Abstract:
A method for communicating information for pre-defined metrics management of business metrics uses a system including a server and at least one user accessible device communicative with the server. The server has a database and a web interface. The method comprises providing a user with a web interface configurable to a template accommodating business metrics data by the user, and providing visual indications of the status of the business metrics.

Description:
[0001]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to methods and systems for communicating key business metrics within a business organization and more particularly to intranet-based systems and methods for monitoring business metrics, automatically updating such metrics, and generating alert notifications in the event certain metrics are above or below predefined criteria.  
           [0003]    As used herein, the term “business metrics” means measurements of business-related activities and results. The metrics used by each business typically varies depending upon the nature and focus of the business. For example, a particular business may emphasize new product introductions and therefore define metrics related to product introduction processes. Other businesses may emphasize cost reduction activities on existing products and therefore define metrics related to cost reduction processes. Example business metrics include customer-centric metrics such as customer savings, on-time deliveries, and quality, core business metrics such as total revenue, variable costs, base costs, cash flow, and net income, and functional metrics such as metrics for sales, marketing, manufacturing, engineering, finance, environmental health and safety, and legal.  
           [0004]    Such business metrics typically are reviewed by business leaders and others within a business organization on an hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual basis. Simply generating quantified values for each defined metric can be a time consuming and tedious task, especially for a large business organization with businesses located throughout the world. In addition, business reports typically are reported in paper form, and are delivered to designated business team members by manual internal mail or electronic mail. Consequently, the business team members typically do not have access to current information anytime and anywhere. That is, the team members typically must wait until a report has been generated and has been delivered in order to access such information.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    In one aspect of the invention, a method for processing business metrics information in a system including a server, and at least one user device and a database communicably coupled to the server is provided. The method comprises receiving operating and financial data for a business, processing the data to generate business metrics, comparing the business metrics to pre-defined parameters, and displaying a status of the business metrics.  
           [0006]    In another aspect, a business metrics management system is provided. The management system comprises a computer, a server configured with a database enabled for storing and retrieving a web page interface, wherein the server is further configured to upload and store user input regarding business metrics in a database, a network communicative with the server and a user operated device connected to the network.  
           [0007]    In a further aspect of the invention, a method for providing business management with business metrics is provided. The method comprises creating a business metric template which can accommodate business metrics data, entering business metrics data into the template, uploading the template into a database having enabled storage and retrieval capability for a business metric template, and providing the business metric template to business management.  
           [0008]    In yet another aspect, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a computer, a server configured with a database enabled for storing and retrieving a template, the server additionally configured to upload and store business metrics data in a database, and a network communicative with the server and a user device connected to the network.  
           [0009]    In a further aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises means for providing a web interface to a user, means for configuring the web interface to a template, means for entering business metrics data in the template, and means for storing and retrieving the template.  
           [0010]    In another aspect, a computer-readable medium executable by a computer connected to a user device is provided. The computer-readable medium is for controlling the computer to receive a request to provide a web interface, provide a web interface configurable to a template, receive business metrics data in the template, and store the template. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of an example system that can be utilized in connection with communicating business metrics the employees across all layers of a business;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is an example screen shot for communicating business metrics; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is an example screen shot for a message center user interface. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]    Systems and methods that for collecting, monitoring, and communicating business metrics to employees of a business are described herein. The systems and methods are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. In addition, components of each system and each method can be practiced independently and separately from other components and methods described herein. Each component and method can be used in combination with other components and other methods.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example embodiment of a server architecture of a digital cockpit system  10 . System  10  includes a server system  12  and a client system  14 . Server system  12  includes a database server  16 , an application server  18 , a web server  20 , a fax server  22 , a directory server  24 , and a mail server  26 . In an alternative embodiment, server system  12  does not include fax server  22 . A disk storage unit  28  is coupled to database server  16  and director server  24 . Servers  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26  are coupled in a local area network (LAN)  30 . In addition, a system administrator work station  32 , a user work station  34 , and a supervisor work station  36  are coupled to LAN  30 . Alternatively, work stations  32 ,  34 , and  36  are coupled to LAN  30  via an Internet link or are connected through an Intranet link.  
         [0016]    Each work station  32 ,  34 , and  36  is a personal computer including a web browser. Although the functions performed at the work stations typically are illustrated as being performed at respective work stations  32 ,  34 , and  36 , such functions can be performed at one of many personal computers coupled to LAN  30 . Work stations  32 ,  34 , and  36  are illustrated as being associated with separate functions only to facilitate an understanding of the different types of functions that can be performed by individuals having access to LAN  30 .  
         [0017]    Server system  12  is configured to be communicatively coupled to various server systems  38  and to third parties, e.g., internal or external auditors,  40  via an ISP Internet connection  42 . Work stations  40  are personal computers including a web browser. Also, fax server  28  is illustrated as communicating with one of server system  38  via a telephone link. The communication in the example embodiment is illustrated as being performed via the Internet, however, any other wide area network (WAN) or local area network type communication can be utilized in other embodiments, i.e., the systems and processes are not limited to being practiced via the Internet. In addition, and rather than an Internet link, the link could be an Intranet link, or both an Internet link and an Intranet link can be provided.  
         [0018]    Database server  16  stores frequently accessed information (i.e., status and meta-data) in a memory. System  10  retrieves the data from the database either at startup en masse or by request. System  10  also includes a refresh interval that is stored along with the data, and dictates to system  10  when a refresh of that information is necessary. More specifically, system  10  enables a user to view metrics including customer advocacy metrics and core business metrics. The refresh interval is set to the same frequency of the automated and non-automated, such that information will be continuously updated and synchronized across server system  12 .  
         [0019]    In the exemplary embodiment, system  10  provides accessing users an immediate understanding of a metric or a series of metrics through the display of a bulb that is either red, yellow, or green. Alternatively, the bulb may be an “ON/OFF” illuminator that provides a visual indication of the status of a metric. The display is provided via a cockpit that utilizes visual indicators. Selecting a bulb displayed on the cockpit provides additional details relevant to the metric represented by the bulb. For example, selecting a bulb may provide a user with bar charts, line charts, or data tables that are relevant to the metric selected. A message center is also provided which enables a user to post questions or comments to a person configured within the system as being the owner of a specific metric. Notification is provided to the owner of the metric whenever a message has been posted. In the exemplary embodiment, the notifications are done automatically through an e-mail system.  
         [0020]    An individual responsible for the particular metric updates their metrics using one of three methods. First, the individual may use a Java(&amp; Server Page (JSP) that is only available to the individual for the their specific metrics. More specifically, the data and/or color of the gauges (not shown in FIG. 1) and the metrics data is updated through the JSP. Secondly, an administrator can use an administration functionality included within system  10  and update any metric they have pre-set administrative rights. Additionally, an administrator may utilize an application programming interface (API) and update system  10  by inputting the information as parameters.  
         [0021]    In the exemplary embodiment, system  10  accumulates a variety of web-based data files concerning business information that is highly confidential or proprietary. Therefore, system  10  has different access levels to control and monitor the security of system  10 . Authorization for access is assigned by system administrators on a need to know basis. More specifically, for end users, a lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) attribute dictates what metrics users have access to, if any. Once system  10  is accessed, a user is then able to view all metrics to which they have been granted access.  
         [0022]    Notifications are provided to a set of users based on pre-set criteria of the metrics. More generally, because some metrics are deemed more important than others, the notification feature enables users to be notified about changes in the metrics. There are two kinds of notification: regular and alert. Generally, the regular notifications are related to gauge color changes, escalations, declines, stale data, and custom built notifications. For example, when a pre-defined condition occurs, i.e, a status change from green to red, a regular notification may be sent to a list of defined recipients. The defined recipients, the time intervals, and the pre-defined conditions are defined within system  10 . Stale data notifications, for example, may be defined to be emailed to addresses each evening when system  10  is updated. Telealert® notifications generally relate to application performance and availability issues, and are generally triggered when emergent pre-set threshold conditions are reached, exceeded, or shortfalls.  
         [0023]    A user that has security rights to a metric, has access to the metric and any associated data drilldown. The user also has access to the message center, which is unique to each cockpit. More specifically, the user can not view any message from any other cockpit, and any messages visible by the user are dictated by whether or not that user has security access to see exported controlled information. Specifically, if a message contains export controlled information controlled information and that user is not authorized to see it (LDAP attributes dictate this) it is not displayed to them. Each message center is unique to each individual cockpit. The message center is accessed through a link contained on every metric. Following this link, a user may post a message about that specific metric in the post message section, and view any other messages on other metrics within the cockpit.  
         [0024]    Users do not have access to the administration area, and rather, must be specifically granted access to such areas. Cockpit administrators have access rights to the administration pages. The content of the administration pages are unique to each cockpit, and as such, an administrator must be assigned to a particular cockpit to have access to it. They do no have access to the application administration area, but cockpit administrators can assign users to cockpits, and designate other cockpit administrators for their particular cockpit.  
         [0025]    Application administrators have access to cockpit administration areas, as well as a specialized area designated especially for them. The specialized area enables an application administrator to designate anyone as an administrator of any cockpit. Furthermore, no user can bookmark a page within the cockpit. There is additional security in place within system  10  to ensure the administration pages cannot be accessed through direct or indirect methods without proper authentication.  
         [0026]    Users wanting to create a new cockpit must also contact an Application administrator. The application administrator creates a cockpit “shell” or template, and assigns a user as a cockpit administrator. The cockpit administrator then uses the administration tools to create the groupings, metrics, notifications, and then add the users to the newly created cockpit. The cockpit administrator also establishes the data drilldown paths associated with the newly created cockpit. Such data may be encrypted, from an internal source, or from an external source.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 is an example screen shot for communicating business metrics. As shown in the example in FIG. 2, the metrics displayed to the user include customer advocacy metrics and core business metrics. The metrics used by each business typically vary, as explained above. In addition, and within each business, the metrics desired to be viewed by individual employees may vary by utilizing “My Cockpit”® functionality.  
         [0028]    Example customer advocacy business metrics include customer savings, on-time deliveries, and quality. Example core business metrics include total revenue, variable costs, base costs, cash flow, and net income, and functional metrics such as metrics for sales, marketing, manufacturing, engineering, finance, environmental health and safety, and legal.  
         [0029]    As shown in FIG. 2, for each metric, a gauge is displayed. The gauge is a flat display of a colored dial or an on/off switch. In the example embodiment, the dial can be red, yellow, or green. If the dial is red, then this signals that the particular metric requires attention. For example, the measurements for that particular metric, or one key measurement for that metric, may not be within a pre-defined specification and therefore, follow-up and action are required. If the dial is green, then this means that the metric is within an acceptable range, although measurements are not necessarily out of a pre-defined range, such measurements may be approaching an out-of-range condition. If the dial is green, then this means that the metric is within range.  
         [0030]    Gauges may be marked as restricted by a cockpit administrator, which prevents any other administrator from adding those gauges to their cockpit. Gauges may be marked as sensitive by the cockpit administrator, which will store all non-automated file data in the database encrypted with a Ceasar® cipher, as opposed to storing that information unencrypted on the file system.  
         [0031]    Regardless of the metric state, by selecting the particular metric by selecting the respective dial (e.g., a mouse click), then a second level of information for the selected metric is displayed to the user. More specifically, system  10  is configured by providing the dashboard format with bulb colors or by defining dashboard switches as On/Off. System  10  programmatically provides a pre-configured number of cockpit formats that have different numbers of rows and columns to provide different formats for displaying the bulbs. The user defines the bulb color or switch position, and defines what data should be available for data drilldown for the lower level display below the bulb color. Such data is provided to system  10  in the form of a file to be displayed, or in the form of, but not limited to, other programs, systems, or software packages. Such data is displayed by system  10  when a user clicks on a bulb during usage.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 3 is an example screen shot for a message center user interface. Upon selection of a metric as described above, a user can then further select to transmit a message to the individual or team responsible for the particular metric. If the user selects to transmit a message, then the screen illustrated in FIG. 3 is displayed to the user. The user can then enter a subject and a message, and send the message to the appropriate team or individual for that particular metric.  
         [0033]    A user that has security rights to a metric, has access to the metric and any associated data drilldown. The user also has access to the message center, which is unique to each cockpit. More specifically, the user can not view any message from any other cockpit, and any messages visible by the user are dictated by whether or not that user has security access to see exported controlled information. Specifically, if a message contains export controlled information controlled information and that user is not authorized to see it (LDAP attributes dictate this) it is not displayed to them. Each message center is unique to each individual cockpit. The message center is accessed through a link contained on every metric. Following this link, a user may post a message about that specific metric in the post message section, and view any other messages on other metrics within the cockpit.  
         [0034]    While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.