planning project included in the list view;

wherein the planning view displays action areas that when selected initiate a planning computing process; and

wherein the planning computing process is a request process for making an electronically forwarded request for data relating to a listed planning project.

2. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the indicator warns of a missed deadline for the respective one of the planning projects.

3. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the indicator warns of an upcoming deadline for the respective one of the planning projects.

4. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the list view area includes a due date for one of the planning projects.

6. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the first application software program is an electronic spreadsheet application.

7. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the first application software program is a transactional application program module.

8. The storage device of claim 7, wherein the transactional application program is a customer relationship management software application.

9. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the planning view provides intermediate planning results prior to the availability of final planning results.

10. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the planning view includes information about planning projects being conducted in different business areas of the organization.

11. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the planning computing process relates to a planning project identified in the list view area.

12. The storage device of claim 11, wherein the planning computing process is an approval process for the planning project.

13. The storage device of claim 11, wherein the electronically forwarded request will be forwarded for action by a person having responsibilities related to the listed planning project for which the request process relates.

14. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the list view area contains expandable project listings for viewing planning sub-projects for a listed planning project.

15. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the list view area contains visual indicators that identify planning projects included in the list view that are the responsibility of a user for whom the planning view has been generated.

16. The storage device of claim 15, wherein the list display includes planning projects for which the user is not responsible but which are related to the listed planning projects for which the user is responsible.

17. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the indicator warns of a missed deadline for the respective one of the planning projects.

18. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the indicator warns of an upcoming deadline for the respective one of the planning projects.

19. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the list view area includes a plurality of indicators each to warn of a missed or upcoming deadline for a respective one of the planning projects.

20. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the list view area includes a due date for one of the planning projects.

21. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the list view area includes a plurality of due dates each associated with a respective one of the planning projects.

5. A storage device for use with a planning monitor and control system, the planning monitor and control system for use with an enterprise computing system, the storage device comprising:

a non-transitory tangible computer readable medium comprising executable instructions that when executed by a processor-coupled to a display device result in;

a planning view on the display device, the planning view comprising;

a list view area containing a list of planning projects predefined to be included in a list of planning projects of interest to a user for whom the planning visual display is intended to be viewed, at least one of the listed planning projects including a first electronically linked electronic planning document that is created and maintained by a first application software program of the enterprise computing system that is separate from the planning monitor and control system, at least one other of the listed planning projects including a second electronically linked electronic planning document that includes a timeline and is created and maintained by a second application software program of the enterprise computing system that is different from the first application software program and separate from the planning monitor and control system, wherein planning information is generated in the first linked planning document as part of the listed planning project to which the first linked planning document is associated, wherein planning information is generated in the second linked planning document as part of the listed planning project to which the second linked planning document is associated and wherein the list view area includes an indicator to warn of a missed or upcoming deadline for one of the listed planning projects; and

a planning project details view area in which non-final content from the first linked planning document is displayed for the associated planning project included in the list view;

wherein the planning view displays action areas that when selected initiate a planning computing process; and

wherein the planning computing process is a request process for making an electronically forwarded request for data relating to a listed planning project.

22. A planning monitor and control system for use with an enterprise computing system, the planning monitor and control system comprising:

a display device; and

a processor coupled to the display device and to execute instructions that result in a planning view on the display device, the planning view comprising;

a list view area containing a list of planning projects predefined to be included in a list of planning projects of interest to a user for whom the planning visual display is intended to be viewed, at least one of the listed planning projects including a first electronically linked electronic planning document that is created and maintained by a first application software program of the enterprise computing system that is separate from the planning monitor and control system, at least one other of the listed planning projects including a second electronically linked electronic planning document that includes a timeline and is created and maintained by a second application software program of the enterprise computing system that is different from the first application software program and separate from the planning monitor and control system, wherein planning information is generated in the first linked planning document as part of the listed planning project to which the first linked planning document is associated, wherein planning information is generated in the second linked planning document as part of the listed planning project to which the second linked planning document is associated and wherein the list view area includes an indicator to warn of a missed or upcoming deadline for one of the listed planning projects; and

a planning project details view area in which non-final content from the first linked planning document is displayed for the associated planning project included in the list view;

wherein the planning view displays action areas that when selected initiate a planning computing process; and

wherein the planning computing process is a request process for making an electronically forwarded request for data relating to a listed planning project.

23. The storage device of claim 22, wherein the indicator warns of a missed deadline for the respective one of the planning projects.

24. The storage device of claim 22, wherein the indicator warns of an upcoming deadline for the respective one of the planning projects.

25. The storage device of claim 22, wherein the list view area includes a due date for one of the planning projects.

26. A non-transitory storage medium for use with a planning monitor and control system, the planning monitor and control system, the storage medium comprising executable instructions that when executed by a processor-coupled to a display device result in:

a planning view on the display device, the planning view comprising;

a list view area containing a list of planning projects predefined to be included in a list of planning projects of interest to a user for whom the planning visual display is intended to be viewed, at least one of the listed

planning projects including a first electronically linked electronic planning document that is created and maintained by a first application software program of the enterprise computing system that is separate from the planning monitor and control system, at least one other of the listed planning projects including a second electronically linked electronic planning document that includes a timeline and is created and maintained by a second application software program of the enterprise computing system that is different from the first application software program and separate from the planning monitor and control system, wherein planning information is generated in the first linked planning document as part of the listed planning project to which the planning document is associated, wherein planning information is generated in the second linked planning document as part of the listed planning project to which the second linked planning document is associated and wherein the list view area includes an indicator to warn of a missed or upcoming deadline for one of the listed planning projects; and

a planning project details view area in which non-final content from the first linked planning document is displayed for the associated planning project included in the list view;

wherein the planning view displays action areas that when selected initiate a planning computing process; and

wherein the planning computing process is a request process for making an electronically forwarded request for data relating to a listed planning project.