Web-based computer-supported work order and specification management process

1. One or more non-transitory computer-storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that facilitate a method of executing a project, said method comprising:

storing information regarding a plurality of states of said project into said database, wherein said states consolidate engineering work-order states and engineering specification states into a combined process, wherein for each engineering work-order state that corresponds to an engineering specification state, the engineering work-order state and the corresponding engineering specification state are consolidated into a respective single state of said project, wherein said states include,

A) an unapproved state that corresponds to an engineering work-order unapproved state,

B) a not-released state that corresponds to an engineering-specification not-released state,

C) a released state that corresponds to an engineering-specification released state, wherein the not-released state and the released state, in combination, also correspond to an engineering work-order approved state,

D) an as-built state that corresponds to a consolidation of both an engineering-specification as-built state and an engineering work-order in-service state,

E) an ABESA state that corresponds to a consolidation of both an engineering-specification ABESA state and a work-order pre-closing state,

F) and an archive state that corresponds to a consolidation of both an engineering-specification archive state and a work-order closed state;

storing information regarding a first group of individuals authorized to access data associated with a first state into said database, wherein said first state is one of said states of said project;

notifying said first group via an electronic message that said first state has been initiated;

providing said first group with access to a portion of said database, wherein said first group is provided with access to said data associated with said first state;

storing information regarding a second group of individuals authorized to access data associated with a second state into said database, wherein said second state is another of said states of said project;

notifying said second group via an electronic message that said second state has been initiated; and

providing said second group with access to a portion of said database, wherein said second group is provided with access to said data associated with said second state.

2. The one or more non-transitory computer-storage media of claim 1 , said method comprising:

storing information regarding a plurality of groups into said database, each of said groups associated with a state in said project;

storing a portion of the information regarding the plurality of groups in a data structure, wherein the data structure is configured as a distribution matrix that specifies associations of said groups with state initiations; and

using said distribution matrix to determine which of said groups to notify of said state initiations.

3. The one or more non-transitory computer-storage media of claim 1 , said method comprising:

including in said information regarding said scope of work an indication of one or more of:

what work is going to be done;

how much the project will cost;

an identification of exactly what entity will be performing the work; and

where the project is located.

4. One or more non-transitory computer-storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that facilitate a method of managing a project, said method comprising:

electronically receiving and storing in a memory job-descriptive information using an application running on an application server, said job-descriptive information including a description of the work required to complete the project;

electronically receiving and storing in said memory information regarding project costs using said application running on said application server;

electronically receiving and storing in said memory a first group of persons associated with said project using said application running on said application server;

electronically receiving and storing in said memory an engineering specification using said application running on said application server;

receiving and storing in said memory information regarding a plurality of states of said project in a course of managing said project,

wherein said states combine a traditional engineering work-order process that includes engineering work-order states and a traditional engineering specification process that includes engineering specification states into a combined process,

wherein for each engineering work-order state in the traditional engineering work-order process that corresponds to an engineering specification state in the traditional engineering specification process, the engineering work-order state and the corresponding engineering specification state are consolidated into a respective single state of said project,

wherein each state of said project is associated with related portions of said job-descriptive information, said information regarding project costs, and said engineering specification, and

wherein the application provides access to both engineering work-order data and engineering specification data for said states of said project;

electronically notifying said first group that a first state of said project has been reached in the course of managing said project; and

providing said first group with access to a portion of said memory, wherein said first group is authorized to access a portion of information that is associated with said first state.

5. The one or more non-transitory computer-storage media of claim 4 , said method further comprising:

storing in said memory information regarding a second group of individuals associated with said project; and

notifying said second group upon reaching a second state of said project in the course of managing said project.

6. The one or more non-transitory computer-storage media of claim 4 , said method comprising:

receiving information regarding a plurality of groups, each of said groups interested in a state of said project in said managing of said project; and

using a distribution matrix to notify groups of state initializations.

7. The one or more non-transitory computer-storage media of claim 4 , said method comprising:

electronically receiving and storing financial forecasting information using said application running on said application server.

8. The one or more non-transitory computer-storage media of claim 7 , said method comprising:

electronically receiving and storing changes to said financial forecasting information using said application running on said application server.

9. The one or more non-transitory computer-storage media of claim 4 , said method comprising:

electronically receiving and storing cost-estimating information using said application running on said application server.

10. The one or more non-transitory computer-storage media of claim 9 , said method comprising:

electronically receiving and storing changes to said cost-estimating information using said application running on said application server.