Patent ID: 7103871

Claim:
A method for processing change requests to a computer application, said method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving an electronic message by a computer containing a change request with one or more application features and system requirements; (b) electronically forwarding the change request to a project manager responsible for the computer application; (c) conducting an impact analysis by comparing one or more application features and system requirements requested in the change request to the existing computer application to determine the degree that the one or more application features and system requirements changes the manner in which the computer application functions, wherein the project manager electronically annotates a first approval status on the change request; (d) electronically forwarding the change request to a development lead, if the first approval status is positive, for a determination of whether the development time exceeds a threshold and for a cost benefit analysis of the one or more application features and system requirements designated in the change request, wherein the development lead electronically annotates a second approval status on the change request document with the second approval status being positive when the development time does not exceed the threshold and when the benefits outweigh the costs; (e) electronically forwarding the change request to a quality assurance lead, if the second approval status is positive, for an analysis of the one or more application features and system requirements requested in the change request in regards to required testing resources including but not limited to funding, manpower, time, and facility utilization, wherein the quality assurance lead electronically annotates a third approval status on the change request and wherein the third approval status is positive when the required testing resources do not create an issue or if the required testing resources do create an issue, a determination is made to eliminate at least a portion of the testing to reduce the required testing resources; (f) electronically forwarding the change request to a documentation lead, if the third approval status is positive, for an analysis of the one or more application features and system requirements requested in the change request in regards to documentation requirements comprising funding and time wherein the documentation lead annotates a fourth approval status on the change request document and wherein the fourth approval status is positive when the documentation requirements do not create an issue or if the documentation requirements do create an issue, a determination is made to eliminate at least a portion of the documentation requirements; (g) incorporating one or more additional sets of computer code into the computer application implementing the one or more application features and system requirements requested in the change request if the fourth approval status on the change request document is positive.