System and method for network-based project management
A system for managing a project and its associated information over a network is presented. The system includes a project information database associated with the network and a project information management tool. The project information database stores information associated with a project being carried out by a corporate entity having at least one sub-entity. The project information management tool includes a project information module to manage the information associated with the project, and at least one cross-sub-entity project-component module. The cross-sub-entity project module manages and tracks overall information and sub-entity specific information, of the information associated with the project, related to the project-component.
1. A project management system, comprising:
a project database associated with a network, the project database storing information associated with at least one project being carried out by at least a first entity having at least one sub-entity, wherein the first entity comprises a business organization of one or more persons and the at least one sub-entity comprises a business organization of one or more persons and is associated with the first entity in a business relationship;
a project management tool including:
a project information module to manage information associated with the at least one project and one or more related sub-projects in a relational project hierarchy,
at least one project-component module to manage at least sub-entity specific project information, in cooperation with the project information module; and
at least one user system connected to the network to access the project management tool over the network, based on an access level associated with the user, wherein the access level associated with the user is determined at least in part by input information regarding the access level received from the user, wherein the access level associated with the user is verified by the project management system, wherein the access level comprises at least one of (1) reader access, (2) editor access, (3) coordinator level access and (4) administrator access;
wherein the reader access includes reader access function comprising access to one or more documents and information based on one or more projects to which the user has access;
wherein the editor access includes editor access function comprising the reader access function and an additional editor function of creating one or more records associated with one or more of programs, projects and sub-projects;
wherein the coordinator access includes coordinator access function comprising the editor access function and an additional coordinator function of editing and creating one or more of programs, projects and sub-project records;
wherein the administrator access includes administrator access function comprising the coordinator access function and an additional administrator function of determining access for one or more programs and projects.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first entity comprises a corporation and the at least one sub-entity comprises at least one of a line of business of the corporation, a division of the corporation, a subsidiary of the corporation and a support unit of the corporation.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the project database comprises a relational database.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the project management tool is configured to interface with at least one other project management system, so that a one time entry allows a user to access the at least one other project management system.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the project management tool further comprises a search module to search the project database for information requested by other modules within the project management tool to create at least one of displays and reports.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one project-component module comprises at least one or more of a home module, a project information module, a milestones module, an issues module, a change controls module, a documents module, a project status reports module, a team member status reports module, a contacts module, a management decisions module, a meetings module, an action items module, a financials module, a new items module, a search module, an archive module, a project management system coordinator module and a central project management system administrator module.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one project-component module allows each sub-entity of the first entity to produce at least one report, wherein the at least one report comprises at least one of a consolidated report and a individualized sub-entity report.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the project database stores information associated with a plurality of projects.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the project-component module allows a user to create a customized representation of the project-component module related information in the project database.
10. A project management system, comprising:
a project database, comprising a relational database, associated with a network, that stores information associated with at least one project,
the at least one project being carried out by at least a first entity having at least one sub-entity, wherein the first entity comprises a business organization of one or more persons and the at least one sub-entity comprises a business organization of one or more persons and is associated with the first entity in a business relationship;
a project management tool including:
a project information module to manage information associated with the at least one project and one or more related sub-projects in a relational project hierarchy,
at least one project-component module to manage at least sub-entity specific project information, in cooperation with the project information module,
wherein the at least one project-component module allows the at least one sub-entity to produce at least one report comprising at least one of a consolidated report and a individualized sub-entity report, and wherein further the project-component module allows a user to create a customized representation of the project-component module related information in the project database; and
at least one user system connected to the network to access the project management tool over the network, based on an access level associated with the user, wherein the access level associated with the user is determined at least in part by input information regarding the access level received from the user, wherein the access level associated with the user is verified by the project management system and the access level comprises at least one of (1) reader access, (2) editor access, (3) coordinator level access and (4) administrator access;
wherein the reader access includes reader access function comprising access to one or more documents and information based on one or more projects to which the user has access;
wherein the editor access includes editor access function comprising the reader access function and an additional editor function of creating one or more records associated with one or more of programs, projects and sub-projects;
wherein the coordinator access includes coordinator access function comprising the editor access function and an additional coordinator function of editing and creating one or more of programs, projects and sub-project records;
wherein the administrator access includes administrator access function comprising the coordinator access function and an additional administrator function of determining access for one or more programs and projects.