Patent ID: 7870013

Claim:
A guidance method of maintaining goals using a computer system with at least first and second goal types so as to promote goal alignment, the guidance method comprising: providing a first rule for relationships between goals of the first goal type; providing a second rule for relationships between goals of the first goal type and goals of the second goal type; storing a primary goal of the first goal type; dynamically determining content for a user interface in accordance with the first and second rules, such that the content directs a user of the user interface in generation of content of a secondary goal of the second goal type that causes alignment of the secondary goal with the primary goal of the first goal type; performing using a computer system: storing the secondary goal of the second goal type; requesting verification of alignment between the primary goal and the secondary goal; indicating alignment of the primary goal and the secondary goal at least upon receiving a response to the requested verification of alignment; determining, with the computer system, that the primary goal has been modified; and executing goal alignment code to (i) check for primary goal and secondary goal alignment and, when the primary goal is modified, (ii) generate an alignment warning with the computer system to provide notice regarding alignment between the modified primary goal and the secondary goal, wherein to generate an alignment warning comprises generating an alignment warning for display to alert a viewer of the display of the alignment warning.