Patent ID: 8020088

Claim:
A method for generating a visual responsibility matrix that communicates the scope of a technical solution used to perform a service, comprising: prompting a user to generate a logical diagram on a first portion of a sheet of a spreadsheet that is representative of components that are in the scope of the technical solution; prompting the user to list each of the components that are in the logical diagram in a first matrix on a second portion of the same sheet of the spreadsheet, wherein the user is prompted to place each of the components in one of a horizontal portion or vertical portion of the first matrix; prompting the user to list services that are performed for each of the components in the first matrix, wherein the user is prompted to place each of the services in one of the horizontal portion or vertical portion of the first matrix separate from the list of components; prompting the user to insert a name of a party that has the responsibility to perform the services associated with the components in the first matrix, wherein the user is prompted to enter the name of the party in each cell where the horizontal portion and vertical portion of the first matrix intersect; for each of the responsibilities listed in the first matrix, prompting the user to input at least one cost associated with fulfilling each responsibility in the first matrix in a second matrix on the second portion that contains the list of each of the components and the list of services in one of a horizontal portion or a vertical portion, wherein the second matrix is separate and distinct from the first matrix, and wherein the second matrix and first matrix are provided on the same sheet of the spreadsheet as the logical diagram; prompting the user to list additional information that relates to the technical solution, wherein the additional information includes assumptions, descriptions and examples that are associated with the technical solution; and providing additional information about a component in response to the user selecting the component from within the Logical diagram, wherein the providing of additional information comprises linking the user to a component information site in response to selecting the component.