CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application includes subject matter related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/857,759, entitled "Concept Selection Tool and Process," filed May 28, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is directed to computer software, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a system and method for scoring concepts for enterprise development to provide an objective indication of merit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Without continuous improvement, an enterprise tends to atrophy. Product revenue tends to decline; process inefficiencies tend to accumulate; and competitiveness tends to become impaired. To remain healthy and competitive, an enterprise mustactively reinvent itself. Typically, opportunities to better the enterprise arise from many sources. Enterprise research and development (R&D) activities explore capabilities significantly different from those currently possessed by the enterprise. Competitive research and analysis suggest changes needed to meet or exceed the capabilities possessed by other industry players. Market research explores the changing needs of customers and exposes new forces and patterns of behavior and desire thatdrive change. Business development identifies new partnerships or relationships that could add value to the enterprise. Operations uncover inefficiencies and gaps that if corrected would make the enterprise stronger. Strategic business planners andexecutives set overall direction for the enterprise. This universe of potential change represents alternate futures of the enterprise. Considerable money and time may need to be invested in making a change before it begins to return value. Enterprisestypically have limited budgets for investing in change. It is vital to select the correct projects to fund because funding the wrong changes may leave the enterprise in a weakened marketplace position. Also, poor selection reduces cash flow, depletesthe funds available for change, and ultimately means that there are fewer resources to invest in other change projects.

Enterprises need to look well into the future, to anticipate the economic environment in which they will be operating, and to develop a plan for achieving success in that future economic environment. This activity may be called strategizing, andthe product of this activity is a strategy or a strategic initiative. This activity is typically performed by high level executives and by specialized staff dedicated to strategic planning, well removed from the day-to-day operational details of theenterprise. For these strategies to benefit the enterprise they must be translated to operational activities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment, a system for scoring a concept is provided. The system includes a data store, a graphical user interface, and a scoring component. The data store maintains values for categories, sub-area weighting factors, and areaweighting factors. The graphical user interface allows a user to score a concept based on a plurality of categories of the concept. At least some of the categories are associated with one of a plurality of sub-areas, and at least one of the sub-areasis associated with one of a plurality of areas. The scoring component is operable based on the categories selected by the user to calculate a concept score using the values for the categories selected by the user. The scoring component also calculatesthe concept score using the sub-area weighting factors to weight the associated sub-areas, and also uses the area weighting factors to weight the associated areas.

In another embodiment, a method for scoring a concept is provided. The method includes assigning values to a plurality of coefficients and to a plurality of category values. The method includes selecting a plurality of categories, one categoryfrom each of a plurality of sub-areas. The method includes reading the coefficients from a data store and reading the category values from the data store. Each category value is associated with one of the selected categories. The method also includescalculating a concept score based on the coefficients and the category values.

According to another embodiment, a system for scoring concepts is provided that includes a graphical user interface, a data store, and a scoring component. The graphical user interface is operable to display, for selection by a user, a pluralityof categories for each of a plurality of sub-areas. The plurality of sub-areas are associated with an area. The data store is in communication with the graphical user interface and contains a plurality of sub-area coefficients. Each sub-areacoefficient is associated with one of the plurality of sub-areas. The data store also contains a plurality of category values, each category value is associated with one of the plurality of categories. The scoring component communicates with thegraphical user interface and the data store and is operable based on the user's selection of categories for each of the sub-areas to determine a concept score. The concept score is based on the category values associated with each of the selectedcategories and uses the sub-area coefficient of the sub-area associated with the selected category. The concept score is used to evaluate the concept for funding.

In another embodiment, a method of evaluating a strategic change in a business is provided. The method includes assigning values to a plurality of coefficients based on a first strategic view of the business and assigning values to a pluralityof category values. The method provides for selecting a plurality of categories, one category from each of a plurality of sub-areas. The plurality of coefficients include a plurality of sub-area coefficients each associated with one of the plurality ofsub-areas and a plurality of area coefficients each associated with one of a plurality of areas. Each area has one or more associated sub-areas, and each sub-area has a plurality of categories. The method includes reading the coefficients from a datastore, and calculating a first concept score using the coefficients. The method includes changing at least one of the coefficients based on a second strategic view of the business, and calculating a second concept score using the changed coefficients. The method also provides for using the first and second concept scores for evaluation.

In one embodiment, a system for scoring concepts is provided that includes a graphical user interface, a scoring component, and a data store. The graphical user interface receives user input and displays for selection by a user a plurality ofcategories for each of a plurality of sub-areas. The plurality of sub-areas are associated with an area. The data store is in communication with the graphical user interface and contains coefficients each associated with the area and one of theplurality of sub-areas. The data store also maintains a plurality of category values each associated with one of the plurality of categories. The scoring component communicates with the graphical user interface and the data store. The scoringcomponent is operable based on the user's selection of categories for each of the sub-areas to determine a concept score. The score is based on the category values associated with each of the selected categories and the sub-area coefficient of thesub-area associated with the selected category. The concept score is used in evaluating the concept for funding. The scoring component is operable in response to the user updating one or more of the coefficients associated with the area and sub-areasto automatically recalculate the score using the updated coefficients.

These and other features and advantages will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following brief description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like referencenumerals represent like parts.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for scoring development concepts according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart that depicts a method for scoring development concepts according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary general purpose computer system suitable for implementing the several embodiments of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It should be understood at the outset that although an exemplary implementation of one embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated below, the present system may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or inexistence. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the exemplary implementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated below, including the exemplary design and implementation illustrated and described herein.

The careers and compensation of employees in an enterprise are often affected by whether specific projects are authorized, funded, and implemented. Consequently, the project funding process may be highly politicized as employees compete toobtain approval for their projects. A politicized funding process does not tend to select the projects best suited to optimizing the enterprise as a whole.

Strategies which are painstakingly crafted by high level executives of enterprises may be difficult to bring to bear on the day-to-day operations of the enterprise. Strategies by their nature are often abstract and directional. Sometimes merelip service is paid to implementing the strategies in projects. It is not enough to assent to and praise the enterprise strategies. To become reality, these strategies must be incorporated in the project funding decision making process and embodied inprojects. The high level executives who craft enterprise strategies may find it difficult to quickly identify what projects support which strategies or to quickly identify the effect on project prioritization of changing the enterprise strategies.

What is needed is a development concept scoring tool which provides an objective element to the enterprise project concept selection process. In one embodiment a system and methods are provided that make discrete evaluation choices and calculatea figure of merit which may provide an objective basis for comparing among project concepts which compete for enterprise funding and/or selection.

Turning now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a system 10 for scoring development concepts is depicted. The system 10 comprises a scoring component 12, a graphical user interface (GUI) 14, and a data store 16. The scoring component 12 is a computerprogram or application which may be executed on any general purpose computer system. General purpose computer systems will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter.

The GUI 14 displays a scoring screen which guides a user through a process of providing scoring information to the scoring component 12. The scoring information comprises selections of categories for each of a plurality of sub-areas, eachsub-area associated with an area. For example, a financial scoring area may be composed of a revenue projection sub-area and a cost projection sub-area. The revenue projection sub-area may provide a first category $0 to $99999, a second category$100000 to $19999, a third category $200000 to $499999, a fourth category $500000 to $1 M, and a fifth category over $1 M from which to select based on the revenue projections of the concept. The provision of a limited number of projected revenuecategories from which to choose makes the choices discrete, promotes objectivity in the scoring process, and promotes uniform scoring. The categories selected using the GUI 14 may be stored by the scoring component 12 during the concept evaluationsession and may be stored in the data store 16 after the concept evaluation session has completed. When all the category selections have been entered, the user may trigger the scoring of the concept with a button selection on the GUI 14, for example.

The scoring component 12 calculates a score of the concept providing an objective measure of the merit of a development project. The score of the concept is an objective measure because all development projects are scored employing the samescoring model using the same weighting factors and category values. The scoring model, the weighting factors, and the category values are discussed in greater detail hereinafter. Note, however, that other factors besides the score of the concept mayneed to be considered to choose a development concept or development project for funding, for example a development concept may score poorly but be selected for development to satisfy regulatory requirements in a timely fashion. For further detailsabout how the system 10 for scoring development concepts may be employed in the context of a full concept selection process see U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/857,759, entitled "Concept Selection Tool and Process," filed May 28, 2004, which isincorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

Each category is associated with a numeric value, called a category value, related to the desirability or undesirability of the category. For example, the revenue categories enumerated above may be associated with numeric values as follows:

TABLE-US-00001 $0-$99999 1 $100000-$199999 2 $200000-$499999 5 $500000-$1 M 10 >$1 M 20

The values associated with the categories for each of the sub-areas is stored in the data store 16 and are readily modifiable without changing the scoring component 12.

The scoring component 12 calculates a sub-score or a sub-area score associated with an area by multiplying the category value associated with the category selected for the sub-area by a sub-area coefficient associated with the sub-area. Thesub-area coefficient may be referred to as a weighting factor, a sub-area weighting factor, or a sub-heading weighting factor, and is employed to scale the relative importance of the scores of each of the sub-areas within an area. The sub-areacoefficients are stored in the data store 16 and are readily modifiable without changing the scoring component 12. The sub-area coefficient may be either positive or negative. The sub-area coefficient may be negative when the sub-area is generallyconsidered a negative factor, such as cost. The area score is a sum of products and may be represented as: Area score=.SIGMA.C.sub.i*(selectedCategoryValue.sub.i) where the .SIGMA. operator indicates that a series of values C.sub.i are summed, C.sub.iis the i-th sub-area coefficient, and selectedCategoryValue.sub.i is the category value associated with the category selected for the i-th sub-area.

The scoring component 12 calculates the score of the concept by multiplying each area score by an area coefficient associated with the particular area. The area coefficient may be referred to as a weighting factor, an area weighting factor, or aheading weighting factor, and is employed to scale the relative importance of the scores of each area within the concept score. The area coefficients are stored in the data store 16 and are readily modifiable without changing the scoring component 12. The area coefficient may be either positive or negative. The concept score is a sum of products and may be represented as: Concept score=.SIGMA.C.sub.j*(AreaScore.sub.j)=.SIGMA.C.sub.j*{.SIGMA.C.sub.j,i*(- categoryValue.sub.j,i)} (1) where the .SIGMA. operator indicates that a series of products C.sub.j*(AreaScore.sub.j) are added, C.sub.j is the j-th area coefficient, AreaScore.sub.j is the j-th area score, C.sub.j,i is the i-th sub-area coefficient of the j-th area, and categoryValue.sub.j,i is thecategory value associated with the category selected for the i-th sub-area of the j-th area. The equation (1) may be referred to as a concept scoring model or as a scoring model.

An exemplary concept score is now calculated following the above scoring model based on exemplary area coefficients, sub-area coefficients, and category values defined as follows:

TABLE-US-00002 Area: Sub-area: area coefficient sub-area coefficient Category: categoryValue Financial: 3 Revenue sub-area: 5 0-$99999: 1 $100000-$199999: 2 $200000-$499999: 5 $500000-$1 M: 10 >$1 M: 20 Cost sub-area: -3 0-$99999: 1$100000-$199999: 2 $200000-$499999: 5 $500000-$1 M: 10 >$1 M: 20 Strategy: 2 Strategy Sub-area1: 3 SSA1 category1: 1 SSA1 category2: 5 SSA1 category3: 10 Strategy sub-area2: 2 SSA2 category1: 3 SSA2 category2: 5 Architecture: 2 Architecture sub-area1:2 ASA1 category1: 2 ASA1 category2: 4 ASA1 category3: 6 Architecture sub-area2: 3 ASA2 category1: 1 ASA2 category2: 4 Marketing: 1 Marketing sub-area1: 3 MSA1 category1: 3 MSA1 category2: 5 MSA1 category3: 7

Note that the identification of areas, sub-areas, categories, area coefficients, sub-area coefficients, and category values are exemplary and may be different in other embodiments.

For this example the following category selections are made. In the financial area, the $200000-$499999 value of the revenue category and the O-$99999 value of the cost category are selected. In the Strategy area, Strategy sub-area1, SSA1category2 value is selected, and the Strategy sub-area2, SSA2 category1 value is selected. Strategy sub-areas may include, for example, "information technology consolidation", "business infrastructure growth", or a particular aspect of the company'sfinancial growth, such as "top-line growth", or "cost reduction". Categories may be include, for example, "high", "medium", or "low impact" on the particular strategy sub-area. Examples of categories that might be associated with a strategy sub-area of"top-line growth" might be "dramatically improves top-line growth", "improves top-line growth", "neutral", "negatively impacts top-line growth", or "dramatically reduces top-line growth". The category of "dramatically improves top-line growth" might beassigned a high positive-number score, while the category of "dramatically reduces top-line growth" might be assigned a high negative-number score.

In the Architecture area, Architecture sub-area1, the ASA1 category3 value is selected, and the Architecture sub-area2, the ASA2 category1 value is selected. Examples of architecture sub-areas might be "systems infrastructure", implementation ofa particular state of architecture, "compliance", or "corporate integration". Categories may be "yes" or "no" for whether the initiative promotes an architecture sub-area of, for example, of "compliance". In the Marketing area, sub-area1, the MSA1category3 value is selected. Examples of marketing sub-areas might include "customer care", "market penetration", "market scope". In some embodiments, the each sub-area may have only a limited number of categories, such as a six category maximumassociated with each sub-area.

The concept score is calculated as Concept score=C.sub.1*FinancialScore+C.sub.2*StrategyScore+C.sub.3*ArchitectureSc- ore+C.sub.4*MarketingScore Where C.sub.1 is the financial area coefficient, C.sub.2 is the strategy area coefficient, C.sub.3 isthe architecture coefficient, and C.sub.4 is the marketing coefficient. Taking the area coefficients from the table above Concept score=3*FinancialScore+2*StrategyScore+2*ArchitectureScore+1*MarketingSco- re

The financial area score is calculated as FinancialScore=C.sub.1,1*categoryValue.sub.1,1+C.sub.1,2*categoryValue.su- b.1,2 where C.sub.1,1 is the revenue sub-area coefficient, C.sub.1,2 is the cost sub-area coefficient, categoryvalue.sub.1,1 isthe value associated with the selected revenue category, and categoryValue.sub.1,2 is the value associated with the selected cost category. Taking financial sub-area coefficients from the table above FinancialScore=5*5+(-3)*1=25-3=22

The strategy area score is calculated as StrategyScore=C.sub.2,1*categoryValue.sub.2,1+C.sub.2,2*categoryValue.sub- .2.2 where C.sub.2,1 is the strategy sub-area1 coefficient, C.sub.2,2 is the strategy sub-area2 coefficient, categoryValue.sub.2,1is the selected strategy sub-area 1 category value, and categoryValue.sub.2,2 is the selected strategy sub-area 2 category value. Taking strategy sub-area coefficients from the table above StrategyScore=3*5+2*3=15+6=21

The architecture score is calculated as ArchitectureScore=C.sub.3,1*categoryValue.sub.3,1+C.sub.3,2*categoryValue- .sub.3,2 where C.sub.3,1 is the architecture sub-area1 coefficient, C.sub.3,2 is the architecture sub-area2 coefficient,categoryValue.sub.3,1 is the selected architecture sub-area1 category value, and categoryValue.sub.3,2 is the selected architecture sub-area2 category value. Taking the architecture sub-area coefficients from the table aboveArchitectureScore=2*6+3*1=12+3=15

The marketing score is calculated as MarketingScore=C.sub.4,1*categoryValue.sub.4,1 where C.sub.4,1 is the marketing sub-area1 coefficient and categoryValue.sub.4,1 is the selected marketing sub-area1 category. Tanking the marketing sub-areacoefficient from the table above MarketingScore=3*7=21

With each of the area scores calculated, the exemplary concept score can be calculated as Concept score=3*22+2*21+2*15+1*21=66+42+30+21=159 This scoring is only exemplary. In another embodiment, other areas, other sub-areas, other weightings,and other category values may be employed.

Because cost may be considered a negative factor in evaluating a concept, the cost sub-area coefficient was assigned the value -3. An alternate means to make increased costs diminish the score of a concept may be to employ a positive factor asthe cost sub-area coefficient, for example "1", and to change the category values associated with the cost sub-area, for example to associate the cost category 0-$99999 with the value 20, to associate the cost category $100000-$199999 with the value 10,to associate the cost category $200000-$499999 with the value 5, to associate the cost category $500000-$1 M with the value 2, and to associate the cost category >$1 M with the value 1.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a flow chart depicts a method for using the system 10 for scoring development concepts. In block 50 a category selection associated with a sub-area, for example the projected revenue category $200000-$499999, is entered,for example by using the GUI 10. The method proceeds to block 52 where if all sub-area selections for all areas have been entered the method proceeds to block 54. By looping through blocks 50 and 52 all sub-area category selections of all areas areentered.

In block 54 the area coefficients, the sub-area coefficients, and the category values associated with the sub-area category selections are read. By reading the area coefficients, the sub-area coefficients, and the category values during eachconcept scoring session the scoring method is assured to calculate according to the latest values. The method proceeds to block 56 where the concept score is calculated according to the scoring model of equation (1) above, using the area and sub-areacoefficients and the category values associated with the selected categories. The method proceeds to block 58 where the sub-area category selections entered and the calculated concept score are stored, for example in the data store 16. The method thenexits.

In an embodiment, modifications to area coefficients, sub-area coefficients, and/or category values in the data store 16 generate a trigger action which causes all concept scores stored in the data store 16 to be recalculated and stored. Forexample, when one or more of the coefficients are adjusted, the system 10 may be operable to automatically recalculate the scores. This enables planners to quickly determine the effects on the company's research and development efforts of changes instrategic initiatives, since the concept scores are automatically recalculated, or reprioritized with the new weightings. This gives planners the ability to immediately assess the impact of such changes.

In another embodiment, the system 10 is operable for testing different strategies and, by adjusting the weightings or coefficients, quickly ascertaining how such changes impact the company, for example, the research and development and planningefforts. Also, one technique for analyzing concepts using the present invention may include changing the weighting or coefficients, or scores and identifying those concepts that, for example, continue to score higher, or those that maintain a highaverage score when strategies or initiatives, or their importance are changed.

The system described above may be implemented on any general-purpose computer with sufficient processing power, memory resources, and network throughput capability to handle the necessary workload placed upon it. FIG. 3 illustrates a typical,general-purpose computer system suitable for implementing one or more embodiments disclosed herein. The computer system 380 includes a processor 382 (which may be referred to as a central processor unit or CPU) that is in communication with memorydevices including secondary storage 384, read only memory (ROM) 386, random access memory (RAM) 388, input/output (I/O) 390 devices, and network connectivity devices 392. The processor may be implemented as one or more CPU chips.

The secondary storage 384 is typically comprised of one or more disk drives or tape drives and is used for non-volatile storage of data and as an over-flow data storage device if RAM 388 is not large enough to hold all working data. Secondarystorage 384 may be used to store programs which are loaded into RAM 388 when such programs are selected for execution. The ROM 386 is used to store instructions and perhaps data which are read during program execution. ROM 386 is a non-volatile memorydevice which typically has a small memory capacity relative to the larger memory capacity of secondary storage. The RAM 388 is used to store volatile data and perhaps to store instructions. Access to both ROM 386 and RAM 388 is typically faster than tosecondary storage 384.

I/O 390 devices may include printers, video monitors, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), touch screen displays, keyboards, keypads, switches, dials, mice, track balls, voice recognizers, card readers, paper tape readers, or other well-known inputdevices. The network connectivity devices 392 may take the form of modems, modem banks, ethernet cards, universal serial bus (USB) interface cards, serial interfaces, token ring cards, fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) cards, wireless local areanetwork (WLAN) cards, radio transceiver cards such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) radio transceiver cards, and other well-known network devices. These network connectivity 392 devices may enable the processor 382 to communicate with anInternet or one or more intranets. With such a network connection, it is contemplated that the processor 382 might receive information from the network, or might output information to the network in the course of performing the above-described methodsteps. Such information, which is often represented as a sequence of instructions to be executed using processor 382, may be received from and outputted to the network, for example, in the form of a computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave

Such information, which may include data or instructions to be executed using processor 382 for example, may be received from and outputted to the network, for example, in the form of a computer data baseband signal or signal embodied in acarrier wave. The baseband signal or signal embodied in the carrier wave generated by the network connectivity 392 devices may propagate in or on the surface of electrical conductors, in coaxial cables, in waveguides, in optical media, for exampleoptical fiber, or in the air or free space. The information contained in the baseband signal or signal embedded in the carrier wave may be ordered according to different sequences, as may be desirable for either processing or generating the informationor transmitting or receiving the information. The baseband signal or signal embedded in the carrier wave, or other types of signals currently used or hereafter developed, referred to herein as the transmission medium, may be generated according toseveral methods well known to one skilled in the art.

The processor 382 executes instructions, codes, computer programs, scripts which it accesses from hard disk, floppy disk, optical disk (these various disk based systems may all be considered secondary storage 384), ROM 386, RAM 388, or thenetwork connectivity devices 392.

While several embodiments have been provided in the present disclosure, it should be understood that the disclosed systems and methods may be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the presentdisclosure. The present examples are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the intention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims along with their full scope ofequivalents. For example, the various elements or components may be combined or integrated in another system or certain features may be omitted, or not implemented.

Also, techniques, systems, subsystems and methods described and illustrated in the various embodiments as discrete or separate may be combined or integrated with other systems, modules, techniques, or methods without departing from the scope ofthe present disclosure. Other items shown as directly coupled or communicating with each other may be coupled through some interface or device, such that the items may no longer be considered directly coupled to each but may still be indirectly coupledand in communication with one another. Other examples of changes, substitutions, and alterations are ascertainable by one skilled in the art and could be made without departing from the spirit and scope disclosed herein.

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