Patent ID: 7047091

Claim:
A method for automatically determining a graphic presentation for visualizing progress of a project, comprising the steps of: for each work group in a plurality of work groups engaged in a project having a plurality of sub-projects, with the work groups being respectively responsible for different ones of said sub-projects, creating an electronic page containing a request to indicate a detail regarding progress of the respective sub-project for each work group, and storing said electronic pages in a first computer in communication with a communication network; allocating respective second computers, communicating with said communication network, to the work groups and, at successive time intervals, loading the electronic page allocated to a work group from the first computer into the second computer allocated to that work group to transmit said request; responding to said request at said second computer by filling out the electronic page thereat, thereby producing a filled-out electronic page, and transmitting the filled-out electronic page from the respective second computer to the first computer via said communication network; for each time interval, determining, at said first computer, an average progress of said project from the respective filled-out electronic pages from the respective work groups; from the respective average progresses for said time intervals, automatically determining a predicted time curve of an overall average progress of said project and a predicted completion of said project; at said first computer, automatically graphically displaying said predicted time curve on a further electronic page; comparing a point in time of said predicted completion to a planned completion of said project using said displayed time curve, thereby obtaining a comparison result; if said comparison result indicates said project will be completed earlier than indicated by said predicted time curve, automatically generating an e-mail with a message indicating early completion of said project; and transmitting said e-mail to a predetermined recipient.