Method and system for an assessment initiative within a multi-level organization

• US 8,340,992 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2006
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackboard Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Blackboard Incorporated
• Inventors: Yaskin, David, Ritter, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): MANSFIELD, THOMAS L
• Application Number:
  US11/398,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20070088602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,457 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7.11, 705/1.1
• US Class Current: 705/7.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 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 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06395 Quality analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0204 Market segmentation

Abstract

A system of hardware and software provides a systematic and systemic method for performing assessment of the effectiveness of different levels within an institution. The system includes template driven definitions that span multiple tiers of hierarchically arranged operating units within the institution thereby providing flexibility and customization to handle a user-definable model of the institution'"'"'s organization. In particular, one or more concurrently active assessment projects may be associated with an assessment initiative. In this way, portions of data collection and reporting may be shared within the program initiative and its various, associated assessment projects.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for performing an assessment initiative within a multi-level institution, comprising:

a programmable computer configured to perform the steps of;

receiving first input identifying a first assessment project;

receiving second input identifying a second assessment project, the second assessment project being active concurrent with the first assessment project;

creating an association between goals or objectives of the first assessment project and goals or objectives of the assessment initiative, and an association between goals or objectives of the second assessment project and goals or objectives of the assessment initiative,

wherein each of the first assessment project and the second assessment project comprises an assessment of an effectiveness of an associated project,

wherein at least one of the first input and the second input comprises a selection of a template including a form to be completed for the first assessment project or the second assessment project,

wherein the template is selected based on a level of the multi-level institution associated with the project, and

wherein the template is specific to the level of the multi-level institution associated with the project.

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

receiving initial input identifying the assessment initiative.

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

storing a model of a plurality of organizational levels of the multi-level institution, wherein each organizational level includes at least one respective, associated node.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the first and second assessment projects are related to one of the at least one respective associated node.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the first assessment project relates to a first node from among the at least one respective, associated node and the second assessment project relates to a second node from among the at least one respective, associated node;

the first node and second node being different.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the first assessment project and the second assessment project relate to one of the plurality of organization levels.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the first assessment project relates to a first level of the plurality of organizational levels and the second assessment project relates to a second level of the plurality of organizational levels;

the first level being different than the second level.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

identifying a particular node associated with the first assessment project;

creating for and presenting to the user at least one customizable assessment project template associated with that node; and

completing the at least one customizable assessment project template based, at least in part, on third input received from the user.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

identifying a particular node associated with the second assessment project;

creating for and presenting to the user at least one customizable assessment project template associated with that node; and

completing the at least one customizable assessment project template based, at least in part, on third input received from the user.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

collecting first information related to performance of the first assessment project;

collecting second information related to performance of the second assessment project; and

combining a portion of the first information and a portion of the second information in a report related to the assessment initiative.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first assessment project relates to a first multi-level institution and the second assessment project relates to a second multi-level institution.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein data collected as part of the first assessment project is shared with the second assessment project.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein data collected as part of the second assessment project is shared with the first assessment project.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving other input identifying at least one other assessment project; and

associating the at least one other assessment project with the assessment initiative.

46. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein assessment initiative comprises a common theme between the first assessment project and the second assessment project.

47. The computer-implemented method of claim 46, wherein the common theme comprises an accreditation.

15. A system for performing an assessment initiative within a multi-level institution, comprising:

a programmable computer configured to;

receive first input identifying a first assessment project;

receive second input identifying a second assessment project, the second assessment project being active concurrent with the first assessment project;

create an association between goals or objectives of the first assessment project and the assessment initiative, and an association between goals or objectives of the second assessment project and the assessment initiative,

wherein each of the first assessment project and the second assessment project comprises assessing an effectiveness of an associated project,

wherein at least one of the first input and the second input comprises a selection of a template including a form to be completed for the first assessment project or the second assessment project,

wherein the template is selected based on a level of the multi-level institution associated with the project, and

wherein the template is specific to the level of the multi-level institution associated with the project.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

memory accessible by the programmable computer and storing a model of a plurality of organizational levels of the multi-level institution, wherein each organizational level includes at least one respective, associated node.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first and second assessment projects are related to one of the at least one respective associated node.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the first assessment project relates to a first node from among the at least one respective, associated node and the second assessment project relates to a second node from among the at least one respective, associated node;

the first node and second node being different.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the first assessment project and the second assessment project relate to one of the plurality of organizational levels.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the first assessment project relates to a first level of the plurality of organizational levels and the second assessment project relates to a second level of the plurality of organizational levels;

the first level being different than the second level.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the programmable computer is further configured to:

identify a particular node associated with the first assessment project;

present to the user at least one customizable assessment project template associated with that node; and

complete the at least one customizable assessment project template based, at least in part, on third input received from the user.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the programmable computer is further configured to:

identify a particular node associated with the second assessment project;

present to the user at least one customizable assessment project template associated with that node; and

complete the at least one customizable assessment project template based, at least in part, on third input received from the user.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the programmable computer is further configured to:

collect first information related to performance of the first assessment project;

collect second information related to performance of the second assessment project; and

combine a portion of the first information and a portion of the second information in a report related to the assessment initiative.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the first assessment project relates to a first multi-level institution and the second assessment project relates to a second multi-level institution.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein data collected as part of the first assessment project is shared with the second assessment project.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein data collected as part of the second assessment project is shared with the first assessment project.

27. The system of claim 15, wherein the programmable computer is further configured to:

receive other input identifying at least one other assessment project; and

associate the at least one other assessment project with the assessment initiative.

28. A computer-based assessment system for a multi-level institution comprising:

a first assessment project, identifiable by a first input, stored in computer-accessible memory;

a second assessment project, identifiable by a second input, concurrently stored in the computer-accessible memory; and

an assessment initiative associated with both the first and second assessment projects stored in the computer-accessible memory;

a report module configured to report information associated with the assessment initiative and create an association between goals or objectives of the first assessment project and the assessment initiative, and an association between goals or objectives of the second assessment project and the assessment initiative,

wherein each of the first assessment project and the second assessment project comprises assessing an effectiveness of an associated project,

wherein at least one of the first input and the second input comprises a selection of a template including a form to be completed for the first assessment project or the second assessment project,

wherein the template is selected based on a level of the multi-level institution associated with the project, and

wherein the template is specific to the level of the multi-level institution associated with the project.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the first assessment project and the second assessment project reference at least a portion of common data within the computer-accessible memory.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the assessment initiative includes a link identifying both the first assessment project and the second assessment project.

31. The system of claim 28, further comprising at least one additional assessment project associated with the assessment initiative.

32. A computer-implemented method for creating an assessment initiative within a multi-level institution, comprising:

a programmable computer configured to perform the steps of;

receiving first input identifying the assessment initiative;

creating the assessment initiative;

creating a plurality of assessment projects; and

associating goals or objectives of the plurality of assessment projects with goals or objectives of the assessment initiative,

wherein at least one of the plurality of assessment projects is created based on a selection of a template including a form to be completed for the at least one assessment project,

wherein the template is selected based on a level of the multi-level institution associated with the project, and

wherein the template is specific to the level of the multi-level institution associated with the project.

33. The computer-implemented method of claim 32, wherein the step of creating a plurality of assessment projects further includes the step of:

receiving identification of at least some of the plurality of assessment projects from a user.

34. The computer-implemented method of claim 32, wherein the step of creating a plurality of assessment projects further includes the step of:

automatically generating at least some of the plurality of assessment projects based on the assessment initiative.

35. The computer-implemented method of claim 34, wherein the at least some of the plurality of assessment projects is based on one or more templates identified by the assessment initiative.

36. The computer-implemented method of claim 35, wherein the step of creating a plurality of assessment projects further includes the step of:

automatically completing a portion of the one or more templates.

37. The computer-implemented method of claim 35, wherein the step of creating a plurality of assessment projects further includes the step of:

receiving second input related to completing a portion of the one or more templates.

38. A system for creating an assessment initiative within a multi-level institution, comprising:

a programmable computer configured to;

receive first input identifying the assessment initiative;

create the assessment initiative;

create the plurality of assessment projects; and

associate goals or objectives of the plurality of assessment projects with goals or objectives of the assessment initiative,

wherein at least one of the plurality of assessment projects is created based on a selection of a template including a form to be completed for the at least one assessment project,

wherein the template is selected based on a level of the multi-level institution associated with the project, and

wherein the template is specific to the level of the multi-level institution associated with the project.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the programmable computer is further configured to:

receive identification of at least some of the plurality of assessment projects from the user.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the programmable computer is further configured to:

automatically generate at least some of the plurality of assessment projects based on the assessment initiative.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the at least some of the plurality of assessment projects is based on one or more templates identified by the assessment initiative.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the programmable computer is further configured to:

automatically complete a portion of the one or more templates.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the programmable computer is further configured to:

receive second input related to completing a portion of the one or more templates.

44. Computer readable media containing programming instructions for performing an assessment initiative within a multi-level institution, that upon execution thereof, causes one or more computer processors to perform the steps of:

receiving first input identifying a first assessment project;

receiving second input identifying a second assessment project, the second assessment project being active concurrent with the first assessment project;

creating an association between goals or objectives of the first assessment project and the assessment initiative, and an association between goals or objectives of the second assessment project and the assessment initiative,

wherein each of the first assessment project and the second assessment project comprises assessing an effectiveness of an associated project,

wherein at least one of the first input and the second input comprises a selection of a template including a form to be completed for the first assessment project or the second assessment project,

wherein the template is selected based on a level of the multi-level institution associated with the project, and

wherein the template is specific to the level of the multi-level institution associated with the project.

45. Computer readable media containing programming instructions for creating an assessment initiative within at multi-level institution, that upon execution thereof, causes one or more computer processors to perform the steps of:

receiving first input identifying the assessment initiative;

creating the assessment initiative;

creating a plurality of assessment projects; and

associating goals or objectives of the plurality of assessment projects with goals or objectives of the assessment initiative,

wherein at least one of the plurality of assessment projects is created based on a selection of a template including a form to be completed for the at least one assessment project,

wherein the template is selected based on a level of the multi-level institution associated with the project, and

wherein the template is specific to the level of the multi-level institution associated with the project.