Computer-aided methods and apparatus for assessing an organizational process or system

Abstract

Method and apparatus for computer-aided assessment of organizational process or system. Method and apparatus are adapted to display questions on a computer to an assessor, who then inputs numerical and/or textual inputs relative to the assessor's perception of the process or system. Filtering techniques inhibit entry of unsupported numerical and/or textual inputs which may be untrue and/or exaggerated. Questions used in combination with additional questions provide more accurate assessment of the system or process, where the question combinations already exist in a database. Questions asked may be directed to one or more recognized standards, and duplicative questions from different standards may be omitted. Evaluations of collected information are performed and additional corrective action questions are asked to identify degrees of risk and areas of weakness of the process or system.

1 - 64 . (canceled) 
     
     
         65 . A computer readable storage medium configured to store a set of instructions which:
 display a first user adjustable icon with a first allowed input range;   receive a first input from a user corresponding to the user's perception of a effectiveness of an existing process or system, the first quantitative input being made by positioning an indicator on the first user adjustable icon at a point within the first allowed input range;   determine a second allowed input range for a second user adjustable icon based on the first input, wherein the second allowed input range is limited to values equal to or greater than the value of the first quantitative input;   display the second user adjustable icon, with the second allowed input range; and   receive a second input from the user, the second input corresponding to corresponding to the user's perception of the expected effectiveness of a process or system after a recommended change is made, the second quantitative input being made by the user by positioning an indicator at a point within the second allowed input range on the second user adjustable icon.   
     
     
         66 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 65 , wherein the first user adjustable icon is a sliding bar. 
     
     
         67 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 65 , wherein displaying comprises displaying across a global computer network. 
     
     
         68 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 65 , wherein displaying comprises displaying remotely. 
     
     
         69 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 65 , wherein first and second inputs are numeric. 
     
     
         70 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 65 , wherein the second user adjustable icon is a sliding bar. 
     
     
         71 . A method of using a computer system to gather information about an organizational process or system, comprising:
 obtaining information about organization to be accessed, wherein the information comprises information regarding assessors;   the computer system preparing at least one question regarding the organizational process or system by analyzing the obtained information about the organization;   the computer system sending the at least one prepared question to at least one of the assessors;   the computer system displaying on a display device of the at least one assessor at least one question adapted to prompt the assessor to input on an input device of a computer the assessor's perceptions of the organizational process or system, wherein the assessor has at least some knowledge about the organizational process or system;   the computer system receiving a first input from an input device, the first input reflecting the assessor's perception of the organizational process or system;   the computer system comparing within a processing unit of a computer the first input to a first value, and, if the first input has a first predetermined characteristic in relation to the first values, then prompting the assessor to identify evidence that supports the first input, and if the supporting evidence is identified, then validating the first input for subsequent evaluation, and if the supporting evidence is not identified, then inhibiting validation of the first input until the evidence is identified or until the first input is changed to have second predetermined characteristics in relation to the values,   the computer system prompting an assessor to provide recommendations to improve the organizational process or system; and   the computer system prompting the assessor to input a second input on an input device of the computer corresponding to the assessor's perception of how well the organizational process or system functions to address the issue, and receiving the second input from the input device, the second input being stored in a memory of the computer, and the second input reflecting the assessor's perception of the results achieved by the organizational process or system;, wherein selecting the first value on the first user adjustable icon limits the range of values displayed for selection on a second user adjustable icon.   
     
     
         72 - 73 . (canceled) 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 71 , further comprising sending at least one warning notification prior to sending the prepared questions. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 71 , further comprising sending at least one reminder notification if answers are not received within a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 71 , further comprising sending the at least one prepared question to a different assessor if answers are not received within a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 71 , further comprising sending at least one reminder notification to an assessor's supervisor if answers are not received within a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         78 . (canceled) 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 71 , further comprising displaying on the display device at least one corrective action question, the at least one corrective action question being adapted to prompt the at least one assessor to input on the input device the assessor's perception of a problem area of the organizational process or system. 
     
     
         80 - 82 . (canceled) 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the first predetermined characteristic is defined to mean that the first input has a value that is less than the first value, and the second predetermined characteristic is defined to mean that the first input has a value that is at least as great as the first value. 
     
     
         84 . (canceled) 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 71 , further comprising prompting the assessor to input a second input on an input device of the computer the assessor's perception of how well the organizational process or system functions to address the issue, and receiving the second input from the input device, the second input being stored in a memory of the computer, and the second input reflecting the assessor's perception of the results achieved by the organizational process or system. 
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 86 , further comprising comparing within a processing unit of the computer the second numerical input to a second value, and, if the second numerical input has a first predetermined characteristic in relation to the second value, then prompting the assessor to identify evidence that supports the second numerical input, and if evidence is identified that supports the second numerical input, then validating the second numerical input for subsequent evaluation, and if the evidence is not identified that supports the second numerical input, then inhibiting validation of the second numerical input until the evidence is identified or until the second numerical input is changed to have a second predetermined characteristic in relation to the second value. 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 87 , wherein if evidence is not identified that supports the second input, then further comprising inhibiting the display of subsequent questions until the evidence is identified or until second numerical input is changed to have the fourth predetermined characteristic in relation to the second value. 
     
     
         89 - 93 . (canceled) 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 86 , further comprising receiving first and second inputs from a plurality of assessors, and determining the standard deviation of the first input, and the standard deviation of the second input, from the inputs received from the assessors, and then using a standard deviation to evaluate at least a portion of the organizational process or system. 
     
     
         95 - 96 . (canceled) 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the evidence comprises visible evidence, and further comprising comparing within a processing unit of the computer the first input to second value, and, if the first numerical input has a first predetermined characteristic in relation to the second value, the prompting the assessor to identify supporting documentation that supports the first input; and if supporting documentation is identified, then validating the first value for subsequent evaluation, and if the supporting documentation is not identified, then inhibiting the validation of the first input until the supporting documentation is identified or until the first input is changed to have a second predetermined characteristic in relation to the second value. 
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 71 , further comprising prompting the assessor to input on the input device of the computer an assessment as to whether the organizational process or system is demonstrable, and, if an input is received from the input device that indicates that the organizational process or system is demonstrable, then validating the first input, and, if an input is received from the input device that indicates that the organizational process or system is not demonstrable, then inhibiting validation of the first input until the assessor changes the first input to have a first determined characteristic in relation to a second value. 
     
     
         99 - 104 . (canceled) 
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 71 , further comprising prompting an assessor to provided recommendations to improve the organizational process or system by use of an double slide bar, wherein selecting a value on the first slide bar limits the range of values displayed for selection on the second slide bar. 
     
     
         106 - 143 . (canceled)