Data analysis and visualization method

Abstract

Analyzing data relating to an organization is performed by defining interconnections between data nodes belonging to a first organizational chart of the organization and data nodes belonging to a second organizational chart of the organization. Typically, the defined interconnections are for correlating the first organizational chart and the second organizational chart in three-dimensions so as to provide a three-dimensional data visualization structure of the organization. Data relating to the organization is mapped onto the three-dimensional data visualization structure using a predetermined process. The mapped data is then correlated against known template data having a relation to categories of organizational structure. Finally, data indicative of the category of the organizational structure is provided.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the following drawings, in which similar reference numerals designate similar items:

FIG. 1 shows a simplified diagram of a three-dimensional data visualization structure in accordance with an embodiment of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 shows the three-dimensional data visualization structure of FIG. 1 after rotation;

FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic of an embodiment of the invention wherein the organization chart of an organization is displayed with overlays for management reporting as well as project reporting;

FIG. 4 is a simplified flow diagram for a method of analyzing data relating to an organization according to an embodiment of the instant invention; and,

FIG. 5 is a simplified flow diagram for a method of analyzing data relating to an organization according to another embodiment of the instant invention.

Claims

1. A method of analyzing data relating to an organization, comprising; defining interconnections between data nodes belonging to a first organizational chart of the organization and data nodes belonging to a second organizational chart of the organization, the defined interconnections for correlating the first organizational chart and the second organizational chart in three-dimensions so as to provide a three-dimensional data visualization structure of the organization;mapping data relating to the organization onto the three-dimensional data visualization structure using a predetermined process;correlating the mapped data against known template data having a relation to categories of organizational structure; and,providing data indicative of the category of the organizational structure.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising displaying the three-dimensional data visualization structure with mapped data overlaid thereupon for being viewed by a user.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein correlating comprises correlating portions of the mapped data with template data to identify within an organization patterns of organization.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein correlating is performed iteratively to identify a set of organization patterns.

5. A method according to claim 3 wherein correlating is performed recursively to identify a set of organization patterns.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein correlating comprises correlating portions of the mapped data with template data in a time varying fashion to identify within the organization trends.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein correlating is performed iteratively to identify a set of organizational trends.

8. A method according to claim 6 wherein correlating is performed recursively to identify a set of organizational trends.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the template data relates to known organizational categories and a suggested course of action and comprising: providing an indication of the suggested course of action for each identified category.

10. A method of analyzing data relating to an organization, comprising; providing a three-dimensional data visualization structure of the organization, the three-dimensional data visualization structure comprising N organizational charts distributed on a surface of a three-dimensional shape, each one of the N organizational charts comprising a plurality of data nodes, and at least some of the plurality of data nodes in each one of the N organizational charts being interconnected with a data node in another one of the N organizational charts;mapping data relating to the organization onto the three-dimensional data visualization structure, the data relating to an attribute of one of the data nodes in one of the N organizational charts;updating attributes of data nodes in any of the N organizational charts that are interconnected with the one of the data nodes; and,displaying the three-dimensional data visualization structure with updated attributes for being viewed by a user.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the attribute relates to other than organizational-structure related data.

12. A method according to claim 10, comprising displaying the three-dimensional data visualization structure with mapped data overlaid thereupon for being viewed by a user.

13. A method according to claim 10, comprising: correlating portions of the mapped data with template data to identify within an organization patterns of organization.

14. A method according to claim 13 comprising: correlating attribute data within the identified organization patterns.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein correlating comprises correlating the portions of the mapped data with the template data in a time varying fashion to identify within the organization trends.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the template data relates to known organizational categories and known attribute values within those known organizational categories and a suggested course of action and comprising: providing an indication of the suggested course of action for each identified category.

17. A method according to claim 13 wherein the template data relates to known organizational categories and a suggested course of action and comprising: providing an indication of the suggested course of action for each identified category.

18. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing a method of analyzing data relating to an organization, the method comprising: defining interconnections between data nodes belonging to a first organizational chart of the organization and data nodes belonging to a second organizational chart of the organization, the defined interconnections for correlating the first organizational chart and the second organizational chart in three-dimensions so as to provide a three-dimensional data visualization structure of the organization;mapping data relating to the organization onto the three-dimensional data visualization structure using a predetermined process;correlating the mapped data against known template data having a relation to categories of organizational structure; and,providing data indicative of the category of the organizational structure.