Systems and methods for context understanding for developing a software solution for a project

• US 8,762,932 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2012
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TATA Consultancy Services Limited (Tata Sons Pvt Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TATA Consultancy Services Limited (Tata Sons Pvt Ltd.)
• Inventors: Narayana, Mandaleeka Guru Prasada Lakshmi, Kummamuru, Supriya, Padmalata, Nistala, Murthy, Pillutla Narasimha
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luna, Roberto E
• Application Number:
  US13/490,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20130332896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/101
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A method and a system for facilitating holistic comprehension of a project and simultaneously reducing human effort involved in comprehending such project are disclosed. The method further comprises generating a cybernetics influence diagram (CID) using the plurality of parameters. The CID is indicative of a relationship of at least one parameter of a plurality of parameters with at least another parameter of the plurality of parameters. The method further comprises identifying at least one parameter from amongst the plurality of parameters as key thrust areas (KTAs) based upon threshold rules. The threshold rules are based upon the relationship of the parameters with one another. The method further comprises receiving a set of stakeholder objectives from a user. The set of stakeholder objectives is associated with the project. The method further comprises generating a traceability matrix template to facilitate mapping of the KTAs against the set of stakeholder objectives.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating context understanding for developing a software solution for a project, the system comprising:

a processor;

an input/output (I/O) interface coupled to the processor and to receive a plurality of parameters associated with the project; and

a memory coupled to the processor and to the I/O interface, the memory comprising;

a cybernetics module stored in the memory and executable by the processor and to

generate a cybernetics influence diagram (CID) using the plurality of parameters, wherein the CID is indicative of an influence of at least one parameter of the plurality of parameters on at least one other parameter of the plurality of parameters;

identify, based on the CID, merge points as one or more parameters, from the plurality of parameters, that are influenced by at least three other parameters;

identify, based on the CID, burst points as one or more parameters, from the plurality of parameters, that influence at least two other parameters; and

determine key thrust areas (KTAs) by grouping the merge points and the burst points;

a framework generating module stored in the memory and executable by the processor and to

generate a stakeholder framework associated with the project based upon user inputs, wherein the stakeholder framework is indicative of at least one of stakeholders involved in the project, needs of the stakeholders, alterables associated with the project, and constraints associated with the project; and

derive a set of stakeholder objectives based on the stakeholder framework, wherein the set of stakeholder objectives is for the project; and

a matrix generating module stored in the memory and executable by the processor and to generate a traceability matrix template to map each of the KTAs against each stakeholder objective from the set of stakeholder objectives.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the cybernetics module receives influences between parameters of the plurality of parameters from a user in order to generate the CID.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the matrix generating module maps each of the KTAs against each stakeholder objective from the set of stakeholder objectives in the traceability matrix template based on mapping rules.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the framework generating module receives a set of stakeholder objectives from a user.

4. A method for facilitating context understanding for developing a software solution for a project using a computing device having a processor, the method comprising:

receiving, by the processor, a plurality of parameters associated with the project;

generating a cybernetics influence diagram (CID) using the plurality of parameters, wherein the CID is indicative of an influence of at least one parameter of the plurality of parameters on at least one other parameter of the plurality of parameters;

identifying, based on the CID, merge points as one or more parameters, from the plurality of parameters, that are influenced by at least three other parameters;

identifying, based on the CID, burst points as one or more parameters, from the plurality of parameters, that influence at least two other parameters;

determining key thrust areas (KTAs) by grouping the merge points and the burst points;

generating a stakeholder framework associated with the project based upon user inputs, wherein the stakeholder framework is indicative of at least one of stakeholders involved in the project, needs of the stakeholders, alterables associated with the project, and constraints associated with the project;

deriving a set of stakeholder objectives based on the stakeholder framework, wherein the set of stakeholder objectives is for the project; and

generating a traceability matrix template to map each of the KTAs against each stakeholder objective from the set of stakeholder objectives.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising mapping each of the KTAs against each stakeholder objective from the set of stakeholder objectives in the traceability matrix template based on mapping rules.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising receiving a set of stakeholder objectives from a user.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having embodied thereon a computer program for executing a method for facilitating context understanding for developing a software solution for a project, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of parameters associated with a project;

generating a cybernetics influence diagram (CID) using the plurality of parameters, wherein the CID is indicative of an influence of at least one parameter of the plurality of parameters on at least one other parameter of the plurality of parameters;

identifying, based on the CID, merge points as one or more parameters, from the plurality of parameters, that are influenced by at least three other parameters;

identifying, based on the CID, burst points as one or more parameters, from the plurality of parameters, that influence at least two other parameters;

determining key thrust areas (KTAs) by grouping the merge points and the burst points;

generating a stakeholder framework associated with the project based upon user inputs, wherein the stakeholder framework is indicative of at least one of stakeholders involved in the project, needs of the stakeholders, alterables associated with the project, and constraints associated with the project;

deriving a set of stakeholder objectives based on the stakeholder framework, wherein the set of stakeholder objectives is for the project; and

generating a traceability matrix template to map each of the KTAs against each stakeholder objective from the set of stakeholder objectives.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, further comprising a computer program for mapping each of the KTAs against each stakeholder objective from the set of stakeholder objectives in the traceability matrix template based on mapping rules.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, further comprising a computer program for receiving a set of stakeholder objectives from a user.