Business information management system, business information management method, and business information management program

• US 8,577,714 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2007
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi-Ge Nuclear Energy Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi-Ge Nuclear Energy Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yokota, Takeshi, Araki, Kenji, Takamoto, Masanori, Takada, Masatoshi, Niino, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sterrett, Jonathan G
• Application Number:
  US11/866,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20080086347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,225 Days
• Field of Search: 705 711- 742
• US Class Current: 705/7.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A business information management system includes a data connection relationship information storage section storing connection relationships of data items forming a business information database, a data connection accuracy information storage section that stores data connection accuracy between data item pairs having a connection relationship, and a data change section that changes data in the business information database by inputting data thereto. A change affected data extraction section extracts change affected data items by tracing first data items having a connection relationship with an originally changed data item and second data items having a connection relationship with the first data items until there is no connection relationship, a change effect probability calculation section calculates change effect probability of the change affected data based on data connection accuracy, and a change affected data display section displays the change effect probability on a display unit.

Claims

1. A business information management system using a computer having at least an input unit and a display unit, the business information management system managing a business information database containing business-related data of a plurality of types, the computer comprising:

a processor;

a data connection relationship information storage configured to store data connection relationship information which represents data having a connection relationship with each of data items constituting the business information database;

a data connection accuracy information storage configured to store, as data connection accuracy, a numeric value which represents a depth of the connection relationship for each pair of data items having a connection relationship stored in said data connection relationship information storage;

a data change section configured to change, via the processor, at least one data item contained in the business information database in accordance with data inputted via the input unit;

a change affected data extraction section configured to obtain, via the processor, based on the data connection relationship information stored in said data connection relationship information storage, a first data item which has a connection relationship with the originally changed data item and a second data item which has a connection relationship with the first data item, until there is no longer existing connection relationship, said change affected data extraction section thereby extracting, as change affected data, all data items resident along a path connecting the above-referenced connection relationships;

a change effect probability calculation section configured to calculate, via the processor, a change effect probability of each item of the extracted change affected data based on the data connection accuracy stored in said data connection accuracy information storage; and

a change affected data display section configured to display, on the display unit, the extracted change affected data and the change effect probability calculated for the change affected data;

wherein the business information database includes work flow information defining a work flow of a plurality of work processes; and

wherein the computer further comprises;

a data connection accuracy information calculation section configured to select, from the work flow information via the processor, a first work process and a second work process to be carried out following the first work process, find a work process connection path leading from the first work process to the second work process based on the work flow information, and to calculate, based on the number of connection links contained in the connection path and the number of connection link branches branching rearwardly from the work process contained in the connection path, data connection accuracy between a first data item to be processed in the first work process and a second data item to be processed in the second work process;

a change cost information storage configured to store, for each item of data constituting the business information database, a change cost to be accrued when the data item is changed;

a change cost calculation section configured to calculate, for each item of the change affected data extracted by said change affected data extraction section, the change cost of the change affected data item as a product of the change cost stored in the change cost information storage section for that particular change affected data item and the change effect probability calculated for that particular change affected data item by said change effect probability calculation section, and further calculating a total value of all change cost values calculated for the change affected data items; and

a change cost display section configured to display, on the display unit, at least one of the change cost value calculated for each item of the change affected data and the total value of all change cost values.

2. The business information management system according to claim 1,

wherein said change effect probability calculation section is further configured to calculate the change effect probability for the change affected data by reading, for each of all change affected data items resident on the path connecting the changed data and the change affected data, a data connection accuracy value stored in said data connection accuracy information storage, and to obtain a product of all change effect probability values read.

3. The business information management system according to claim 1,

wherein the computer further comprises a data connection condition information storage configured to store, for each pair of data items having a connection relationship stored in said data connection relationship information storage, information on conditions for validating the connection relationship as data connection condition information;

and

wherein said change affected data extraction section validates, when finding all data items having the connection relationship with the changed data until there is no longer existing connection relationship, the connection relationship on condition which the data connection condition is satisfied, if one for the connection relationship is stored in the data connection condition information storage.

4. The business information management system according to claim 1,

wherein the computer further comprises:

a person-in-charge information storage configured to store, for each item of data constituting the business information database, information on a person in charge concerned with the data item; and

a change affected data notification section configured to extract, if the change effect probability of the change affected data calculated by said change effect probability calculation section is equal to, or more than, a predetermined value, persons in charge concerned with the change affected data by referring to the person-in-charge information storage and notifying the extracted persons in charge of the change affected data and the change effect probability in accordance with the extracted persons in charge.

5. A business information management method for managing, by using a computer having at least an input unit and a display unit, a business information database containing business-related data of a plurality of types, the computer comprising:

a data connection relationship information storage configured to store data connection relationship information which represents data having a connection relationship with each of data items constituting the business information database; and

a data connection accuracy information storage configured to store, as data connection accuracy, a numeric value which represents a depth of the connection relationship for each pair of data items having a connection relationship stored in the data connection relationship information storage;

the business information management method performed by the computer comprising;

changing, via the computer, at least one data item contained in the business information database in accordance with data inputted via the input unit;

obtaining, via the computer, based on the data connection relationship information stored in the data connection relationship information storage, a first data item which has a connection relationship with the originally changed data item and a second data item which has a connection relationship with the first data item, until there is no longer existing connection relationship, and extracting all data items, as change affected data, resident along a path connecting the above-referenced connection relationships;

calculating, via the computer, a change effect probability of each item of the extracted change affected data based on the data connection accuracy stored in the data connection accuracy information storage; and

displaying on the display unit the extracted change affected data and the change effect probability calculated for the change affected data;

wherein the business information database includes work flow information defining a work flow of a plurality of work processes; and

wherein the method further comprises;

selecting, via the computer, from the work flow information a first work process and a second work process to be carried out following the first work process, finding a work process connection path leading from the first work process to the second work process based on the work flow information, and calculating, based on the number of connection links contained in the connection path and the number of connection link branches branching rearwardly from the work process contained in the connection path, data connection accuracy between a first data item to be processed in the first work process and a second data item to be processed in the second work process;

wherein the computer further comprises a change cost information storage configured to store, for each item of data constituting the business information database, a change cost to be accrued when the data item is changed; and

wherein the method further comprises;

calculating, for each item of the change affected data extracted through said extracting of change affected data, the change cost of the change affected data item as a product of the change cost stored in the change cost information storage for that particular change affected data item and the change effect probability calculated for that particular change affected data item through said calculating of the change effect probability, and further calculating a total value of all change cost values calculated for the change affected data items; and

displaying on the display unit at least one of the change cost value calculated for each item of the change affected data and the total value of all change cost values.

6. The business information management method according to claim 5, further comprising:

calculating, in said calculating of the change effect probability, the change effect probability for the change affected data, including reading, for each of all change affected data items resident on the path connecting the changed data and the change affected data, a data connection accuracy value stored in the data connection accuracy information storage and obtaining a product of all change effect probability values read.

7. The business information management method according to claim 5,

wherein the computer further comprises a data connection condition information storage configured to store, for each pair of data items having a connection relationship stored in the data connection relationship information storage, information on conditions for validating the connection relationship as data connection condition information;

and

wherein the method further comprises;

validating the connection relationship on condition which the data connection condition is satisfied, in said obtaining of the first data item and the second data item, all data items having the connection relationship with the changed data, until there is no longer existing connection relationship, if one for the connection relationship is stored in the data connection condition information storage.

8. The business information management method according to claim 5,

wherein the computer further comprises a person-in-charge information storage configured to store, for each item of data constituting the business information database, information on a person in charge concerned with the data item;

and

wherein the method further comprises;

extracting, if the change effect probability of the change affected data calculated through said step of calculating the change effect probability is equal to, or more than, a predetermined value, persons in charge concerned with the change affected data, including referring to the person-in-charge information storage and notifying the extracted persons in charge of the change affected data and the change effect probability in accordance with the extracted persons in charge.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying a business information management program for letting a computer having at least an input unit and a display unit manage a business information database containing business-related data of a plurality of types, the computer comprising a data connection relationship information storage configured to store data connection relationship information which represents data having a connection relationship with each of data items constituting the business information database, and a data connection accuracy information storage configured to store, as data connection accuracy, a numeric value which represents a depth of the connection relationship for each pair of data items having a connection relationship stored in the data connection relationship information storage;

the business information management program letting the computer execute;

changing at least one data item contained in the business information database in accordance with data inputted via the input unit;

obtaining, based on the data connection relationship information stored in the data connection relationship information storage, a first data item which has a connection relationship with the originally changed data item and a second data item which has a connection relationship with the first data item, until there is no longer existing connection relationship, and extracting all data items, as change affected data, resident along a path connecting the above-referenced connection relationships;

calculating a change effect probability of each item of the extracted change affected data based on the data connection accuracy stored in the data connection accuracy information storage; and

displaying on the display unit the extracted change affected data and the change effect probability calculated for the change affected data;

wherein the business information database includes work flow information defining a work flow of a plurality of work processes; and

wherein the program further lets the computer execute;

selecting from the work flow information a first work process and a second work process to be carried out following the first work process, finding a work process connection path leading from the first work process to the second work process based on the work flow information, and calculating, based on the number of connection links contained in the connection path and the number of connection link branches branching rearwardly from the work process contained in the connection path, data connection accuracy between a first data item to be processed in the first work process and a second data item to be processed in the second work process;

wherein the computer further comprises a change cost information storage configured to store, for each item of data constituting the business information database, a change cost to be accrued when the data item is changed; and

wherein the program lets the computer execute;

calculating, for each item of the change affected data extracted through said extracting of change affected data, the change cost of the change affected data item as a product of the change cost stored in the change cost information storage for that particular change affected data item and the change effect probability calculated for that particular change affected data item through said calculating of the change effect probability, and further calculating a total value of all change cost values calculated for the change affected data items; and

displaying on the display unit at least one of the change cost value calculated for each item of the change affected data and the total value of all change cost values.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying the business information management program according to claim 9,

wherein the program lets the computer execute:

calculating, in said calculating of the change effect probability, the change effect probability for the change affected data, including reading, for each of all change affected data items resident on the path connecting the changed data and the change affected data, a data connection accuracy value stored in the data connection accuracy information storage and obtaining a product of all change effect probability values read.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying the business information management program according to claim 9,

wherein the computer further comprises a data connection condition information storage configured to store, for each pair of data items having a connection relationship stored in the data connection relationship information storage, information on conditions for validating the connection relationship as data connection condition information;

and

wherein the program lets the computer execute;

validating the connection relationship on condition which the data connection condition is satisfied, in said obtaining of the first data item and the second data item, all data items having the connection relationship with the changed data, until there is no longer existing connection relationship, if one for the connection relationship is stored in the data connection condition information storage.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying the business information management program according to claim 9,

wherein the computer further comprises a person-in-charge information storage for storing, for each item of data constituting the business information database, information on a person in charge concerned with the data item;

and

wherein the program further lets the computer execute;

extracting, if the change effect probability of the change affected data calculated through said calculating of the change effect probability is equal to, or more than, a predetermined value, persons in charge concerned with the change affected data, including referring to the person-in-charge information storage and notifying the extracted persons in charge of the change affected data and the change effect probability in accordance with the extracted persons in charge.