Abstract:
An apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency, a method for evaluation service of organization efficiency, an apparatus for generating communication frequencies, a method for generating communication frequencies, and programs and recording media of the same, quantitatively evaluate efficiency of an organization structure. The present invention provides an apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency having communication frequencies among departments obtaining unit for obtaining communication frequencies among departments, the frequency being frequencies of information interchanges among departments within an organization; a group definition data obtaining unit for obtaining group definition data, the data defining a group including more than one department within an organization; communication frequencies among groups calculation unit for calculating communication frequencies among groups for groups interchanging information, on the basis of communication frequencies among departments; and an organization efficiency calculation unit for calculating efficiency of an organization structure defined by group definition data, on the basis of the communication frequencies among groups.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency, a method for evaluation service of organization efficiency, an apparatus for generating communication frequencies, a method for generating communication frequencies, programs and recording media of the same. Specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency for evaluating efficiency of organization on the basis of a structure of the organization, a method for evaluation service of organization efficiency, an apparatus for generating communication frequencies, a method for generating communication frequencies, programs and recording media of the same. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     An organization such as a company has a particular structure for persons to cooperate to get a big achievement. A network in terms of sociology, for example a network for exchanging information via means including a conversation, a telephone call, or an email message develops in a group of people. An organization such as a company establishes its organization structure for efficiently operating its management resources in order to efficiently perform its management strategy and achieve its business objective. 
     An organization implements its management strategy by breaking the strategy down into routine works. The routine works involve communication. Thus, a manager of an organization can check whether or not the organization has an efficient structure by checking whether or not the organization has a communication network as the manager intended. Information is exchanged in a company that operates somewhat standardized work such as a manufacturer according to its workflow. Conventionally, a manager of an organization can easily check whether communication within the organization matches its management strategy. 
     For example, a technique for identifying a leading role in a communication network based on Social Network Theory (SNA) is described in the document “Introduction to Social Network Methods”, by Robert A. Hanneman, published in 2001 by the Department of Sociology at the University of California at Riverside. With this technique, anybody can check whether a person in an important position for an actual management strategy plays a leading role in a communication network or not. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     As works operated in a company has speeded up and diversified, roles played by a research and development department, which performs a mid and long term management strategy, and a service department, which requires a quick response to a various needs from customers have become more important. In spite of their standardized operation, these departments exchange information in various ways according to circumstances inside or outside the company. Unlike in a department that operates a standardized work, it is not easy to check whether or not communication within the organization matches their management strategy in a quantitative way in these departments. 
     The technique described in the Hanneman Document does not take account of an organization structure. Thus, the technique cannot determine whether the organization structure is efficient or not. An alteration to an organization structure based on the management strategy planned by a company influences the whole of the organization from the top of the hierarchy such as the top management to the bottom of the hierarchy such as rank-and-file workers. In order to check how the management strategy is practiced, a company often has to check its communication network by taking up and checking only a part of the organization. However, the technique described in the Hanneman Document cannot determine only about a part of the organization. 
     The present invention intends to provide an apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency, a method for evaluation service of organization efficiency, an apparatus for generating communication frequencies, a method for generating communication frequencies, programs and recording media of the same to solve the problems. The object is achieved by a combination of characteristics described in independent Claims in the appended Claim. Dependent Claims define further advantageous specific examples of the present invention. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to solve the abovementioned problems, a first embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency comprising: 
     a communication frequency among departments obtaining unit for obtaining communication frequencies among departments, said frequency being frequencies of information interchanges among a plurality of departments within an organization; 
     a group definition data obtaining unit for obtaining group definition data, said data defining a group including more than one of said departments within said organization; 
     a communication frequency among groups calculation unit for calculating communication frequencies among groups for said plurality of groups interchanging information, on the basis of said communication frequencies among departments; and 
     an organization efficiency calculation unit for calculating efficiency of an organization structure defined by said group definition data, on the basis of said communication frequencies among groups, 
     a method for evaluation service of organization efficiency using the apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency, a program for controlling the apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency, and a medium storing the program. 
     A second embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for generating communication frequencies comprising: 
     a department information obtaining unit for obtaining member&#39;s belonging department information indicative of a department to which each member of an organization belongs; 
     a communication frequency among members obtaining unit for obtaining communication frequencies among members, said frequency being frequencies of information interchanges among a plurality of members belonging to an organization; and 
     a communication frequency among departments generating unit for generating communication frequencies among departments, said frequency being frequencies of information interchanges among said plurality of departments, on the basis of said communication frequencies among members and said department information, 
     a method for generating communication frequencies using the apparatus for generating communication frequencies, a program for controlling the apparatus for generating communication frequencies, and a medium storing the program. 
     A third embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency comprising: 
     an organization structure data obtaining unit for obtaining organization structure data indicative of a higher ranking department to which each of lower ranking departments being subordinate for a plurality of departments within an organization; 
     a group definition data obtaining unit for obtaining group definition data that defines a group including more than one department and new cooperative relationship to be created among groups; 
     a target organization structure data generating unit for generating a structure, in which each department belonging to a group defined by said group definition data is considered as a higher ranking department and a department subordinate to the higher ranking department in said organization structure data is considered as a lower ranking department, as target organization structure data; and 
     an organization efficiency calculation unit for calculating efficiency of an organization structure indicated by said target structure data, on the basis of said group definition data and said organization structure data, 
     a method for evaluation service of organization efficiency using the apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency, a program for controlling the apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency, and a medium storing the program. 
     The outline of the present invention does not comprehend all the necessary characteristics of the present invention and sub combinations of a group of the characteristics can also be included in the present invention. 
     According to the present invention, efficiency of an organization structure can be quantitatively evaluated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram for illustrating a configuration of apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency  10  by classifying it into function blocks; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram for illustrating a configuration of an apparatus for generating communication frequencies  20  by classifying it into function blocks; 
         FIG. 3  ( a ) shows an example of personnel information  30  and 
         FIG. 3  ( b ) shows a structure of an organization defined by personnel information  30 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows an example of communication frequencies among members  40 ; 
         FIG. 5  ( a ) shows an example of management strategy data  50  and 
         FIG. 5  ( b ) shows an exemplary configuration of an organization altered by management strategy data  50 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows an example of organization structure data  60 ; 
         FIG. 7  ( a ) shows communication frequencies among departments  70  in a list and 
         FIG. 7  ( b ) shows communication frequencies among departments  70  in a graph; 
         FIG. 8  shows an example of target organization structure data  80 ; 
         FIG. 9  shows an example of communication frequencies among groups  90 ; 
         FIG. 10  shows a first example of a process that apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency  10  evaluates efficiency of an organization; 
         FIG. 11  shows detailed processes in  1000  and  1020 ; 
         FIG. 12  shows a conceptual diagram of a process for generating communication frequencies among departments  70  in  1120 ; 
         FIG. 13  shows a second example of a process that apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency  10  evaluates organization efficiency; and 
         FIG. 14  shows an example of a hardware configuration of computer  500  that functions as apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency  10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention will be described according to embodiments of the present invention. The embodiments below do not limit the present invention defined by the appended Claims. Neither all the combinations of characteristics described in the embodiments are necessary for the solution of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram for illustrating a configuration of apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency  10  by classifying it into function blocks. Apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency  10  includes apparatus for generating communication frequencies  20 , communication frequencies among departments obtaining unit  100 , group definition data obtaining unit  110 , organization structure data obtaining unit  120 , target organization structure data generating unit  130 , communication frequencies among groups calculation unit  140 , and organization efficiency calculation unit  150 . Apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency  10  intends to evaluate organization efficiency of a group defined by management strategy on the basis of frequencies of information interchanges among individuals and an organization structure of a company based on personnel information. 
     Apparatus for generating communication frequencies  20  generates communication frequencies among departments  70 , which is frequencies of information interchanges among departments within an organization on the basis of personnel information  30  of an organization and communication frequencies among members  40 , which is frequencies of information interchanges among members belonging to an organization. Communication frequencies among departments obtaining unit  100  obtains communication frequencies among departments  70  generated by apparatus for generating communication frequencies  20 . Group definition data obtaining unit  110  defines groups, each group containing more than a department within an organization, and obtains group definition data for defining cooperative relationship among the groups from management strategy data  50 . Group definition data obtaining unit  110  may further determines a target value of communication frequencies corresponding to the defined cooperative relationship on the basis of management strategy data  50  and obtains the value as group definition data. 
     Organization structure data obtaining unit  120  receives personnel information  30  of an organization, and generates, based on the personnel information  30 , organization structure data  60  indicative of a higher ranking department to which each of lower ranking departments being subordinate for a plurality of departments within an organization. Target organization structure data generating unit  130  generates target organization structure data  80  indicative of an organization structure, which is a strategic target, on the basis of group definition data and organization structure data  60 . Specifically, target organization structure data generating unit  130  generates a structure, in which each department belonging to a group defined by group definition data is considered as a higher ranking department and a department subordinate to the higher ranking department in organization structure data  60  is considered as a lower ranking department, as target organization structure data  80 . Target organization structure data  80  may further include a target value of communication frequencies corresponding to cooperative relationship defined by group definition data. 
     Communication frequencies among groups calculation unit  140  calculates communication frequencies among groups  90 , which is frequencies of information interchanges among groups on the basis of communication frequencies among departments  70  and target organization structure data  80 . Organization efficiency calculation unit  150  calculates efficiency of an organization structure of a group defined by group definition data on the basis of communication frequencies among groups  90  and target organization structure data  80 . For example, organization efficiency calculation unit  150  may calculate a target value of communication frequencies among groups  90  on the basis of target organization structure data  80  for a group defined by group definition data and calculate an indicator based on an achievement ratio of communication frequencies among groups  90  to the calculated target value as efficiency of an organization structure. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram for illustrating a configuration of apparatus for generating communication frequencies  20  by classifying it into function blocks. Apparatus for generating communication frequencies  20  has department information obtaining unit  200 , communication frequencies among members obtaining unit  210 , and communication frequencies among departments generating unit  220 . Department information obtaining unit  200  obtains department information indicative of a department, to which each member of an organization belongs, from personnel information  30 . Communication frequencies among members obtaining unit  210  obtains communication frequencies among members  40 , which is frequencies of information interchanges among members belonging to an organization. Communication frequencies among departments generating unit  220  generates communication frequencies among departments  70  on the basis of communication frequencies among members  40  and department information. 
       FIG. 3  ( a ) shows an example of personnel information  30 . Personnel information  30  shows a lower ranking department, to which a staff member belongs, the name of the chief of the lower ranking department, a higher ranking department, to which the lower ranking department subordinate, and the name of chief of the higher ranking department for each staff member of an organization. For example, staff member aaa 1  belongs to department A 1 . The staff member aaa 1  is chief of the department A 1 . The department A 1  is chief of and an immediate superior department to higher ranking departments that manage departments C 11 , D 11 , C 21 , and C 22 . Therefore, a higher ranking department to department A 1  is also department A 1  for convenience. 
     Staff member ccc 12  belongs to subordinate department C 21 . Department C 21  subordinates to higher ranking department A 1 . A chief of higher ranking department A 1  is staff member aaa 1 . Department C 21  belongs to higher ranking department B 2 . Chief of higher ranking B 2  is staff member bbb 2 . Similarly, a subordinate department to which staff member ccc 22  belongs is C 22 . C 22  is subordinate to higher ranking departments A 2  and B 2 . Chief of higher ranking A 2  is staff member aaa 2 . 
       FIG. 3  ( b ) shows a structure of an organization defined by personnel information  30 . A circle indicates a subordinate department. A heavy-line frame indicates a higher ranking department. Each of higher ranking departments A 1  and A 2  deals with a different product. For example, higher ranking department A 1  deals with product  1  and higher ranking department A 2  deals with product  2 . Chief of the department A 1  is aaa 1 . Each of higher ranking departments B 1  and B 2  covers a different work. For example, higher ranking department B 1  is a division covering sales activity. Higher ranking department B 2  is a division covering manufacture. Chief of the division is bbb 2 . Actually, an organization shown in  FIG. 3  is further subordinate to an organization immediately subordinate to the head quarter or president. 
     Subordinate departments C 21  and C 22  are subordinate to each of higher ranking departments according to their dealing products and covering business operations. For example, C 22  is subordinate to each of higher ranking departments A 2  and B 2 . In this manner, an organization defined by personnel information  30  has a matrix structure where a lower ranking department may belong to higher ranking departments. Each of D 11 , D 12 , D 21 , and D 22  is subordinate to each of C 11 , C 12 , C 21 , and C 22 . 
       FIG. 4  shows an example of communication frequencies among members  40 . Communication frequencies among members  40  includes communication frequencies among staff members in association with a set of a staff member who gives information and a staff member who takes the information. For example, frequencies of information given from staff member A 1   a   1  to A 1   a   2  is fA 1   a   1 -A 1   a   2 . Communication frequencies among members  40  is a value based at least on frequencies of sending/receiving email messages interchanged among staff members and amount of data sent/received by email messages. Communication frequencies among members  40  indicates frequencies of information interchanges among staff members belonging to an organization. 
       FIG. 5  ( a ) shows an example of management strategy data  50 . Management strategy data  50  defines a department included in a group and cooperative relationship among the group and the other groups for each group. For example, management strategy data  50  defines that group N 10  includes department A 1 . Management strategy data  50  further defines cooperative relationship that group N 10  plans implementation and instructs groups N 11  and N 12  to start development and sales activity. 
     Management strategy data  50  defines that group N 11  includes department C 11 . Management strategy data  50  also defines cooperative relationship that group N 11  performs sales activity to market products according to the instruction from group N 10 . Management strategy data  50  defines that group N 12  includes department C 21 . Management strategy data  50  also defines cooperative relationship that group N 12  manufactures and provides the products to group N 11  according to the instruction from group N 10 . 
     Department D 11  subordinate to department C 11  may be included in group N 11  even if management strategy data  50  does not explicitly indicate that. An implicit rule may be provided such that when a higher ranking department belongs to a certain group, a subordinate department belonging to the higher ranking department also belongs to the same group. This implicit rule can enable management strategy data  50  to be created easily. For example, an implicit rule may be provided such that the third ranked departments from the top ranking department belong to the same group, or another implicit rule may be provided such that subordinate departments, the second ranked department from which is the same, cooperates. 
     As  FIG. 5  shows, management strategy data  50  is text data describing groups and cooperative relationship among the groups in natural language, for example. In this case, group definition data obtaining unit  110  may generate group definition data for defining groups and cooperative relationship among the groups in a data structure such as a graph on the basis of management strategy data  50  described in natural language. 
       FIG. 5  ( b ) shows an exemplary configuration of an organization altered by management strategy data  50 . Management strategy indicated by management strategy data  50  alters a chain of command in the organization changes from a chain lead by each department in charge to a chain lead by each product. More specifically, a chain of command in the organization is lead by a higher ranking department in charge of sales activity and a higher ranking department in charge of manufacturing products before the management strategy is deteminined. In this case, subordinate departments in a rectangular frame cooperate with each other, for example. 
     After the company plans its management strategy, the chain of command is lead by a higher ranking department dealing with product  1  and a higher ranking department dealing with product  2 . In this case, subordinate departments in a rectangular frame cooperate with each other, for example. Under cooperative relationship indicated by management strategy data  50 , the basic structure of an organization remains unchanged but the chain of command is lead by a different department. 
       FIG. 6  shows an example of organization structure data  60 . Organization structure data  60  is shown by a graph with a node representing each department and a link representing each subordinate relationship among departments. More specifically, a node representing a department is directly connected by link to another node representing another department which is directly subordinate to the first department. For example, department C 11  is directly subordinate to each of departments A 1  and B 1 . Thus, a node representing department C 11  is directly connected by link to a node representing each of departments A 1  and B 1 . Department D 11  is directly subordinate to department C 11  but not directly subordinate to each of departments A 1  and B 1 . Thus, a node representing department D 11  is directly subordinate only to a node representing department C 11 . 
       FIG. 7  ( a ) shows communication frequencies among departments  70  in a list. Communication frequencies among departments  70  includes communication frequencies of information interchanged among departments in association with a set of a department giving information and a department taking the information. For example, frequencies of information given from department A 1  to A 1  is fA 1 -fA 1 . Organization structure data  60  is a value based at least on frequencies of sending/receiving email messages interchanged among departments and amount of data sent/received by email messages. Communication frequencies among members  40  indicates frequencies of information interchanges among departments within an organization. 
       FIG. 7  ( b ) shows communication frequencies among departments  70  in a graph. Each department is represented by a node. When information is interchanged among departments, nodes representing these departments are connected by link. As information is interchanged between departments C 11  and C 21 , for example, nodes representing departments C 11  and C 21  are connected by link. As no information is interchanged between departments C 12  and C 22 , nodes representing departments C 12  and C 22  are not directly connected by link. 
     A link shown by solid lines in  FIG. 7(   b ) represents information interchanges corresponding to cooperative relationship among groups defined by target organization structure data  80 . A link shown by dashed lines represents information interchanges not corresponding to cooperative relationship among groups defined by target organization structure data  80 . 
       FIG. 8  shows an example of target organization structure data  80 . Each small node in  FIG. 8  represents a department. Each bigger node containing the small node represents a group to which the department belongs. Each link connecting bigger nodes represents cooperative relationship among the groups. For example, the link connecting groups N 10  and N 11  represents an instruction from group N 10  to group N 11  and a report or the like from group N 11  to group N 10 . Departments that are not defined by group definition data are represented as nodes shown by dashed lines. Although a weight indicative of a targeted communication frequencies is associated with each link, the weight for each link is the same value in the embodiment. Thus, description about a weight will be omitted. 
       FIG. 9  shows an example of communication frequencies among groups  90 . Each node shown in  FIG. 9  represents a group defined by group definition data. A link between nodes represents frequencies of information interchanges corresponding to cooperative relationship among the groups. When no information is interchanged between groups, no link is generated between the nodes representing the groups. For example, frequencies of information interchanges between Group N 10  and Group N 11  is fN 10 -N 11 . No information is interchanged between group N 21  and group N 22 . 
     Two examples of evaluating organization efficiency with apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency  10  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 10 to 13 .  FIG. 10  shows a first example of a process that apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency  10  evaluates organization efficiency. Apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency  10  generates first communication frequencies among groups, which are communication frequencies among groups for the first-quarter of a business year ( 1000 ). Then, a manager sets new management strategy or changes management strategy in a period between the first-quarter to the third-quarter ( 1010 ). 
     Next, apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency  10  calculates first communication frequencies among groups. After a predetermined period (for example, after two quarters), apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency  10  generates second communication frequencies among groups, which are communication frequencies among groups for the third quarter ( 1020 ). Then, organization efficiency calculation unit  150  calculates an indicator on the basis of the first communication frequencies among groups and the second communication frequencies among groups as efficiency of an organization structure ( 1030 ). 
     For example, organization efficiency calculation unit  150  calculates a difference between amounts of communication corresponding to cooperative relationship defined by management strategy for each of the first and the second communication frequencies among groups. Organization efficiency calculation unit  150  determines whether communication frequencies corresponding to predetermined cooperative relationship for second communication frequencies among groups is more than communication frequencies corresponding to predetermined cooperative relationship for first communication frequencies among groups by a predetermined percentage or not. When communication frequencies among groups for a part corresponding to cooperative relationship among groups increases more than 30%, organization efficiency calculation unit  150  may evaluate that the organization structure is effective. 
       FIG. 11  shows detailed processes in  1000  and  1020 . First, a process in  1000  will be described. Department information obtaining unit  200  obtains department information for the first quarter ( 1100 ). Communication frequencies among members obtaining unit  210  obtains communication frequencies among members  40  for the first quarter ( 1110 ). For example, communication frequencies among members obtaining unit  210  may obtain communication frequencies among members  40  based on frequencies of meetings that staff members attended or may obtain communication frequencies among members  40  based on frequencies of phone calls or duration of phone calls among staff members. Meeting includes a conference call, a video call and the like. Communication frequencies among members obtaining unit  210  may obtain frequencies of members&#39; reading of the same document as communication frequencies among members  40  for each pair of members or may obtain frequencies of members&#39; interchanges of instant messages and short messages as communication frequencies among members  40  for each pair of members. 
     Communication frequencies among departments generating unit  220  generates communication frequencies among departments  70  on the basis of department information and communication frequencies among members  40  ( 1120 ). Communication frequencies among departments obtaining unit  100  obtains communication frequencies among departments  70  generated by communication frequencies among departments generating unit  220  ( 1130 ). Group definition data obtaining unit  110  obtains group definition data on the basis of management strategy data  50  ( 1140 ). Organization structure data obtaining unit  120  obtains organization structure data  60  from personnel information  30  ( 1150 ). 
     Target organization structure data generating unit  130  generates target organization structure data  80  indicative of an organization structure, which is a strategic target, on the basis of group definition data and organization structure data  60  ( 1160 ). Specifically, target organization structure data generating unit  130  generates a structure, in which each department belonging to a group defined by group definition data is considered as a higher ranking department and a department subordinate to the higher ranking department in organization structure data  60  is considered as a lower ranking department, as target organization structure data  80 . Communication frequencies among groups calculation unit  140  generates communication frequencies among groups  90  ( 1170 ). 
     A process in  1020  is almost the same as that in  1000  except that department information and communication frequencies among members  40  are for the third quarter. Thus, description about the process in  1020  will be omitted. 
       FIG. 12  shows a conceptual diagram of a process for generating communication frequencies among departments  70  in  1120 . The upper figure shows communication frequencies among members  40 . In this figure, each small node represents a staff member and a circle containing the nodes represents a department. A communication among staff members is represented as a link that connects small nodes. In  FIG. 12 , staff members belonging to department A 1  interchange information. Information is interchanged among staff members belonging to department A 1  and staff members belonging to department C 11 . 
     The lower figure shows communication frequencies among departments  70  generated from communication frequencies among members  40 . Each node in this figure represents a department and each link in this figure represents information interchanges among departments. For example, an information interchange within department A 1  is represented by a link coming out from node A 1  and returning to node A 1  (F A1-A1 ). Information interchanges between a staff member belonging to department A 1  and a staff member belonging to department C 11  are represented by links between node A 1  and node C 11  (F A1-C11 , F C11-A1 ). In this manner, communication frequencies among departments generating unit  220  generates communication frequencies among departments  70  indicative of information interchanges among departments by integrating information interchanges among staff members for each department. 
     According to the first example, apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency  10  can determine whether management strategy is properly practiced or not by comparing communication frequencies among groups before and after the setting or changing of the management strategy. 
       FIG. 13  shows a second example of a process that apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency  10  evaluates organization efficiency. Apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency  10  generates communication frequencies among groups  90  at a certain time ( 1300 ). A process for generating communication frequencies among groups  90  is almost the same as that described with reference to  FIG. 12 . Thus, description about the process will be omitted. Organization efficiency calculation unit  150  calculates a target value of communication frequencies among groups for a group defined by group definition data. Then, organization efficiency calculation unit  150  calculates an indicator based on an achievement ratio of communication frequencies among groups to the target value as efficiency of the organization structure ( 1310 ). 
     For example, by comparing  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the number of links for defining cooperative relationship among groups in target organization structure data  80  is six and the number of frequencies of communication among groups corresponding to the cooperative relationship in communication frequencies among groups  90  is four. In this case, organization efficiency calculation unit  150  may calculate the ratio of four, which is the actual number of links, to six, which is the target number of links, i.e., 66.66% as an achievement ratio. Organization efficiency calculation unit  150  may calculate more accurate achievement ratio according to the height of the communication frequencies among groups for each group. 
     In addition to or instead of the process, organization efficiency calculation unit  150  may calculate an indicator based on a difference of distances between two groups (for example, the number of links taken to get the goal) in each of target organization structure data  80  and communication frequencies among groups  90  for each group defined by group definition data as efficiency of the organization structure. As another example, organization efficiency calculation unit  150  may calculate an indicator based on a difference of densities of links that connect groups for certain groups for each of target organization structure data  80  and communication frequencies among groups  90  as efficiency of the organization structure. 
     According to the example, the achievement ratio of communication frequencies among departments at a certain time can be checked to targeted predetermined communication frequencies. In this manner, apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency  10  can check whether or not the set management strategy is practiced or whether or not the current organization structure matches the management strategy to be set. 
       FIG. 14  shows an example of a hardware configuration of computer  500  that functions as apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency  10 . Computer  500  includes a CPU peripheral unit with CPU  1000 , RAM  1020 , and graphic controller  1075 , which are connected with each other via host controller  1082 ; an input/output unit with communication interface  1030 , hard disk drive  1040 , and CD-ROM drive  1060 , which are connected to host controller  1082  via input/output controller  1084 ; and legacy input/output unit with BIOS  1010 , flexible disk drive  1050 , and input/output chip  1070 , which are connected to input/output controller  1084 . 
     Host controller  1082  connects RAM  1020  with CPU  1000 , which access RAM  1020  at high transfer rate, and with graphic controller  1075 . CPU  1000  operates and controls each unit on the basis of BIOS  1010  and a program stored in RAM  1020 . Graphic controller  1075  obtains image data to be generated by CPU  1000  or the like on a frame buffer provided for RAM  1020  and has the image data to be displayed on display device  1080 . Otherwise, graphic controller  1075  may contain a frame buffer to store image data to be generated by CPU  1000  or the like. 
     Input/output controller  1084  connects host controller  1082 , communication interface  1030 , which is a relatively high speed input/output device, hard disk drive  1040 , and CD-ROM drive  1060 . Communication interface  1030  communicates with an external device via a wireless network or a wired network. Hard disk drive  1040  stores a program or data to be used by computer  500 . CD-ROM drive  1060  reads a program or data from CD-ROM  1095  and stores the program or data in RAM  1020  via input/output controller  1084 . 
     Input/output controller  1084  is connected with BIOS  1010 , and a relatively low speed input/output device such as input/output chip  1070 . BIOS  1010  stores a boot program to be executed by CPU  1000  upon startup of computer  500 , a program depending on hardware of computer  500  and the like. Input/output chip  1070  is connected with flexible disk drive  1050 . Flexible disk drive  1050  reads a program or data from flexible disk  1090  and stores the program or data in RAM  1020  via input/output chip  1070  or input/output controller  1084 . 
     Input/output chip  1070  connects flexible disk  1090  or various input/output devices via, for example, a parallel port, a serial port, a key board port, or a mouse port. A user provides a program on a storage medium such as flexible disk  1090 , CD-ROM  1095 , an IC card or the like for computer  500 . The program is read out from a storage medium via input/output chip  1070  and/or input/output controller  1084  and installed in and executed by computer  500 . 
     Programs shown above may be stored in an external storage medium. An optical storage medium such as a DVD or a PD, a magnetic optical storage medium such as an MD, a tape medium, semiconductor memory such as an IC card or the like may be used as a storage medium as well as flexible disk  1090  or CD-ROM  1095 . A storage device such as hard disk or RAM provided for a server system connected with a private communication network or the Internet may be used as a storage medium and a program may be provided for computer  500  via the network. 
     The present invention has been described with reference to embodiments, though the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope of the abovementioned embodiment. It is apparent for those skilled in the art that various alterations and improvement can be done to the abovementioned embodiments. It is apparent from the appended Claims that embodiments with the various alterations and improvement will be included in the technical scope of the present invention.