Patent ID: 8306849
Filing Date: 2012-11-06
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer implemented method of predicting a success of a currently proposed project, the computer implemented method comprising: a processor receiving responsive answers to a survey questionnaire for a currently proposed project, wherein the currently proposed project is described in a contract between a vendor and a customer, wherein questions from the survey questionnaire are directed to details of how a contract between a vendor and a customer for the currently proposed project was created without regard to specifics as to how the currently proposed project will be performed, wherein the survey questionnaire comprises a set of subjective questions related to the currently proposed project and a set of objective questions related to the currently proposed project, wherein the subjective questions comprise questions that are directed to past interpersonal relationships between the vendor and the customer, a vendor-favorability index of a structure of the contract, a level of involvement with drafting of the contract by the customer, a level of experience of a proposed project manager for the currently proposed project, a level of interaction between a proposal team and a risk manager of the vendor in creating the contract, a time frame in which the contract is planned for execution, a level of interaction between the proposal team and other enterprise divisions of the vendor, an availability of vendor resources for the currently proposed project, an amount of time that was afforded the vendor to create the contract, and a quantity of past vendor projects that are substantially similar to the currently proposed project, wherein the objective questions comprise questions that are directed to a quantity of customer interactions within a past predefined period on another project, a quantity of proposed projects submitted from the vendor to the customer during the past predefined period, a quantity of competitors who are bidding against the vendor for the currently proposed project, a difference in success between an initial bid and a final bid by the vendor for the currently proposed project, a quantity of iterations of the contract that have been prepared, and whether the contract is for a fixed price or a time and material price; the processor creating a predicted success score for the currently proposed project based on a pattern of responsive answers to a predetermined combination of questions from the survey questionnaire, wherein the predicted success score describes a likelihood of success for the currently proposed project before project commencement; the processor comparing and matching the predicted success score for the currently proposed project with actual success scores from prior projects, wherein the actual success scores described actual successes of the prior projects after project commencement, and wherein the actual success scores had a same pattern of responsive answers to the predetermined combination of questions as the currently proposed project; the processor determining an accuracy percentage for actual success scores from the prior projects, wherein the accuracy percentage describes a percentage of the prior projects that retained one of said actual success scores upon completion of prior projects; and the processor, in response to determining that the accuracy percentage exceeds a predetermined accuracy threshold, issuing a message approving the currently proposed project for implementation.