Patent ID: 8311863

Claim:
A computer implemented method for high performance capability assessment of a utility business, comprising: defining, by a processor coupled to a machine-readable memory, establishing a machine readable memory including a multidimensional utility industry performance reference set stored in the memory and comprising multiple key assessment performance reference tables, at least one key assessment performance reference table further defining a manage investments platform or sub-platform including: a ‘Basic’ performance level specifying ‘Basic’ performance assessment criteria; a ‘Threshold’ performance level specifying ‘Threshold’ performance assessment criteria; an ‘Above Average’ performance level specifying ‘Above Average’ performance assessment criteria; a ‘Leading’ performance level specifying ‘Leading’ performance assessment criteria; establishing long and medium term planning performance assessment criteria, wherein the ‘Basic’ performance assessment criteria includes a first criteria where planning is carried out with little guidance in the form of planning policies and guidelines supported by limited planning and forecasting capabilities; wherein the ‘Threshold’ performance assessment criteria includes a first criteria where planning is carried out by individual units using central guidelines and is supported by select individuals from various departments; wherein the ‘Above Average’ performance assessment criteria includes a first criteria where central function manages longer term planning, guided by a comprehensive set of planning guidelines and is supported by a highly skilled team in planning and forecasting; wherein the ‘Leading’ performance assessment criteria includes a first criteria where central function manages longer term planning, guided by a comprehensive set of planning guidelines and is supported by a highly skilled team in planning and forecasting; receiving, through a communication interface coupled to the processor, an input specifying a utility industry area and a utility industry key assessment area with the utility industry area for analysis; searching by the processor, the multidimensional utility industry performance reference set for a matching key assessment performance reference table that matches the utility industry area and the utility industry key assessment area; retrieving by the processor, the matching key assessment performance reference table; analyzing, by the processor, the matching key assessment performance reference table; and obtaining, by the processor, a resultant performance level for the utility industry key assessment area.