Software portfolio management system and method

Abstract

A software-based product development portfolio management system and method that may be implemented using a software as a service (SaaS) model that allows users (based on access rights) to: create and update valid project plans using integrated management tools and techniques, view near-real-time project data and metrics; 5 enable lean project management; send messages to other users via system alerts and/or e-mails and receive messages/alerts from other SPM System users; input data; establish and change organizational governance guidelines; and approve, conditionally approve or reject decisions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A software project management system, comprising:
 a computer system having a processor and memory and a plurality of lines of instructions that are configured to:   retrieve an integrated master schedule (IMS) project having a plurality of tasks wherein each task has a duration and one or more parameters of the task and wherein an association exists between two or more tasks in the IMS project;   insert a completion milestone probability distribution function (PDF) of a child IMS into the IMS project to generate an updated IMS with child IMS rolled up; and   store the updated IMS.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to update, using a project progress update wizard executed by the processor, a stored IMS. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the IMS project is one of a risk adjusted IMS and a IMS that is not risk adjusted. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute a project progress update wizard to receive one or more pieces of update data for the IMS project, automatically generate a new report for the IMS project based on the one or more pieces of update data and automatically update a duration for at least one task of the IMS project based on the one or more pieces of update data. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute a probability distribution wizard to determine an overall project percent confidence and to display the IMS project with the duration of at least one task adjusted based on the overall project percent confidence. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to represent the child IMS as a child task in the retrieved IMS project. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the child IMS is a supply chain partner IMS. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate customized home page for each user, the customized home page displaying the dashboard for the user. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to securely authorize each user of the system based on an authorization matrix. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate a high risk of resource over allocation curve based on the resource allocation probability risk. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the processor is further configured to probabilistically maximize allocation benefits using one or more of automatic adjustment of one or more of task ordering and task timing and manual adjustment of one or more of task ordering and task timing. 
     
     
         12 . A software project management method, comprising:
 retrieving an integrated master schedule (IMS) project having a plurality of tasks wherein each task has a duration and one or more parameters of the task and wherein an association exists between two or more tasks in the IMS project;   inserting a completion milestone probability distribution function (PDF) of a child IMS into the IMS project to generate an updated IMS with child IMS rolled up; and   storing the updated IMS.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising setting, using a project baseline wizard, one or more baselines for the retrieved IMS and the child IMS. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the IMS project is one of a risk adjusted IMS and a IMS that is not risk adjusted. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising receiving one or more pieces of update data for the project, automatically generating a new report for the IMS project based on the one or more pieces of update data and automatically updating a duration for at least one task of the IMS project based on the one or more pieces of update data. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising executing a probability distribution wizard to determine an overall project percent confidence; and displaying the IMS project with the duration of at least one task adjusted based on the overall project percent confidence. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein integrating a child IMS into the retrieved IMS further comprises representing the child IMS as a child task in the retrieved IMS project. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the child IMS is a supply chain partner IMS. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising generating a customized home page for each user, the customized home page displaying the dashboard for the user. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising generating, using an earned schedule wizard, one or more different earned value management reports. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising securely authorizing each user of the system based on an authorization matrix. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising generating a high risk of resource over allocation curve based on the resource allocation probability risk. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein probabilistically maximize allocation benefits further comprises probabilistically maximize allocation benefits using one or more of automatic adjustment of one or more of task ordering and task timing and manual adjustment of one or more of task ordering and task timing.