Patent ID: 8418049

Claim:
A system implementing a situation-oriented directory for retrieving a stakeholder identification comprising: a memory storing data corresponding to the situation-oriented directory including a plurality of pre-defined situations, wherein at least one situation is associated with a plurality of attribute-value combinations, and further wherein each of the plurality of attribute-value combinations is mapped to a single stakeholder identification according to an attribute and a value of the attribute; and a processor in communication with the memory for receiving a query and retrieving the stakeholder identification from among the stakeholder identifications based on the attribute-value combinations, wherein the data stored in memory includes categories of stakeholders, wherein each stakeholder is categorized as one of a default stakeholder, and a situation stakeholder, wherein default stakeholders holders handle all situations that show a specified attribute-value combination except for exceptional situations for which a situation stakeholder is defined, and wherein the system is configured to allow a user to add exceptional situation assignments, be made aware of possible conflicts between exceptional situation assignments, and be presented with alternatives for resolving the possible conflicts.