Patent ID: 6968343

Claim:
A method in a data processing system having a workflow comprising a plurality of activities, wherein each of the activities has a duration, and wherein a predecessor one of the plurality of activities occurs before a successor one of the plurality of activities, the method comprising the steps of: creating a plan from the workflow, wherein the step of creating the plan comprises the steps of: creating a predecessor task from the predecessor activity, wherein the step of creating the predecessor task comprises steps of: receiving an indication of a predecessor start time for the predecessor task; setting a predecessor end time for the predecessor task equal to the predecessor duration after the predecessor start time; and receiving user input indicating a predecessor resource assigned to the predecessor task; and creating a successor task from the successor activity, wherein the step of creating the successor task comprises the steps: setting a successor start time equal to the predecessor end time; setting a successor end time equal to the successor duration after the successor start time; and receiving user input indicating a successor resource assigned to the successor task; receiving an indication to activate the plan; activating the plan; and monitoring the activated plan, wherein the step of monitoring the activated plan comprises the steps of: notifying the predecessor resource to begin the task at the predecessor start time; determining when the predecessor task has completed; and when it is determined that the predecessor task has completed, notifying the successor resource to begin the successor task.