Patent Publication Number: US-2012041883-A1

Title: Information processing apparatus, information processing method and computer readable medium

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-181531, filed Aug. 16, 2010. 
     BACKGROUND 
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
     The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method and a computer readable medium. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an aspect of the invention, an information processing apparatus includes a reception module, a determination module, a required information conveyance amount extraction module, an actual information conveyance amount extraction module, and a presentation module. The reception module receives business contents of a subject business. The determination module determines whether the subject business is irregular business by comparing the business contents received by the reception module with a predetermined regular business contents. The required information conveyance amount extraction module extracts a required information conveyance amount required to perform the irregular business from attribute information conveyance amount correspondence information, in which an attribute of the subject business and the required information conveyance amount are stored in correspondence to each other, based on the attribute of the subject business when it is determined by the determination module that the business contents is the irregular business. The actual information conveyance amount extraction module extracts an actual information conveyance amount of a person in charge who performs the subject business based on activity information that is a record of activities of the person in charge. The presentation module presents guidance which is required to perform the subject business by comparing the required information conveyance amount extracted by the required information conveyance amount extraction module with the actual information conveyance amount extracted by the actual information conveyance amount extraction module. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a conceptual module according to a configuration example according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a business flow; 
         FIG. 3  is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the relationship between a minimum amount and a trust amount; 
         FIG. 4  is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of a media weight value table; 
         FIG. 5  is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of an activity log table; 
         FIG. 6  is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of a communication log table; 
         FIG. 7  is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of a business flow data table; 
         FIG. 8  is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of a guide condition data table; 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating a processing example according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart illustrating a processing example by a regular/irregular determination module according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart illustrating a processing example by a trust amount determination module according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart illustrating a processing example by a worker status determination module according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating a processing example by a guide evaluation module according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart illustrating a processing example by a guide correction module according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a flowchart illustrating a processing example by a guide correction module according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 16  is a block diagram illustrating an example of a computer hardware configuration that is realized in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a conceptual module according to a configuration example according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
     The term “module”, as used herein, generally means a logically separable software (computer program) or hardware component or the like. Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the module means not only a module in a computer program but also a module in a hardware configuration. Because of this, in an exemplary embodiment of the invention, computer programs that function as the modules (a program for executing respective procedures in a computer, a program for making a computer function as respective means, and a program for realizing the respective functions in a computer), systems and methods will also be explained. However, although the wordings “memorize”, “store”, and the equivalents thereof are used for convenience in explanation, they mean storing in a storage device or controlling to store in a storage device in the case when a computer or a program is exemplified. Also, a module may correspond to a function in a one-to-one manner, and in mounting, one module may be configured as one program, plural modules may be configured as one program, or conversely, one module may be configured as plural programs. Also, the plural modules may be executed by one computer, and in a distributed or parallel environment, one module may be executed by plural computers. In this case, one module may be included in another module. Also, hereinafter, the term “connection” may be used as not only a physical connection but also a logical connection (data exchange, instruction, reference relations between data, and the like). The wording “predetermined” means determination before the subject processing, and in an exemplary embodiment of the invention, it is determined in accordance with the situation or condition at the time not only before the processing according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention starts but also before the subject processing even after the processing according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention starts or in accordance with the situation or condition up to that time. 
     Also, the term “system” or “apparatus” includes a configuration realized by one computer, piece of hardware, apparatus, or the like in addition to a configuration in which plural computers, piece of hardware, apparatuses, or the like are connected by a communication means such as a network (that includes a communication connection in a one-to-one manner) or the like. The terms “apparatus” and “system” are used as a wording having the same meaning. Of course, the term “system” does not include a mere social “structure” (social system) that is an artificial agreement. 
     Also, in the case of executing processes by respective modules or executing plural processes in a module, the subject information is read from a storage device for each process, and the result of the process is written in the storage device after the process is executed. Accordingly, with respect to the reading from the storage device before the process and the writing in the storage device after the process, the explanation thereof may be omitted. Here, the storage device may include a hard disk, a RMM (Random Access Memory), an external storage medium, a storage device through a communication line, a register in a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and the like. 
     An information processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in an example of  FIG. 1 , includes a reception module  105 , a regular/irregular determination module  110 , a worker status determination module  115 , a guide evaluation module  120 , a trust amount determination module  125 , an output/notification module  130 , an activity log data storage module  135 , a business flow data storage module  140 , a guide condition data storage module  145 , and a guide correction module  190 . In this case, a person in charge is called a user, a person, an employee, a worker, or the like, in accordance with the context. 
     The business flow data storage module  140  is connected to the regular/irregular determination module  110  and the guide evaluation module  120 . The business flow data storage module  140  stores information data, such as documents required in a business process, a department in charge, participators, and the like. For example, the business flow data storage module  140  stores a business flow data table  700 .  FIG. 7  is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of a business flow data table  700 . The business flow data table  700  includes a business number section  710 , a flow name section  720 , a process name section  730 , a document name section  740 , a document ID section  750 , an approval department section  760 , and an approver section  770 . The business number section  710  stores a business code (for example, business number) that consistently identifies the business in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The flow name section  720  stores the name of the business process (for example, business contract conclusion (contract scale B)). The process name section  730  stores the name of a process (for example, estimation of conclusion specification) which is an individual business in the business process. The document name section  740  stores the names of documents (for example, an estimate of a supply department) that are required in the business. The document ID section  750  stores document codes (for example, document IDs) that consistently identify the documents in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The approval department section  760  stores the names of approval departments (for example, supply departments) as the department in charge in the business. The approver section  770  stores the name of an approver (for example, a group leader of a supply department E) as a participator in the business. 
     The reception module  105  is connected to the regular/irregular determination module  110 . The reception module  105  receives the business contents of the subject business based on a user&#39;s operation of a keyboard, a mouse, or the like. The business contents may be, for example, documents required for the business. In addition, the business contents may be business connections, the appointed dates, amounts of money, and the like. Also, in addition to the business contents, the reception module  105  may receive the business kind of the subject business (for example, a contract conclusion business process or the like). The reception module  105  delivers the received business kind or the business contents to the regular/irregular determination module  110 . 
     The regular/irregular determination module  110  is connected to the reception module  105 , the trust amount determination module  125 , and the business flow data storage module  140 . The regular/irregular determination module  110  determines whether the subject business is the irregular business by comparing the business contents received by the reception module  105  with predetermined typical business contents. Here, the predetermined typical business contents may be, for example, required documents in regular business. In this case, if the required documents received by the reception module  105  and the required documents in the typical business are different from each other, it is determined that the subject business is the irregular business. The determination of whether the business is the irregular business may be performed by comparing the document names. Also, if the received required documents are insufficient (the required documents are not fully prepared) in comparison to the required documents in the typical business, it is determined that the documents are different from each other and thus the subject business is the irregular business. In addition, the business contents to be compared with each other may be business connections, the appointed dates, amounts of money, and the like. 
     Also, the regular/irregular determination module  110  extracts the business in the typical business kind that corresponds to the business kind that is received by the reception module  105 . Also, the regular/irregular determination module  110  determines whether the subject business is the irregular business by comparing the business contents received by the reception module  105  with the business contents in the extracted business. 
     For example, the regular/irregular determination module  110  extracts the business flow data table  700  as the predetermined typical business contents stored in the business flow data storage module  140 . Also, the regular/irregular determination module  110  compares the document name stored in the document name section  740  of the business flow data table  700  with the document name that is the business contents received by the reception module  105 . The regular/irregular determination module  110  determines that the business is the regular business if the document names coincide with each other, while it determines that the business is the irregular business if the document names do not coincide with each other. 
     In this case, the processing of the regular/irregular determination module  110  will be described later using a flowchart exemplified in  FIG. 10 . 
     The activity log data storage module  135  is connected to the worker status determination module  115  and the guide evaluation module  120 . The activity log data storage module  135  stores activity information (hereinafter referred to as “activity log data”) that is the record of activities obtained by acquiring the results of activities or communication log data (which may also be activity log data and communication log data) obtained by acquiring the results of communication such as by electronic mail. 
     The activity log data storage module  135  stores, for example, an activity log table  500  as the activity log data.  FIG. 5  is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of the activity log table  500 . The activity log table  500  includes a start time section  510 , an end time section  520 , an employee ID section  530 , and an area section  540 . The start time section  510  stores the date a user of the employee ID section  530  enters a room of the area section  540 . The end time section  520  stores the date a user of the employee ID section  530  leaves a room of the area section  540 . The employee ID section  530  stores user information (for example, an employee ID) that consistently identifies the subject user in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The area section  540  stores area information that consistently identifies the subject area in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. For example, the area information may be the name of a conference room. Also, the activity log data that the activity log table  500  stores may include a record of indoor activities or a record of outdoor activities. The indoor activity log data may be, for example, the result of detecting the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) that a user  199  possesses through a position detection device. Also, the outdoor activity log data may be, for example, coordinate information such as GPS (Global Positioning System) that a user  199  possesses. 
     The activity log data storage module  135  stores, for example, a communication log table  600  as communication log data.  FIG. 6  is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of the communication log table  600 . The communication log table  600  includes a transmission time section  610 , a sender ID section  620 , a receiver ID set section  630 , a received mail address set section  640 , a case name section  650 , a message ID section  660 , and a text section  670 . The transmission time section  610  stores the date an electronic mail is transmitted. The sender ID section  620  stores user information (for example, an employee ID) that consistently identifies the user who transmits the electronic mail in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The receiver ID set section  630  stores user information that indicates a user who receives the electronic mail. In this case, the receiver ID set section  630  may store information on a plurality of users. The received mail address set section  640  stores a mail address of a user who receives the electronic mail. In this case, the received mail address set section  640  may store a plurality of mail addresses. The case name section  650  stores the case name of the electronic mail. The message ID section  660  stores a message ID that consistently identifies the electronic mail in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The text section  670  stores the text that is the contents of the electronic mail. 
     By using the communication log data, the date the electronic mail exchanged between the users is transmitted, the size (capacity) of the text, and the like, may be extracted. 
     The worker status determination module  115  is connected to the trust amount determination module  125  and the activity log data storage module  135 . The worker status determination module  115  extracts an actual communication amount of a person in charge who performs the subject business based on the activity log data of the person in charge. Specifically, the worker status determination module  115  determines the actual communication amount by individuals based on the activity log data or communication log data (which may also be the activity log data and the communication log data) stored in the activity log data storage module  135 . 
     Also, the worker status determination module  115  may increase or decrease the actual communication amount according to the kind of activity of the person in charge. 
     In the case of the irregular business, in understanding and trusting the exceptional contents, there are more than a few shaking in grasping of the business circumstances/characteristics by individual relationships and in determination by serious correspondence. 
     Accordingly, in calculating the actual communication amount, weighting may be performed according to the kinds of activities. The weight value for weighting adapts the weight value that is prescribed based on the business and organization since the transfer efficiency of communication differs according to the characteristics of the business and the organization. 
     As the kinds of activities, for example, there are meeting with another person in charge, phone call, an electronic mail, and the like. As a method of increasing or decreasing the actual communication amount, for example, the kinds of activities and the weight values may be pre-stored in correspondence to each other. As an example of storing the kinds of activities and the weight values in correspondence to each other, as the media weight value table  400  as exemplified in  FIG. 4 , a combination of the business and the activity kinds may be stored in correspondence to the weight values.  FIG. 4  is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of a media weight value table  400 . The media weight value table  400  includes a business section  410 , a meeting section  420 , a telephone section  430  and a mail section  440 . The business section  410  stores the business. The meeting section  420  stores weight values in the case where the communication is the activity of meeting another person in charge. The telephone section  430  stores weight values in the case where the communication is the activity of using a telephone. The mail section  440  stores weight values in the case where the communication is the activity of using an electronic mail. The worker status determination module  115  acquires the weight values from the combination of the businesses and the kinds of activities using the media weight value table  400 , and adds the weight values to the actual communication amount or subtracts the weight values from the actual communication amount. In an example of  FIG. 4 , in the case where the communication in the business A is the meeting, “5” is added to the actual communication amount or “5” is subtracted from the actual communication amount, while in the case where the communication in the business A is the electronic mail, “0.5” is added to the actual communication amount or “0.5” is subtracted from the actual communication amount. Since better communication is made in the case where the communication is the meeting, rather than in the case where the communication is the electronic mail, the actual communication amount is increased or decreased using the media weight value table  400 . Also, a combination of an organization to which the person in charge belongs and the kinds of activities may be stored in correspondence to the weight values. Further, a combination of the business, the organization to which the person in charge belongs, and the kinds of activities may be stored in correspondence to the weight values. 
     In this case, the processing of the worker status determination module  115  will be described later using a flowchart as exemplified in  FIG. 12 . 
     The guide condition data storage module  145  is connected to the trust amount determination module  125  and the guide correction module  190 . The guide condition data storage module  145  stores guide condition data which is attribute information conveyance amount correspondence information that makes the attribute of the business and the communication amount required to perform the business correspond to each other. In this case, as the attribute of the business, for example, an attribute that indicates an experimental value of the person in charge may be included. As the guide condition data, for example, a guide condition data table  800  may be stored. FIG.  8  is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of a guide condition data table  800 . The guide condition data table  800  includes a business number section  810 , a document name section  820 , a contractor ID section  830 , a contract number section  840 , a contract relationship section  850 , a completed appointed date section  850 , a communication subject employee ID section  870 , and a required information amount section  880 . The attribute of the business corresponds to the business number section  810 , the document name section  820 , the contractor ID section  830 , the contract number section  840 , the contract relationship section  850 , the completed appointed date section  860 , and the communication subject employee ID section  870 . The required communication amount in the case of performing the business having the attribute corresponds to the required information amount section  880 . The business number section  810  stores a business code (business number) that consistently identifies the business in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The business that is indicated by the business code is a business that becomes the condition of presenting a guide. The document name section  820  stores the name of the document (for example, s supply department estimate) that is to be required in the business. The contractor ID section  830  stores a contractor code (contractor ID) that consistently identifies the contractor in the business in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The contract number section  840  stores the number of contracts of the person in charge. This corresponds to the attribute that indicates the experimental value of the person in charge. The contract relationship section  850  stores the contract relationship in the business. The completed appointed date section  860  stores the completed appointed date of the business. The communication subject employee ID section  870  stores user information (for example, employee ID) that consistently identifies the user who is the subject of communication in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The required information amount section  880  stores the communication amount that is required in the case where the business coincides with the conditions from the business number section  810  to the communication subject employee ID section  870 . 
     In this case, the guide condition data storage module  145  may store two kinds of guide condition data tables  800  for regular business and irregular business. 
     The trust amount determination module  125  is connected to the regular/irregular determination module  110 , the worker status determination module  115 , the guide evaluation module  120 , the output/notification module  130 , and the guide condition data storage module  145 . The trust amount determination module  125  extracts the communication amount that is required to perform the irregular business from the guide condition data table  800  stored in the guide condition data storage module  145  based on the attribute of the subject business if the business is determined to be the irregular business by the regular/irregular determination module  110 . Also, the regular/irregular determination module  110  presents the guide information that is a guide required to perform the subject business to the user  199  through the output/notification module  130  by comparing the extracted required communication amount with the actual communication amount extracted by the worker status determination module  115 . The generation of the guide information is perform in a manner that the comparison results and predetermined guide information are stored in correspondence to each other and the guide information is extracted based on the comparison results. For example, if the actual communication amount is smaller than the required communication amount, the actual communication amount is insufficient and a guide to the effect of pressing the communication is extracted, while if the actual communication amount is larger than the required communication amount, a guide to the effect of pressing the proceeding to the next business process (more specifically, for example, permission of printing of the document) is extracted. 
     In this case, the processing of the trust amount determination module  125  will be described later using a flowchart as exemplified in  FIG. 11 . 
     The output/notification module  130  is connected to the trust amount determination module  125 . The output/notification module  130  displays/notifies the guide information generated by the trust amount determination module  125  to the user  199 . For example, the output/notification module  130  displays the guide information on a display device of an information processing apparatus (PC, portable information terminal, or the like) that the user  199  possesses. 
     The guide evaluation module  125  is connected to the trust amount determination module  125 , the activity log data storage module  135 , and the business flow data storage module  140 . The guide evaluation module  120  changes the guide condition data that is the attribute information conveyance amount correspondence information stored in the guide condition data storage module  145  based on the actual communication amount extracted by the worker status determination module  115  in the case where the subject business is finished. 
     In this case, the processing of the guide evaluation module  120  will be described later using a flowchart as exemplified in  FIG. 13 . 
     The guide correction module  190  is connected to the guide condition data storage module  145 . The guide correction module  190  notifies the person in charge who has performed the subject business so that the person in charge performs evaluation on the required communication amount if a difference between the actual communication amount extracted by the worker status determination module  115  and the required communication amount extracted by the trust amount determination module  125  is larger than a predetermined value in the case where the subject business is finished. Here, the evaluation is a so-called survey, which is to examine whether the required communication amount is appropriate. 
     In this case, the processing of the guide correction module  190  will be described later using a flowchart exemplified in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . 
       FIG. 2  is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a subject business flow according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
     The business flow includes a plurality of businesses, and orders are given to the respective businesses. The business flow as exemplified in  FIG. 2  is defined to sequentially perform a standard contract kind selection business  210 , a required item write business  220 , a transaction specification estimate business  230 , a consultation business  240 , an opposite party confirmation agreement business  250 , a bookbinding/sealing business  260 , and an opposite party sealing business  270 . In this case, although the business flow exemplified in  FIG. 2  is not divided, it may be a business flow that is divided from a main portion. 
     In the respective businesses, there are required documents that are handled in the respective businesses. For example, as a required document  212  of the standard contract kind selection business  210 , there is a support department estimate (trader selection). As a required document  222 , there is a support department estimate (trade selection) in which a contractor, a conclusion date, an amount of money, the appointed date, or the like. As a required document  232 , there is a letter of transmittal, contract plan document, a confirmation item document, or the like. As a required document  242 , there is an agreement contents confirmation replay document, a consultation, an estimate, a budget, or the like. As a required document  252 , there is a consultation, an approval communication, or the like, As a required document  262 , there is a contract, a seal request, a transmittal, or the like. As a required document  272 , there is a contract, a copy, or the like. 
     The reception module  105  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention receives the above-described document names or other document names except for the above-described document names by an operation of the person in charge. Also, the regular/irregular determination module  110  determines that the business is the regular business in the case of the above-described document names, and determines that the business is the irregular business in the case of the other document names except for the above-described document names. Also, the above-described document names are stored in a document name section  740  of the business flow data table  700  as exemplified in  FIG. 7 . 
     In the case of the business flow as exemplified in  FIG. 2 , if a business contract is made with an opposite party except for the customers which have continuously entrusted businesses, the person in charge has no contract experience, and thus there is a possibility that re-work (resuming of the work from the first) occurs, that is, a possibility that inquiries about the reason of selection, contract rules, and the like, occur in the consultation business  240  and additional submitted documents (entrusting party contract regulation document  244  and entrusting party information document  246 ) are increased. In an example of  FIG. 2 , re-work of two processes, which return from the consultation business  240  to the required item write business  220 , occurs. Accordingly, in the case of receiving the document names in addition to the supply department estimate (trader selection) that describes a contractor, conclusion date, an amount of money, the appointed date, and the like, as the required document  222 , a guide for advance confirmation and negotiation is generated and presented to a person in charge of the required item write business  220  by pressing communication with the person in charge of consultation of the consultation business  240 . 
     In addition, as irregular business, for example, in a contract with the outside of the company, there is a contract conclusion business in the case where there is a difference between the contract regulations between the outside and the inside of the company, an approval business (that requires shortening of the lead time) which requires an emergency correspondence, or the like. 
     Here, the communication amount that is required to perform the business will be described. 
     First, it is assumed that the communication amount required to perform irregular business is a trust amount. That is, the trust amount is a communication amount that is required to supplement the irregular business in the case where the regular business becomes the irregular business, and means a threshold value at which the business flow does not re-work. 
     Although the trust amount is a predetermined value, it is a communication amount that is required to perform the business that is prescribed as the complexity of a business flow (including information on whether it is the standard flow, and if it is a contract, including contractor, contract number, contract relationship, and the like), participating department attribute, and the like. 
     Next, a method of setting a trust amount will be described in more detail. 
     In accordance with the complexity and contents of the subject business flow, the information amount that is required to proceed to the next business is determined. For example, the information amount is prescribed by the number of prepared documents, the amount of written contents, the number of approvers, and the like. 
     Here, the minimum amount will be described. The minimum amount is a communication amount for obtaining the information amount to be minimally satisfied in the case of performing the regular business. 
     Also, the communication amounts of the minimum amount and the trust amount are prescribed based on the resultant values in an example in which there is no re-work in the past regular and irregular businesses. 
       FIG. 3  is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the relationship between the minimum amount and the trust amount. Since the minimum amount corresponds to the regular business and the trust amount corresponds to the irregular business, the communication amount of the trust amount is larger than the communication amount of the minimum amount. Also, in the case of the irregular business, more information amount required to perform the business is required in comparison to the case of the regular business. The communication amount is indicated as an increasing function (if two real numbers a and b are in the relationship of a&lt;b, the function f(x) is determined as f(a)&lt;f(b). 
     Since the relationship between the trust amount and the minimum amount is changed by an individual experimental value (one of business attributes), the trust amount may be a value that is close to the minimum amount according to persons. 
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating a processing example according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
     In step S 902 , the reception module  105  receives the business contents and conditions. 
     In step S 904 , the regular/irregular determination module  110  determines whether the subject business is the regular business or the irregular business by comparing the information received in step S 902  with the business flow data  950  within the business flow data storage module  140 . This will be described later using a flowchart exemplified in  FIG. 10 . 
     In step S 906 , the trust amount determination module  125  determines whether the result of determination corresponds to the irregular business, and in the case of the irregular business, the trust amount determination module  125  proceeds to step S 908 , while otherwise, it finishes the process (step S 999 ). 
     In step S 908 , the trust amount determination module  125  generates a guide using the processing results by the worker status determination module  115 . The processing of the worker status determination module  115  will be described later using a flowchart as exemplified in  FIG. 12 . 
     In step S 910 , the output/notification module  130  notifies and outputs the guide. The processing in steps S 908  and S 910  will be described later using the flowchart as exemplified in  FIG. 11 . 
     Also, after the business is finished, the processing by the guide evaluation module  120  or the processing by the guide correction module  190  is performed (this may also be the processing by the guide evaluation module  120  and the processing by the guide correction module  190 ). The processing by the guide evaluation module  120  will be described later using the flowchart as exemplified in  FIG. 13 . The processing by the guide correction module  190  will be described later using the flowchart as exemplified in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . 
       FIG. 10  is a flowchart illustrating a processing example by the regular/irregular determination module  110  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
     In step S 1002 , it is determined whether the business contents and conditions are received, and in the case where the business contents and conditions are received, the processing proceeds to step S 1004 , while otherwise, the processing is finished (step S 1099 ). 
     In step S 1004 , the received business contents and the corresponding regular business are compared with each other. Specifically, for example, the received document name and the document name in the document name section  740  of the business flow data table  700  are compared with each other. 
     In step S 1006 , it is determined whether an item that is excluded from the regular range is received, and if the item is received, the processing proceeds to step S 1008 , while otherwise, the processing is finished (step S 1099 ). 
     In step S 1008 , it is determined that the irregular business occurs in the process. 
       FIG. 11  is a flowchart illustrating a processing example by the trust amount determination module  125  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
     In step S 1102 , it is determined whether the business is the irregular business, and in the case of the irregular business, the processing proceeds to step S 1106 , while otherwise, the processing proceeds to step S 1104 . 
     In step S 1104 , the required communication amount (the minimum amount) is acquired from the guide condition data storage module  145 . The required communication amount is acquired from the guide condition data table  800  for the regular business. 
     In step S 1106 , the required communication amount (trust amount) is acquired from the guide condition data storage module  145 . The required communication amount is acquired from the guide condition data table  800  for the irregular business. 
     In step S 1108 , the actual communication amount is acquired from the worker status determination module  115 . 
     In step S 1110 , the required communication amount (a) acquired in step S 1104  or S 1106  and the actual communication amount (b) acquired in step S 1108  are compared with each other. 
     In step S 1112 , it is determined whether the condition of “required communication amount (a)&lt;actual communication amount (b)” is satisfied, and if the condition is satisfied, the processing proceeds to step S 1116 , while otherwise, the processing proceeds to step S 1114 . 
     In step S 1114 , the residual amount of the required communication amount is calculated. That is, the communication amount that is required from now is calculated. Specifically, the residual amount becomes “required communication amount (a)−actual communication amount (b)”. 
     In step S 1116 , the property is rewritten. As the attribute of the business, the person in charge gives an attribute whether the activity in which the actual communication amount is larger than the required communication amount in the business is performed. Then, the person in charge in the next business may be referred to. 
     In step S 1118 , the output/notification module  130  notifies and outputs the guide. The trust amount determination module  125  generates the guide according to the result of determination in step S 1112  and the result of calculation in step S 1114 . 
       FIG. 12  is a flowchart illustrating a processing example by the worker status determination module  115  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
     In step S 1202 , the activity log data of the corresponding person or the communication log data is acquired from the activity log data storage module  135 . 
     In step S 1204 , the communication amount is calculated. The communication amount is calculated by converting the communication in the meeting, the communication in the electronic mail, and the like, which are included in the activity log data or the communication log data, into a common time index. 
     In this process, the calculation of the communication amount may be performed using the technique described in Patent Document 4. This technique is a technique that converts logs of respective communications performed by diverse communication means such as the electronic mail, telephone, direct dialogue, and the like, into an information acquisition time that is consumed in acquiring the communication information. 
     Here, the communication amount may be the number of transmission/reception of electronic mails or the like, the number of phone calls, a call time, the number of dialogues, a dialogue time, and the like. In addition, it is also possible to calculate the communication amount through the increase/decrease evaluation of the positive/negative keywords that uses the technique, such as a natural language process and the like, with respect to the texts used in the communication. 
     Also, in step S 1204 , as described above, the actual communication amount may be increased/decreased using the weight value of the media weight value table  400  as exemplified in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating a processing example by the guide evaluation module  120 . This is a process of reflecting the actual communication amount in the finished business in the required communication amount in the next business. 
     In step S 1302 , it is determined whether the business flow is finished, and if the business flow is finished, the processing proceeds to step S 1304 , while otherwise, the processing is finished (step S 1399 ). 
     In step S 1304 , the actual communication amount generated in the business is acquired from the worker status determination module  115 . 
     In step S 1306 , the evaluation is made by comparing the actual communication amount with the communication amount required in the business. For example, it is determined whether a difference between the communication amounts is larger than the predetermined value. 
     In step S 1308 , the communication amount required in the business is corrected. For example, if the difference is larger than the predetermined value, the correction is performed so that the required communication amount approximates to the actual communication amount. For example, the average value of the two communication amounts may be determined as the required communication amount, or a value that is obtained by multiplying the difference by a predetermined ratio may be added to or subtracted from the required communication amount. 
     Also, the equivalent correction may be performed with respect to not only the business but also the required communication amount of the business that is pre-related to the business. 
       FIG. 14  is a flowchart illustrating a processing example by the guide correction module  190  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. This process is performed in the case where the subject business is finished. This is to cope with the case where the required communication amount is unable to be corrected appropriately only by the processing in the flowchart as exemplified in  FIG. 13 . 
     In step S 1402 , it is determined whether the actual communication amount is equal to or larger than the required communication amount that is a guide amount, and if so, the processing proceeds to step S 1404 , while otherwise, the processing is finished (step S 1499 ). It is determined whether the difference between the actual communication amount and the required communication amount is larger than a predetermined value. If the difference is larger than the predetermined value, the required communication amount may be inappropriate in the beginning. 
     In step S 1404 , an evaluation request is notified to the subject person. The subject person is the person in charge who performed the subject business. The subject person is notified so that he/she performs evaluation on the required communication mount. Here, the evaluation is, for example, a survey for verifying whether the required communication amount is appropriate. For example, the evaluation includes inquiries for determining whether the business is an exceptional business, whether the exceptional communication amount is generated, and the like. 
       FIG. 15  is a flowchart illustrating a processing example by the guide correction module  190  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. This process is performed after a plurality of evaluation results are collected by the processing in the flowchart as exemplified in  FIG. 14 . 
     In step S 1502 , it is determined whether the evaluation results are received, and if the evaluation results are received, the processing proceeds to step S 1504 , while otherwise, the step S 1502  is performed again. 
     In step S 1504 , it is determined whether the business to be evaluated corresponds to an exceptional process, and if the business corresponds to the exceptional process, the processing proceeds to step S 1506 , while otherwise, the processing is finished (step S 1599 ). 
     In step S 1506 , the required communication amount for evaluation is registered with respect to the exceptional business. That is, the exceptional business is considered as a new business, and the communication amount that is required for the business is registered. 
     The hardware configuration of a computer in which a program according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention is, as exemplified in  FIG. 16 , a general computer, specifically, a personal computer, a computer that may serve as a server, or the like. That is, as a concrete example, a CPU  1601  is used as a processing unit (operation unit), and a RAM  1602 , a ROM  1603 , and an HD  1604  are used as storage devices. As the HD  1604 , for example, a hard disk may be used. The hardware configuration includes the CPU  1601  that executes programs, such as the regular/irregular determination module  110 , the worker status determination module  115 , the guide evaluation module  120 , the trust amount determination module  125 , the guide correction module  190 , and the like, a RAM  1602  storing programs or data, a ROM  1603  storing programs for starting the computer, an HD  1604  that is an auxiliary storage device, a reception device  1606  for receiving data based on the user&#39;s operation of a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, and the like, an output device  1605  such as a CRT or liquid crystal display, a communication line interface  1607  for connecting to a communication network such as a network interface card, and a bus  1608  for connecting these in order to exchange data among them. A plurality of computers may be connected through a network. 
     The above-described exemplary embodiment by the computer program may be realized in cooperation with software and hardware resources by making the system of the hardware configuration read the computer program that is software. 
     In this case, the hardware configuration illustrated in  FIG. 16  represents one configuration example. An exemplary embodiment of the invention is not limited to the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 16 , and any configuration that executes the modules as explained in an exemplary embodiment of the invention may be used. For example, some modules may be configured by dedicated hardware (for example, ASIC and the like), or may be provided in an external system and be connected through communication lines. Further, a plurality of systems, as illustrated in  FIG. 16 , may be connected by communication lines to operate in cooperation with one another. Also, the configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention may be assembled on an information home appliance, a copy machine, a facsimile, a printer, a multifunction peripheral (an image processing device having two or more functions of a scanner, a printer, a copy machine, a facsimile, and the like) in addition to the personal computer. 
     The above-described program may be stored in a recording medium to be provided or may be provided by a communication means. In this case, for example, the above-described program may be grasped as an invention of a “computer readable recording medium recorded with a program”. 
     The “computer readable recording medium recorded with a program” means a recording medium that is readable by a computer recorded with a program, which is used for program installation, execution, program distribution, and the like. 
     In this case, examples of recording media include “DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, and the like” which correspond to the standard appropriated in the DVD Forum as a digital versatile disc (DVD), “DVD+R, DVD+RW, and the like” which correspond to the standard appropriated in the DVD+RW, a read only memory (CD-ROM), a CD recordable (CD-R), a CD rewritable (CD-RW), and the like as compact disks (CD), a Blu-ray disc (registered trade name), an opto-magnetic disc (MO), a flexible disc (FD), a magnetic tape, a hard disk, a read only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable and programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a random access memory (RAM), and the like. 
     Also, the above-described programs or a portion thereof may be recorded in the recording medium for preservation or distribution. Also, the programs or a portion thereof may be transmitted by communication, for example, using a transmission media such as a wired network that is used in a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, and the like, a wireless communication network, or a combination thereof, or may be carried on carrier waves. 
     Also, the above-described program may be a portion of another program, or may be recorded in a recording medium together with a separate program. Also, the program may be separately recorded in a plurality of recording media. Also, if the program may be compressed, encrypted, or restored, it may be recorded in any type. 
     The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been provided for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and various will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling other skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents. 
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SIGNS  
       105 : reception module 
       110 : regular/irregular determination unit 
       115 : worker status determination module 
       120 : guide evaluation module 
       125 : trust amount determination module 
       130 : output/notification module 
       135 : activity log data storage module 
       140 : business flow data storage module 
       145 : guide condition data storage module 
       190 : guide correction module 
       199 : user