Systems and methods for providing documentation having succinct communication with scalability

Abstract

The present invention relates to providing documentation having succinct communication with scalability. In particular, the present invention relates to systems and methods for defining and documenting processes, procedures, standards and policies that are succinct and usable, and that are scalable to the complexity of the process and to abilities of the individual user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, performed by a computer system, for generating a process model representation for each of a plurality of activity chunks in a process such that each process model representation is arranged to be displayed on a single page, the method comprising:
 receiving, by one or more processors of the computer system, a template for a process, the template defining each work product that is used by the process, each activity performed by the process, and each role that performs an activity in the process, each activity being associated with one of a plurality of activity chunks defined for the process;   generating, by one or more processors of the computer system, and for each of the activity chunks, a process activity template;   generating, by one or more processors of the computer system, and for each process activity template, a process model representation, each process model representation being arranged to be displayed on a single page, each process model representation comprising:
 a graphical representation of the flow between the activities in the represented activity chunk. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each process activity template defines:
 any inputs used by the activity chunk;   entry criteria defining when the activity chunk is to be performed;   which role is responsible for performing each activity in the activity chunk;   any outputs produced by the activity chunk; and   exit criteria defining when the activity chunk is completed.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each process model representation further comprises:
 a graphical representation of the inputs, entry criteria, roles involved in performing the activities of the represented activity chunk, outputs, and exit criteria.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each process model representation also includes an indication of which role performs each activity in the represented activity chunk. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the indication of which role performs each activity is provided by defining a column for each role and arranging the graphical representation of the flow between the activities so that the activities performed by a particular role are arranged in the particular role's column and activities performed by multiple roles are arranged to span the columns of each of the multiple roles. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each process model representation also includes a graphical representation of the location of the represented activity chunk within the process. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each process model representation also includes an indication of the purpose of the represented activity chunk. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical representation of the flow between activities comprises a list of the activities. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical representation of the flow between activities comprises a diagram including a box for each activity and arrows indicating the flow from one activity to another. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each process activity template includes an indication of which activity in the activity chunk uses each input defined in the process activity template. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the entry criteria defined in each process activity template defines a state or condition within the process that will cause the process flow to transition to the activities in the activity chunk. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the state or condition comprises Boolean logic applied to multiple states or conditions within the process. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each process activity template includes an indication of which activity in the activity chunk generates each output defined in the process activity template. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the process model representations also comprises an indication of measurements made by the activities of the represented activity chunk. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical representation is organized based on the intended audience that will use the process model representation. 
     
     
         16 . One or more computer storage media storing computer executable instructions which when executed by one or more processors performs a method for generating a process model representation for each of a plurality of activity chunks in a process such that each process model representation is arranged to be displayed on a single page, the method comprising:
 receiving, by one or more processors of the computer system, a template for a process, the template defining each work product that is used by the process, each activity performed by the process, and each role that performs an activity in the process, each activity being associated with one of a plurality of activity chunks defined for the process;   generating, by one or more processors of the computer system, and for each of the activity chunks, a process activity template;   generating, by one or more processors of the computer system, and for each process activity template, a process model representation, each process model representation being arranged to be displayed on a single page, each process model representation comprising:
 a graphical representation of the flow between the activities in the represented activity chunk. 
   
     
     
         17 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 16 , wherein each process activity template defines:
 any inputs used by the activity chunk;   entry criteria defining when the activity chunk is to be performed;   which role is responsible for performing each activity in the activity chunk;   any outputs produced by the activity chunk; and   exit criteria defining when the activity chunk is completed.   
     
     
         18 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 17 , wherein each process model representation further comprises:
 a graphical representation of the inputs, entry criteria, roles involved in performing the activities of the represented activity chunk, outputs, and exit criteria.   
     
     
         19 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 16 , wherein each process model representation also includes an indication of which role performs each activity in the represented activity chunk. 
     
     
         20 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 19 , wherein the indication of which role performs each activity is provided by defining a column for each role and arranging the graphical representation of the flow between the activities so that the activities performed by a particular role are arranged in the particular role's column and activities performed by multiple roles are arranged to span the columns of each of the multiple roles.