Patent ID: 8812341
Filing Date: 2014-08-19
Classification: G05B,G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for the computer-aided optimization of a process model, comprising: preparing a computer-based process model for a project implementation having multiple work stages, the process model defining specifications and associated release criteria for every work stage of the project implementation, wherein the specifications comprise, for each work stage, documents regarding the scope of services associated with respective work stages, details of results that are to be generated in the work stage, and budget and scheduling details for the work stage, and wherein the release criteria describe, for each work stage, criteria for determining whether the results of the work stage are successful; storing the specifications and release criteria of the process model in a database; executing a simulation program, by a processor, to create a reference run for all of the work stages of the project implementation by simulating the process model based on a predefined fictitious sample project; executing the simulation program, by the processor to introduce interference variables into all of the work stages of the reference run; executing the simulation program, by the processor, to simulate the project implementation for each interference variable that has been introduced into each work stage; determining, by the processor, deviations from the reference run for each interference variable that has been introduced into each work stage; analyzing, by the processor, an influence of the release criteria with respect to compliance with the budget and scheduling details defined by the process model, based on the determined deviations from the reference run; and adapting, by the processor, the release criteria for at least one work stage defined by the process model based on the analysis results.