Framework for supporting transition of one or more applications of an organization

• US 8,799,210 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infosys Limited
• Original Assignee: Infosys Limited
• Inventors: Paliwal, Virendra, D'Souza, Savio, Shetty, Dinesh Kumara, Balasubramanian, Venkatakrishnan, Narayanan, Lakshmi Narasimhan
• Primary Examiner(s): Mamillapalli, Pavan
• Application Number:
  US12/362,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20090288018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,013 Days
• Field of Search: 707/608, 706/60
• US Class Current: 707/608
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A framework for supporting transition of one or more applications of an organization is provided. The one or more applications are transitioned from a first set of users to a second set of users. The framework includes a transition module, a knowledge capture module, a knowledge validation module, and a collaboration module. The transition module generates one or more transition plans based on information corresponding to the one or more applications. The knowledge capture module captures a plurality of knowledge elements corresponding to the one or more applications. The knowledge capture module further establishes association between the plurality of knowledge elements. The knowledge validation module validates the plurality of knowledge elements and their association. The collaboration module provides collaboration between the first set of users and the second set of users during the transition of the one or more applications.

Claims

1. A framework suitable for use in transition of one or more applications of an organization, the one or more applications being transitioned from a first set of users to a second set of users, the framework comprising:

a. a transition module configured for generating one or more transition plans for the one or more applications, the one or more transition plans being generated based on information corresponding to the one or more applications, the one or more transition plans comprising one or more transition activities;

b. a knowledge capture module configured for;

i. capturing a plurality of knowledge elements corresponding to the one or more applications and the one or more transition activities, wherein the plurality of knowledge elements are captured using (1) one or more knowledge capturing tools and (2) one or more predefined knowledge reference components, and wherein the plurality of knowledge elements comprise a set of source code, a use case, and an incident resolution; and

ii. associating each of the plurality of knowledge elements corresponding to an application being transitioned with one or more other knowledge elements corresponding to the same application, wherein the associations enable identification or search of knowledge elements corresponding to said application;

c. a knowledge validation module configured for;

i. securing from the second set of users responses to queries regarding the captured knowledge elements and the associations between the plurality of knowledge elements; and

ii. enabling the first set of users to evaluate the responses received from the second set of users for assessing and validating the knowledge of the second set of users regarding the plurality of knowledge elements and the association between the plurality of knowledge elements, wherein the validation is performed based on a predefined set of rules; and

d. a collaboration module configured for providing collaboration between the first set of users and the second set of users, wherein the collaboration enables communication between the first set of users and the second set of users during the transition of the one or more applications.

2. The framework of claim 1, wherein the transition module comprises a portfolio analysis module configured for enabling a user to analyze the information corresponding to the one or more applications, the analysis being performed based on one or more criteria, wherein the information is analyzed for generating the one or more transition plans.

3. The framework of claim 2, wherein the portfolio analysis module is further configured to enable a user for:

a. categorizing the one or more applications into one or more clusters, the categorization being performed based on a predefined criterion; and

b. assessing the one or more clusters, the assessment being performed based on one or more scores of the one or more applications in the corresponding clusters.

4. The framework of claim 3, wherein the portfolio analysis module is further configured for:

a. generating a graphical representation of the one or more clusters, the graphical representation being generated based on the assessment of the one or more clusters; and

b. enabling a user to prioritize the one or more clusters for transition sequencing, the prioritization being performed based on the assessment of the one or more clusters.

5. The framework of claim 1, wherein the transition module comprises a financial scenario module configured for determining and analyzing cost of the transition of the one or more applications.

6. The framework of claim 1, wherein the transition module comprises a work stream planning module configured for:

a. generating the one or more transition plans based on one or more work streams, each work stream comprising a plurality of contextually related sub-processes; and

b. storing and managing the one or more transition plans generated based on the one or more work streams, wherein the one or more transition plans are managed by a user.

7. The framework of claim 6, wherein the transition module further comprises a work stream repository module configured for storing and managing information corresponding to the one or more work streams, wherein the information corresponding to the one or more work streams is managed by a user.

8. The framework of claim 1, wherein the knowledge capture module comprises a repository module configured for storing the plurality of knowledge elements and the information corresponding to the one or more applications.

9. The framework of claim 1, wherein the knowledge capture module comprises a knowledge extraction module configured for extracting the information corresponding to the one or more applications from the first set of users.

10. The framework of claim 1, wherein the collaboration module comprises a customer access module configured for enabling the first set of users and the second set of users to access the framework, wherein the framework is accessed over a network.

11. The framework of claim 1, wherein the collaboration module comprises a collaboration tools module configured for providing one or more collaboration tools, wherein the one or more collaboration tools enable the communication between the first set of users and the second set of users.

12. The framework of claim 1, wherein the collaboration module comprises a workflow module configured for enabling a user to manage the plurality of knowledge elements, wherein managing the plurality of knowledge elements comprises maintaining a historical log for managing successive versions of one or more of the plurality of knowledge elements.

13. The framework of claim 1, wherein the collaboration module comprises a task flow module configured for enabling a user to manage the one or more transition activities.

14. The framework of claim 1 further comprising a governance module configured for:

a. enabling a user to monitor status of the transition of the one or more applications; and

b. publishing the status of the transition for the organization.

15. The framework of claim 14 further comprising a reports module configured for generating one or more reports based on the status of the transition and information corresponding to one or more work streams.

16. The framework of claim 1 further comprising a security module configured for:

a. authenticating and authorizing the first set of users and the second set of users for accessing the framework; and

b. displaying information corresponding to the first set of users and the second set of users based on the accessing of the framework.

17. The framework of claim 1, wherein the knowledge capturing tools are configured for at least analyzing source code corresponding to the one or more applications for defining application design and functionality.

18. The framework of claim 1, wherein the knowledge capture module captures one or more knowledge elements based on a predefined knowledge reference component comprising a template for one or more of the second set of users to identify information required in connection with a knowledge element.

19. The framework of claim 1 wherein the knowledge validation module determines:

i) a support effectiveness metric representing a capability measurement of at least one individual within the second set of users to be entirely responsible for support and maintenance of an application being transitioned; and

ii) a knowledge quotient metric representing a measurement of collective knowledge of the second set of users with respect to all aspects of the application being transitioned.

20. A method suitable for use in transition of one or more applications of an organization, the one or more applications being transitioned from a first set of users to a second set of users, the method comprising:

a. generating one or more transition plans for the one or more applications, the one or more transition plans being generated based on information corresponding to the one or more applications, the one or more transition plans comprising one or more transition activities;

b. capturing a plurality of knowledge elements corresponding to the one or more applications and the one or more transition activities, wherein the plurality of knowledge elements are captured using one or more knowledge capturing tools and one or more predefined knowledge reference components, and wherein the plurality of knowledge elements comprise a set of source code, a use case, and an incident resolution;

c. associating each of the plurality of knowledge elements corresponding to a particular application with one or more other elements corresponding to said application, wherein the association between the plurality of knowledge elements is established by the first set of users and the second set of users;

d. enabling the first set of users to assess and validate the knowledge of the plurality of knowledge elements and the association between the plurality of knowledge elements, wherein the validation is performed based on a predefined set of rules; and

e. providing collaboration between the first set of users and the second set of users, wherein the collaboration enables communication between the first set of users and the second set of users during the transition of the one or more applications.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising analyzing the information corresponding to the one or more applications, the analysis being performed by a user, the analysis being based on one or more criteria, wherein the information is analyzed for generating the one or more transition plans.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

a. categorizing the one or more applications into one or more clusters, the categorization being performed based on a predefined criterion; and

b. assessing the one or more clusters, the assessment being performed based on one or more scores of the one or more applications in the corresponding clusters.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

a. generating a graphical representation of the one or more clusters, the graphical representation being generated based on the assessment of the one or more clusters; and

b. prioritizing the one or more clusters for transition sequencing, the prioritization being performed based on the assessment of the one or more clusters, wherein the one or more clusters are prioritized by a user.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising determining and analyzing cost of the transition of the one or more applications.

25. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

a. generating one or more transition plans based on one or more work streams;

b. storing and managing the one or more transition plans generated based on the one or more work streams, wherein the one or more transition plans are managed by a user; and

c. storing and managing information corresponding to the one or more work streams, wherein the information corresponding to the one or more work streams is managed by a user.

26. The method of claim 20 further comprising storing the plurality of knowledge elements and the information corresponding to the one or more applications.

27. The method of claim 20 further comprising extracting the information corresponding to the one or more applications from the first set of users.

28. The method of claim 20 further comprising managing the plurality of knowledge elements, the plurality of knowledge elements being managed by a user, wherein managing the plurality of knowledge elements comprises managing one or more versions of the plurality of knowledge elements.

29. The method of claim 20 further comprising managing the one or more transition activities, wherein the one or more transition activities are managed by a user.

30. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

a. monitoring status of the transition of the one or more applications, wherein the status is monitored by a user;

b. publishing the status of the transition for the organization; and

c. generating one or more reports based on the status of the transition and information corresponding to one or more work streams.

31. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

a. authenticating and authorizing the first set of users and the second set of users for accessing the framework; and

b. displaying information corresponding to the first set of users and the second set of users based on the accessing of the framework.

32. The method of claim 20, wherein capturing the plurality of knowledge elements using one or more knowledge capturing tools comprises at least analyzing source code corresponding to the one or more applications for defining application design and functionality.

33. The method of claim 20, wherein the one or more knowledge elements are captured based on a predefined knowledge reference component comprising a template for one or more of the second set of users to identify information required in connection with a knowledge element.

34. The method of claim 20 further comprising determining:

i) a support effectiveness metric representing a capability measurement of at least one individual within the second set of users to be entirely responsible for support and maintenance of an application being transitioned; and

ii) a knowledge quotient metric representing a measurement of collective knowledge of the second set of users with respect to all aspects of the application being transitioned.

35. A computer program product for use with a computer, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein suitable for use in transition of one or more applications of an organization, the one or more applications being transitioned from a first set of users to a second set of users, the computer readable program code performing:

a. generating one or more transition plans for the one or more applications, the one or more transition plans being generated based on information corresponding to the one or more applications, the one or more transition plans comprising one or more transition activities;

b. capturing a plurality of knowledge elements corresponding to the one or more applications and the one or more transition activities, wherein the plurality of knowledge elements are captured using one or more knowledge capturing tools and one or more predefined knowledge reference components, and wherein the plurality of knowledge elements comprise a set of source code, a use case, a test case, and an incident resolution;

c. associating each of the plurality of knowledge elements corresponding to a particular application with one or more other elements corresponding to said application, wherein the association between the plurality of knowledge elements is established by the first set of users and the second set of users;

d. enabling the first set of users to validate the knowledge of the second set of users regarding the plurality of knowledge elements and association between the plurality of knowledge elements, wherein the validation is performed based on a predefined set of rules; and

e. providing collaboration between the first set of users and the second set of users, wherein the collaboration enables communication between the first set of users and the second set of users during the transition of the one or more applications.

36. The computer program product of claim 35 further performing:

a. generating the one or more transition plans based on one or more work streams;

b. storing the one or more transition plans generated based on the one or more work streams; and

c. storing information corresponding to the one or more work streams.

37. The computer program product of claim 35 further performing storing the plurality of knowledge elements and the information corresponding to the one or more applications.

38. The computer program product of claim 35 further performing extracting the information corresponding to the one or more applications from the first set of users.

39. The computer program product of claim 35 further performing providing an access to the first set of users and the second set of users to access the framework, wherein the framework is accessed over a network.

40. The computer program product of claim 35 further performing:

a. publishing status of the transition for the organization; and

b. generating one or more reports based on the status of the transition and information corresponding to one or more work streams.

41. The computer program product of claim 35 further performing:

a. authenticating and authorizing the first set of users; and

b. the second set of users for accessing the framework; and

displaying information corresponding to the first set of users and the second set of users based on the accessing of the framework.

42. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the one or more knowledge elements are captured based on a predefined knowledge reference component comprising a template for one or more of the second set of users to identify information required in connection with a knowledge element.

43. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the computer readable program code determines:

i) a support effectiveness metric representing a capability measurement of at least one individual within the second set of users to be entirely responsible for support and maintenance of an application being transitioned; and

ii) a knowledge quotient metric representing a measurement of collective knowledge of the second set of users with respect to all aspects of the application being transitioned.

44. A framework suitable for use in transition of one or more applications of an organization, the one or more applications being transitioned from a first set of users to a second set of users, the framework comprising:

a. a transition module configured for generating one or more transition plans for the one or more applications, the one or more transition plans being generated based on information corresponding to the one or more applications, the one or more transition plans comprising one or more transition activities, wherein the transition module comprises a work stream planning module configured for;

i. generating the one or more transition plans based on one or more work streams, each work stream comprising a plurality of contextually related sub-processes; and

ii. storing and managing the one or more transition plans generated based on the one or more work streams, wherein the one or more transition plans are managed by a user;

b. a knowledge capture module configured for;

i. capturing a plurality of knowledge elements corresponding to the one or more applications and the one or more transition activities, wherein the plurality of knowledge elements are captured using at least one of (1) one or more knowledge capturing tools and (2) one or more predefined knowledge reference components, and wherein the plurality of knowledge elements comprise at least one of a set of source code, a use case, a test case, a support process, an incident resolution, a user manual, or a training material; and

ii. associating each of the plurality of knowledge elements corresponding to an application being transitioned with one or more other knowledge elements corresponding to the same application, wherein the associations enable identification or search of knowledge elements corresponding to said application;

c. a knowledge validation module configured for;

i. securing from the second set of users responses to queries regarding the captured knowledge elements and the associations between the plurality of knowledge elements; and

ii. enabling the first set of users to evaluate the responses received from the second set of users for assessing and validating the knowledge of the second set of users regarding the plurality of knowledge elements and the association between the plurality of knowledge elements, wherein the validation is performed based on a predefined set of rules; and

d. a collaboration module configured for providing collaboration between the first set of users and the second set of users, wherein the collaboration enables communication between the first set of users and the second set of users during the transition of the one or more applications.

45. A method suitable for use in transition of one or more applications of an organization, the one or more applications being transitioned from a first set of users to a second set of users, the method comprising:

a. generating one or more transition plans for the one or more applications, the one or more transition plans being generated based on information corresponding to the one or more applications, the one or more transition plans comprising one or more transition activities;

b. capturing a plurality of knowledge elements corresponding to the one or more applications and the one or more transition activities, wherein the plurality of knowledge elements are captured using at least one of one or more knowledge capturing tools and one or more predefined knowledge reference components, and wherein the plurality of knowledge elements comprise at least one of a set of source code, a use case, a test case, a support process, an incident resolution, a user manual, or a training material;

c. associating each of the plurality of knowledge elements corresponding to a particular application with one or more other elements corresponding to said application, wherein the association between the plurality of knowledge elements is established by the first set of users and the second set of users;

d. enabling the first set of users to assess and validate the knowledge of the plurality of knowledge elements and the association between the plurality of knowledge elements, wherein the validation is performed based on a predefined set of rules;

e. providing collaboration between the first set of users and the second set of users, wherein the collaboration enables communication between the first set of users and the second set of users during the transition of the one or more applications;

f. generating one or more transition plans based on one or more work streams;

g. storing and managing the one or more transition plans generated based on the one or more work streams, wherein the one or more transition plans are managed by a user; and

h. storing and managing information corresponding to the one or more work streams, wherein the information corresponding to the one or more work streams is managed by a user.

46. A computer program product for use with a computer, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein suitable for use in transition of one or more applications of an organization, the one or more applications being transitioned from a first set of users to a second set of users, the computer readable program code performing:

a. generating one or more transition plans for the one or more applications, the one or more transition plans being generated based on information corresponding to the one or more applications, the one or more transition plans comprising one or more transition activities;

b. capturing a plurality of knowledge elements corresponding to the one or more applications and the one or more transition activities, wherein the plurality of knowledge elements are captured using at least one of one or more knowledge capturing tools and one or more predefined knowledge reference components, and wherein the plurality of knowledge elements comprise at least one of a set of source code, a use case, a test case, a support process, an incident resolution, a user manual, or a training material;

c. associating each of the plurality of knowledge elements corresponding to a particular application with one or more other elements corresponding to said application, wherein the association between the plurality of knowledge elements is established by the first set of users and the second set of users;

d. enabling the first set of users to validate the knowledge of the second set of users regarding the plurality of knowledge elements and association between the plurality of knowledge elements, wherein the validation is performed based on a predefined set of rules; and

e. providing collaboration between the first set of users and the second set of users, wherein the collaboration enables communication between the first set of users and the second set of users during the transition of the one or more applications;

f. generating the one or more transition plans based on one or more work streams;

g. storing the one or more transition plans generated based on the one or more work streams; and

h. storing information corresponding to the one or more work streams.