Method and system for synchronizing multiple user revisions to a balanced scorecard

• US 20060161596A1
• Filed: 01/14/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hulen, Corey, Yang, Vincent Feng, Chan, Stella Y., Booth, Noah H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,440,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A client may revise a balanced scorecard by adding, deleting and/or moving objects on a strategy map. Multiple clients may attempt to revise the strategy map simultaneously. Non-conflicting revisions are synchronized with the strategy map in a scorecard database. A conflicting revision may be generated when objects associated with one client'"'"'s revisions cannot be reconciled with the objects associated with another client'"'"'s revisions. Conflicting revisions may be resolved by giving one client'"'"'s revisions priority over subsequent client revisions. Any identified zombie objects are removed from the strategy map before synchronization with the scorecard database. The revised strategy map is saved in the scorecard database. The revised objects are synchronized with the corresponding scorecard and any associated strategy maps in the scorecard database.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for synchronizing multiple user revisions to a balanced scorecard, comprising:

retrieving a strategy map from a database, wherein the strategy map corresponds to the balanced scorecard;

receiving revisions to objects on the strategy map from a first client;

receiving revisions to objects on the strategy map from a second client;

resolving conflicts between the objects revised by the first client and the objects revised by the second client;

saving the revised strategy map in the database; and

synchronizing the revised objects with the corresponding balanced scorecard in the database.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising updating other strategy maps in the database that are associated with the balanced scorecard.

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

displaying the strategy map to the first client when the first client selects the strategy map; and

displaying the strategy map to the second client when the second client selects the strategy map.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein an object is revised by one of:

adding an object, deleting an object, and moving an object.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein resolving conflicts further comprises prioritizing the revisions associated with the first client over the revisions associated with the second client.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein prioritizing the revisions further comprises prioritizing the revisions associated with the first client when the revised strategy map associated with the first client is saved in the database before the revised strategy map associated with the second client is saved in the database.

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

identifying a zombie object in the revised strategy map; and

removing the identified zombie object from the strategy map.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein an object is identified as a zombie object when the object is deleted by the first client and the object is further revised by the second client, and when the revised strategy map associated with the first client is saved in the database before the revised strategy map associated with the second client is saved in the database.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein saving the revised strategy map further comprises saving the revised strategy map with the most recently saved revisions to the objects when the objects are not scorecard objects.

10. A system for synchronizing multiple user revisions to a balanced scorecard, comprising:

a database that comprises a strategy map that corresponds to the balanced scorecard;

a server coupled to the database;

a first client coupled to the server, wherein the first client is arranged to;

retrieve the strategy map from the database, and

revise objects on the strategy map;

a second client coupled to the server, wherein the second client is arranged to;

retrieve the strategy map from the database, and

revise objects on the strategy map; and

a synchronization module that is arranged to;

resolve conflicts between the objects revised by the first client and the objects revised by the second client,

save the revised strategy map in the database, and

synchronize the revised objects with the corresponding balanced scorecard in the database.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the synchronization module is further arranged to update other strategy maps in the database that are associated with the balanced scorecard.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the first client and the second client are arranged to revise objects by one of:

adding an object, deleting an object, and moving an object.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the synchronization module resolves conflicts by prioritizing the revisions associated with the first client over the revisions associated with the second client.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the synchronization module is further arranged to prioritize the revisions associated with the first client when the revised strategy map associated with the first client is saved in the database before the revised strategy map associated with the second client is saved in the database.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the synchronization module is further arranged to:

identify a zombie object in the revised strategy map; and

remove the identified zombie object from the strategy map.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the synchronization module is further arranged to identify an object as a zombie object when the object is deleted by the first client and the object is further revised by the second client, and when the revised strategy map associated with the first client is saved in the database before the revised strategy map associated with the second client is saved in the database.

17. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for synchronizing multiple user revisions to a balanced scorecard, comprising:

retrieving a strategy map from a database, wherein the strategy map corresponds to the balanced scorecard;

receiving revisions to objects on the strategy map from a first client;

receiving revisions to objects on the strategy map from a second client;

resolving conflicts between the objects revised by the first client and the objects revised by the second client;

saving the revised strategy map in the database;

synchronizing the revised objects with the corresponding balanced scorecard in the database; and

updating other strategy maps in the database that are associated with the balanced scorecard.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein resolving conflicts further comprises prioritizing the revisions associated with the first client over the revisions associated with the second client.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising:

identifying a zombie object in the revised strategy map; and

removing the identified zombie object from the strategy map.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein an object is identified as a zombie object when the object is deleted by the first client and the object is further revised by the second client, and when the revised strategy map associated with the first client is saved in the database before the revised strategy map associated with the second client is saved in the database.