Project management system and method

• US 8,099,312 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2009
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eproject Management LLC
• Original Assignee: Eproject Management LLC
• Inventors: Jin, Yan, Kunz, John, Levitt, Raymond, Ramsey, Marc, Rivero, Carlos, Thaeler, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeanty, Romain
• Application Number:
  US12/359,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20090132318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7, 705/7.17
• US Class Current: 705/7.17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063118 Staff planning in a project environment

Abstract

A program management structure that includes a plurality of projects, where each project is staffed with a project manager and wherein each project includes a plurality of tasks which can have multiple interdependencies and at least one position reporting up to the project manager. A plurality of organizations is also included, where each organization is provided with a plurality of departments, each of which has a department manager and at least one staffer reporting up to the department manager and filling at least part of the at least one position. Additionally, project exceptions are reported to the project manager and functional exceptions are reported to the functional manager.

Claims

1. A method for managing multiple projects comprising:

initiating a program including a plurality of projects and an organization and wherein each project includes a plurality of tasks;

at least one of creating and editing at least one of said projects;

simulating, using a project management computer, said program utilizing said plurality of projects; and

displaying results of said simulating;

wherein simulating said program includes;

evoking a start milestone having a successor;

iteratively evoking a successor which iteratively evokes a subtask; and

completing the simulation with an end milestone having no successor.

2. A method for managing multiple projects as recited in claim 1 wherein said organization includes a plurality of departments.

3. A method for managing multiple projects as recited in claim 2 wherein said organization is organized as a matrix organization.

4. A method for managing multiple projects as recited in claim 3 wherein said matrix organization has at least one functional manager and at least one project manager.

5. A method for managing multiple projects as recited in claim 1 further comprising at least one of creating and editing program parameters which affect said simulating process.

6. A method for managing multiple projects as recited in claim 1 wherein initiating a program includes at least one of retrieving a stored program and creating a new program.

7. A method for managing multiple projects as recited in claim 1 wherein editing a project includes at least one of adding and deleting at least one of tasks, positions, successors, milestones, meetings, and connectors.

8. A method for managing multiple projects as recited in claim 1 wherein editing an organization includes at least one of defining a department and defining a link.