Managing business process calendars

Abstract

A system and method of managing business process calendars. A method of managing a process includes defining at least one process to be performed by a first entity for at least one second entity, and associating a first subset of a plurality of tasks of the at least one process with the first entity. The method further includes associating a second subset of the plurality of tasks with the at least one second entity, and creating a process calendar based upon the at least one process and the plurality of tasks. The method additionally includes displaying the process calendar.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer program product comprising a computer usable storage memory or device having a computer readable program embodied in the memory or device, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computing device is operable to cause the computing device to:
 define at least one process to be performed by a first entity for at least one second entity;   associate a first subset of a plurality of tasks of the at least one process with the first entity;   associate a second subset of the plurality of tasks with the at least one second entity;   create a process calendar that includes defining a service center where a particular task is performed, a client the particular task is performed for, a description of the at least one process, and a cycle that the at least one process runs on based upon the at least one process and the plurality of tasks; and   display the process calendar,   wherein the displaying the process calendar comprises displaying a plurality of rows each representing a separate process; and   wherein the displaying the process calendar comprises displaying a service center column, a client column, and a cycle column, with each of the columns intersecting the plurality of rows.   
     
     
         2 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one process comprises a plurality of processes performed by the first entity for the at least one second entity. 
     
     
         3 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the displaying the process calendar comprises:
 displaying the first subset of tasks relative to a plurality of time periods; and   displaying for each time period at least one of: a sum of instances of tasks, hours associated with tasks, and people assigned with tasks.   
     
     
         4 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the creating the process calendar comprises creating, in the service center column, data that indicates a service center that performs the process;   the creating the process calendar comprises creating, in the client column, data that indicates a client for which the service center performs the process; and   the creating the process calendar comprises creating, in the cycle column, data that indicates a cycle by which the service center performs the process for the client.   
     
     
         5 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computing device is further operable to cause the computing device to track, using the process calendar, a number of tasks performed over a period of time. 
     
     
         6 . The computer program product of  claim 5 , wherein the tracking the number of tasks is used to determine peak work periods that can be identified for adequate resource management, and wherein the number of tasks is at least one of number of hours worked and number of people assigned. 
     
     
         7 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the displaying further comprises displaying a plurality of numbered columns, each representing a particular calendar week. 
     
     
         8 . The computer program product of  claim 7 , wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computing device is further operable to cause the computing device to identify an entry in at least one of the plurality of rows. 
     
     
         9 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the entry is located at an intersection of the at least one of the plurality of rows and at least one of the plurality of numbered columns; and
 the intersection indicates a task of the plurality of tasks is performed for the separate process during the particular calendar week.   
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the creating the process calendar includes creating a client process calendar, a provider process calendar, and a deviation display area side by side in separate areas of the process calendar. 
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , further comprises:
 creating a client schedule in a first area of the process calendar;   creating a provider schedule in a second area of the process calendar; and   creating a third area in the process calendar that includes the first subset of tasks and the second subsets of tasks, wherein the third area is a separate area of the process calendar than the first area and the second area.   
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first entity is a client that operates in a first time zone;   the at least one second entity is a provider that operates in a second time zone different from the first time zone;   the displaying the process calendar comprises displaying the client schedule in the first area of the process calendar, displaying the provider schedule in the second area of the process calendar, and displaying the first subset of tasks and the second subset of tasks in the third area of the process calendar; and   the displaying the client schedule comprises displaying discrete units of client time in the first time zone and displaying a respective indication of client status as one of working and idle for each respective one of the units of client time.   
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , wherein the displaying the process calendar further comprises:
 displaying the first subset of tasks and the second subset of tasks relative to the discrete units of client time in the first time zone and the discrete units of provider time in the second time zone, and also according to start time, end time, duration, and precedence; and   displaying arrows between tasks indicating gaps where no work is accomplished until working hours resume at another site.   
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein the creating the process calendar comprises creating one of:
 a displayable comparison of a first method of performing the at least one process and a second method of performing the at least one process;   a displayable depiction of the first subset of tasks and the second subset of tasks relative to a first time zone and a second time zone; and   a displayable multi-process calendar.