Patent Application
20080082487
These and other features of this invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The drawings are merely schematic representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the invention. The drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements.
In the following description, the following definitions are adhered to:
a) Key Control Point (KCP)—A key control point (KCP) is a position in the process at which an action must be completed in order to ensure the integrity of the process. A KCP requires an associated action be performed completely, accurately, with authorization, and within agreed timeframes, before the process can proceed further. KCPs are managed on an ongoing basis.
b) Key Control Indicator—A key control indicator (KCI), in the form of a report, is used to help gauge the effectiveness of the control mechanisms (including KCPs). KCIs determine whether control mechanisms are operating as designed. KCIs are captured and managed throughout the process by management reports which indicate that further action is required to move them to the next stage. These reports help the process owner identify exceptions or unexpected time lags in the process.
c) Process Control Validation—Validation testing to determine whether control mechanisms (including KCPs) are operating as designed, which includes inspection of transactions and activities at KCPs. This enables the process owner to perform validation testing on an ongoing basis.
Step S1 of
The KCI associated with KCP1 indicates that the RFS is in draft form. The associated process control validation testing verifies that all mandatory information has been provided in the RFS.
Step S1 also includes a communicate requirement C1 as described in the following table:
To this extent, the RFS is automatically communicated to a project manager (PM) of the customer (or other appropriate individual(s)), for approval and submission to the provider. Communication can be provided in any suitable manner (e.g., via email, intranet, hardcopy, etc).
Step S2 of
The KCIs associated with KCP2 indicate that the RFS is in initiation and under review or is in initiation and has been returned. The associated process control validation testing verifies that all forms associated with the RFS have been properly prepared. The process control validation testing associated with KCP3 verifies that all mandatory information has been provided. Note that a KCP (e.g., KCP3) need not have an associated KCI. Further, a KCP (e.g., KCP2) can have a plurality of KCIs.
Step S2 also includes a communicate requirement C2 as described in the following table:
Step S3 of
Step S3 further includes key control points KCP4-KCP7, and possibly KCP8, as described in the following table:
The KCI associated with KCP4 indicates that the RFS solution is ready for department peer review. The associated process control validation testing submits the solution to a named individual who is responsible for managing the department peer review, verifies the technical information in the solution, and provides a peer review of the technical and any 3rd party solution.
The KCI associated with KCP5 indicates that the RFS solution is ready for TDA review. The associated process control validation testing submits the solution to a named individual who is responsible for managing the TDA review, verifies that the peer review has been completed, and provides a TDA review of the technical and any 3rd party solution.
The KCI associated with KCP6 indicates that the RFS solution is ready for delivery assurance review. The associated process control validation testing verifies that the TDA review has been completed, and verifies the quality of the solution.
The KCI associated with KCP7 indicates that the RFS solution is in proposal development. The associated process control validation testing verifies that all technical reviews have been completed, and that a RFQ from a 3rd party (if necessary) has been provided. The latter requirement corresponds to KCP8 RFQ. Specifically, the KCIs associated with KCP8 indicate that: the RFS is in Solution Design/Work in Progress; the RFS is awaiting a 3rd party quote; and the RFQ has been provided. The associated process control validation testing verifies that correct information has been provided.
Step S3 also includes several communicate requirements C3-C6, and possibly C7-C8, as described in the following table:
Step S4 of
Step S4 further includes key control points KCP9-KCP13 as described in the following table:
The KCI associated with KCP9 indicates that the proposed solution is ready for review by the provider PM. The associated process control validation testing verifies that the correct information has been provided.
The process control validation testing associated with KCP10 verifies that correct information has been provided. Further, it determines if Finance & Planning (F & P) pricing is required. If not, flow step S4c is skipped.
The KCI associated with KCP11 indicates that the solution for the RFS requires F & P pricing. The associated process control validation testing verifies that all approvals have been provided and that all correct information has been provided
The KCI associated with KCP12 indicates that the proposal is awaiting Contracts & Negotiations (C & N) approval. The associated process control validation testing verifies that pricing has been provided and verifies that the proposal has been properly prepared.
The KCI associated with KCP13 indicates that the proposal is awaiting final provider approval and release. The associated process control validation testing verifies that C & N approval has been obtained and provides an option to select approval level.
Step S4 also includes several communicate requirements C9-C11 as described in the following table:
Step S5 of
Step S5 further includes key control points KCP14-KCP16 as described in the following table:
The KCI associated with KCP14 indicates that the proposed solution is awaiting customer approval. The associated process control validation testing verifies the content of the proposal and provides an option to select approval level.
The KCI associated with KCP15 indicates that the proposal is awaiting customer approval. The associated process control validation testing verifies that all customer approvals have been obtained.
The KCI associated with KCP16 indicates that the proposal is awaiting final customer approval. The associated process control validation testing verifies that all customer approvals and associated evidence have been obtained, and that all mandatory information is present and correct.
Step S6 of
Step S6 includes key control points KCP17-KCP20 as described in the following table:
The KCI associated with KCP17 indicates that the proposal has been accepted by the customer. The associated process control validation testing verifies the content of the proposal and the correctness of the approvals.
The KCI associated with KCP18 indicates the status (e.g., open or awaiting resource) of the projects associated with the implementation of the solution. The associated process control validation testing verifies and updates the appropriate tracking fields for the projects.
The KCI associated with KCP19 indicates the status (e.g., in progress, implemented, completed, closed, cancelled, or on-hold) of the projects associated with the implementation of the solution. The associated process control validation testing verifies and updates the appropriate tracking fields for the projects.
The KCI associated with KCP20 indicates that all projects associated with the solution are in implementation or have been implemented. The associated process control validation testing verifies that all mandatory fields and approvals have been obtained (including delivery assurance) and verifies and updates the appropriate tracking fields for the projects.
Step S6 also includes several communicate requirements C12-C15 as described in the following table:
Step S7 of
Step S7 includes key control points KCP21-KCP23 as described in the following table:
The KCI associated with KCP21 indicates that the proposal is ready for final invoice. The associated process control validation testing verifies that all approvals have been obtained.
The KCI associated with KCP22 indicates the final invoice has been sent.
The KCI associated with KCP23 indicates the final invoice has been paid. The associated process control validation testing verifies that payment for the final invoice has been received.
Step S7 also includes several communicate requirements C12-C15 as described in the following table:
The computer system 104 is shown as including a processing unit 108, a memory 110, at least one input/output (I/O) interface 114, and a bus 112. Further, the computer system 104 is shown in communication with at least one external device 116 and a storage system 118. In general, the processing unit 108 executes computer program code, that is stored in memory 110 and/or storage system 118. While executing computer program code, the processing unit 108 can read and/or write data from/to the memory 110, storage system 118, and/or I/O interface(s) 114. Bus 112 provides a communication link between each of the components in the computer system 104. The external device(s) 116 can comprise any device (e.g., display 120) that enables a user to interact with the computer system 104 or any device that enables the computer system 104 to communicate with one or more other computer systems. The program code includes an RFS managing system 130 for managing requests for service from a customer 132 as described in detail above with reference to
The computer system 104 can comprise any general purpose computing article of manufacture capable of executing computer program code installed by a user (e.g., a personal computer, server, handheld device, etc.). However, it is understood that the computer system 104 is only representative of various possible computer systems that may perform the various process steps of the invention. To this extent, in other embodiments, the computer system 104 can comprise any specific purpose computing article of manufacture comprising hardware and/or computer program code for performing specific functions, any computing article of manufacture that comprises a combination of specific purpose and general purpose hardware/software, or the like. In each case, the program code and hardware can be created using standard programming and engineering techniques, respectively.
Similarly, the computer infrastructure 102 is only illustrative of various types of computer infrastructures that can be used to implement the present invention. For example, in one embodiment, the computer infrastructure 102 comprises two or more computer systems (e.g., a server cluster) that communicate over any type of wired and/or wireless communications link, such as a network, a shared memory, or the like, to perform the various process steps of the invention. When the communications link comprises a network, the network can comprise any combination of one or more types of networks (e.g., the Internet, a wide area network, a local area network, a virtual private network, etc.). Regardless, communications between the computer systems may utilize any combination of various types of transmission techniques.
It is understood that some of the various systems shown in
It is understood that the invention further provides various alternative embodiments. For example, in one embodiment, the invention provides a computer-readable medium that includes computer program code to enable a computer infrastructure to carry out and/or implement the various process steps of the present invention. It is understood that the term “computer-readable medium” comprises one or more of any type of physical embodiment of the program code. In particular, the computer-readable medium can comprise program code embodied on one or more portable storage articles of manufacture (e.g., a compact disc, a magnetic disk, a tape, etc.), on one or more data storage portions of a computer system, such as the memory 110 and/or storage system 118 (e.g., a fixed disk, a read-only memory, a random access memory, a cache memory, etc.), and/or as a data signal traveling over a network (e.g., during a wired/wireless electronic distribution of the program code).
In another embodiment, the invention provides a business method that performs the process steps of the invention on a subscription, advertising, and/or fee basis. A service provider can create, maintain, support, etc., a computer infrastructure, such as the computer infrastructure 102, that performs the process steps of the invention for one or more customers. In return, the service provider can receive payment from the customer(s) under a subscription and/or fee agreement and/or the service provider can receive payment from the sale of advertising space to one or more third parties.
In still another embodiment, a computer infrastructure, such as the computer infrastructure 102, can be obtained (e.g., created, maintained, having made available to, etc.) and one or more systems for performing the process steps of the invention can be obtained (e.g., created, purchased, used, modified, etc.) and deployed to the computer infrastructure. To this extent, the deployment of each system can comprise one or more of (1) installing program code on a computer system, such as the computer system 104, from a computer-readable medium; (2) adding one or more computer systems to the computer infrastructure; and (3) incorporating and/or modifying one or more existing systems of the computer infrastructure, to enable the computer infrastructure to perform the process steps of the invention.
As used herein, it is understood that the terms “program code” and “computer program code” are synonymous and mean any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a computer system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: (a) conversion to another language, code or notation; and (b) reproduction in a different material form. The program code can be embodied as one or more types of program products, such as an application/software program, component software/a library of functions, an operating system, a basic I/O system/driver for a particular computing and/or I/O device, and the like.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of this invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations are possible.
