System and Method for Identifying Relevant Information for an Enterprise

Abstract

A system and method are provided for finding and retrieving information within an enterprise that is relevant to enterprise problems, enterprise opportunities, and unexpected or interesting events. The method includes scanning content related to a process conducted by an enterprise, where the process includes one or more process steps; identifying a problem, opportunity or event associated with a process step (an enterprise stress point); indexing the scanned content with respect to the enterprise stress point; determining whether the scanned content is information relevant to the problem, opportunity or event; and providing relevant information to a user. The relevant information includes a description or discussion of a contemporaneous or previous experience of the enterprise regarding the problem, opportunity or event.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for finding information relevant to a process relevant to an enterprise, the system comprising:
 a computing device having a computer-readable medium with executable instructions encoded on non-transient digital storage medium, the non-transient digital storage medium also storing a model of the enterprise, content of the enterprise and data of the enterprise;   wherein processes associated with the model include nodes, a ranking of relevance between different nodes, and a ranking of relevance between content and data and the different nodes;   a device to input to said computer readable medium content and data relevant to an enterprise stress point; and   a user interface for presenting a user with content and data effective to aid the user in at least one of solving a problem, exploiting an opportunity, or understanding an event.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each said node contains descriptions and/or discussions of problems, opportunities and events. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein a plurality of said nodes are grouped together into a domain based on a commonality of problem, opportunity or event. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein each said domain is identified with an industry, a department of a company, or an enterprise structured with specific process steps and terminology. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3  wherein groups of domains having a commonality of problem, opportunity or event are stored on said computer-readable medium in a grid and executing said instructions entails the method of:
 a user browsing the grid for an experience; and 
 said user identifying a person connected with said experience. 
 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  including the further step of said user being connected with said identified person. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3  wherein groups of domains having a commonality of problem, opportunity or event are stored on said computer-readable medium as a grid and executing said instructions entails the method of:
 a user browsing the grid for an experience; and 
 said user obtaining information about said experience. 
 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein said user learns about opportunities and solutions related to said experience. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said ranking includes the step of formulating a relationship between at least two properties. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the at least two properties are physical properties. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 3  wherein commonality is determined based on similarity. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 3  wherein commonality is determined based on cause and effect. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 3  wherein groups of domains having a commonality of problem, opportunity or event are stored on said computer-readable medium as a graphical depiction and executing said instructions entails the method of:
 a user browsing the graphical depiction for an experience; and 
 said user obtaining information about said experience. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said user learns about opportunities and solutions related to said experience.