JP2002082836A - Decision system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a decision system capable of simplifying draft preparation work, making paperless, speeding up decision making and reinforcing security. SOLUTION: This decision system is provided with a plurality of terminals 1, a decision management DB3 and a network, a person preparing a draft inputs a decision application and an approval route in the management DB3 from a terminal 1A, and an acknowledger accesses the management DB3 from a terminal 1C, reads the decision application and performs decision approval or decision rejection of the read decision application. Samples for a decision application, information on the decision application made by the person preparing the draft, the approval information conducted by the acknowledger, decision definition information and organization information are stored in the management DB3, and the person preparing the draft can prepare the decision application and the approval route on the basis of these pieces of information stored in the DB. Personnel and organization information can be reflected on the decision application and the approval route by referring to a personnel/ organization DB10 so that the system can flexibly cope with even personal transfer and organization change.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a decision making system, and more particularly to a decision making system which can speed up drafting and decision making.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, for a decision in a company, a method has been generally adopted in which a decision document is turned and managed on a document basis. Such a document-based method has the following disadvantages. 1) Each time a new draft is issued, it is necessary to find out where it should be circulated and where approval is required by referring to internal regulations and write it in the draft, which is time-consuming. I was It was also necessary to be aware that the internal regulations to be referred to were always the latest. 2) If the format of the draft decision document is changed, both the document before the change and the document after the change will be circulated in form, so that a complicated response to them is required. 3) In many cases, the storage location of the written request is unknown, and in some cases, it may be lost.

[0003] 4) There is also a risk that security may not be kept sufficiently depending on the storage method of a request for a secret matter related to a personnel matter or a special decision item. 5) If the written document exists as a document, it is necessary to send the document via an in-house delivery service in the case of approval, approval, etc., so there is a problem that it takes time to make a final decision. Has the problem that it takes time to carry around documents. 6) Since there is no link between the business plan document and the budget document, it is necessary to match the draft decision document with the budget-related document when budgeting is required. 7) Even when an urgent decision is required, it is physically impossible if proxy approval is at a remote location, and there is a danger of being forgotten because the reminder is oral.

[0004]

As described above, in the conventional method of making a decision using documents, the drafter must write a decision with reference to the latest in-house rules and organizational chart, and the drafting work is complicated. In addition, there are many problems such as the problem of losing and locating the decision document, which is easy to store and manage, and there are many security problems, as well as the problem that it takes time to make a final decision.

[0005] Further, there has been a problem in the past that personnel issues were not taken into consideration in a document-based decision. That is, in the past, even if a draft decision was made and a decision was made, by the time the decision was finally approved, the personnel change was confirmed and the officer in charge was replaced, or the drafter of the draft decision was Sometimes the name of the department to which I belonged changed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the confirmer in the middle of the process may be replaced by a personnel change.

[0006] In such a case, it is necessary to correct all related decision documents or withdraw the decision documents.
Then, after the withdrawal of the written decision, an application for a decision is made again. However, if the content of the written decision itself or the amount presented is not changed and the application is made again and the approval and the approval are requested again from the beginning, there is a possibility that the re-application documents will be missing. There was a problem.

[0007] Further, if the approval and the decision are made again with the same contents, there is a problem that a useless time is generated. This is against real-time management and is not preferred.

[0008] Such a personnel problem is a problem that the change of the department name is processed as a kind of transfer and the same is performed, so that it increases in a proportional series.

[0009] On the other hand, depending on the content of the decision, the decision period may extend over the period of personnel change. In such cases, despite the fact that there is more than one person who can approve and / or approve, only those who were originally set up at the time of the request for approval or approval were notified of the approval or approval, Or a new member) may not know that the notice has been given.

[0010] In addition, in a unique processing flow, an individual, that is, an employee is also assigned to each employee who also serves as a plurality of organizations. Therefore, there is a problem that the approval and / or the confirmation act must be performed for each concurrently used party, although there is originally only one subject.

Furthermore, in recent years, business has often been required to make management decisions with a time limit, such as a cooperative (partner) contract or a store opening contract. In such a case, the process is performed with a time limit, and when it is not likely to meet the time limit, the drafting party of the decision needs to perform some process. Conventionally, there has been no system that rationally executes such processing.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a decision making system which solves this problem by using a computer network, simplifies drafting work, makes paperless, speeds up decision making, and strengthens security. .

Another object of the present invention is to provide a decision making system capable of flexibly coping with a change in personnel organization or the like, a change in the name of an organization, or a change in officers when making a decision using a computer network. Is to provide.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 provides at least one terminal and a computer which connects the terminals when there are a plurality of terminals to enable mutual communication. Comprising a network, at least one of the terminals is a decision originator terminal used by a decision originator, at least one of the terminals is a decision authorizer terminal used by a decision authorizer, and the decision originator is the decision originator. Enter a decision application and approval route from the terminal, the entered decision application was delivered to the decision approver terminal based on the entered approval route, and the decision approver was delivered to the decision approver terminal An approval system is characterized in that the approval application is approved or rejected.

The invention according to claim 11 is a decision making system in which a decision is made via a communication network, wherein a communication network for connecting a plurality of information processing devices so as to be able to communicate with each other; A decision information management means that is connected and manages decision information, a personnel information management means that is connected to a communication network and manages personnel information, and a decision application that is connected to the communication network and is created by a user when a decision application is created. At least one decision application terminal for inputting an application to the decision information management means via the communication network; and a decision information management means connected to the communication network for allowing the user to execute the decision application created at the decision application terminal via the communication network. Whether to approve or approve the read application for approval A user who has at least one approval approval terminal for which approval processing is performed, is notified via a communication network that a user who performs approval processing at the approval approval terminal is notified that a approval application to be subjected to approval processing has been created. Is a decision making system based on personnel information managed by personnel information management means.

According to a further aspect of the invention, in a decision making system for making a decision via a communication network, a communication network connecting a plurality of information processing devices so as to be able to communicate with each other, A decision information management means that is connected and manages decision information, a personnel information management means that is connected to a communication network and manages personnel information, and a decision application that is connected to the communication network and is created by a user when a decision application is created. At least one decision application terminal for inputting an application to the decision information management means via the communication network; and a decision information management means connected to the communication network for allowing the user to execute the decision application created at the decision application terminal via the communication network. Whether to approve or approve the read application for approval And at least one settlement approval terminal certification processing is performed to set an expiration date against settlement application, a decision system characterized in that to perform the predetermined processing based on the expiration date.

As described above, the invention according to claim 1 comprises at least one terminal and a computer network for connecting terminals when there are a plurality of terminals and enabling mutual communication, and at least one of the terminals. One is a decision originator terminal used by the decision originator, at least one of the terminals is a decision approver terminal used by the decision approver, and the decision originator inputs a decision application and an approval route from the decision originator terminal, The entered approval application is distributed to the approval approver terminal based on the input approval route, and the approval approver approves or rejects the approval application distributed to the approval approver terminal. Therefore, the decision-making process from the application for approval to the approval of the approval can be digitized and made paperless, so that the process can be promptly performed.

Further, the invention according to claim 11 is a decision information management means for managing decision information on a communication network connecting a plurality of information processing devices so as to be able to communicate with each other, and a personnel management for managing personnel information. An information management means, at least one decision application terminal for creating a decision application by the user and inputting the created decision application to the decision information management means via the communication network; and At least one decision approval terminal for reading the decision application from the decision information management means via the communication network and performing approval processing on whether or not to approve or read the read decision application is connected. ,
The user who performs the approval process at the approval approval terminal is notified via the communication network that the approval application to be subjected to the approval process has been created, and the notification is made based on the personnel information managed by the personnel information management unit. Therefore, the personnel information is reflected in the approval process, and the personnel change can be flexibly dealt with.

The invention according to claim 18 is a decision information managing means for managing decision information on a communication network connecting a plurality of information processing devices so as to be able to communicate with each other, and a personnel management for managing personnel information. An information management means, at least one decision application terminal for creating a decision application by the user and inputting the created decision application to the decision information management means via the communication network; and At least one decision approval terminal for reading the decision application from the decision information management means via the communication network and performing approval processing on whether or not to approve or read the read decision application is connected. ,
An expiration date is set for the application for approval, and predetermined processing is performed based on the expiration date, so that approval processing can be performed while the approval document is valid, and the expiration date has passed and it has become invalid It is possible to easily perform the processing on the written decision.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 conceptually shows a decision making system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, reference numerals 1A, 1B, 1C and 7 denote user terminals, reference numerals 2 and 6 denote a scanner connection terminal to which a scanner is connected, especially a user terminal, reference numeral 3 denotes a decision management database, reference numeral 4 denotes a database server, and reference numeral 5 Is a printer device. The database server 4 manages the approval management database 3 and can refer to the capital investment budget database 8.

Of the user terminals 1A, 1B and 1C, reference numeral 1A is the terminal of the drafter, reference numeral 1B is the terminal of the superior of the drafter,
Reference numeral 7 denotes a terminal of a pre-viewer, reference numeral 1C denotes a terminal of a decision approver, scanner connection terminal 6 denotes a decision bureau terminal, and scanner connection terminal 2 is a terminal used by, for example, a drafting assistant. . In FIG. 1, the scanner device 2A is connected to the scanner terminal 2. The scanner device connected to the scanner connection terminal 6 is omitted in FIG.

Each terminal and database shown in FIG.
Each is connected to each other by a network. FIG. 2 schematically shows how the terminals and the database are connected to the network. The network 21 is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) using Ethernet (registered trademark).
k) and TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol)
ol / Internet Protocol) is used as a communication protocol. The user terminal 1A, 1
B, 1C, 7, scanner connection terminals 2, 6, printer device 5, database server 4, and capital investment budget database 8 are connected. The decision management database 3 is connected to the database server 4.

Further, a mail server 20 is connected to the network 21. The mail server 20 is, as described above,
It controls the transfer of e-mail between terminals connected to the network 21. The e-mail transmitted from each terminal is supplied to the mail server 20 via the network 21 and transmitted to the designated destination by the mail server 20. E-mail is basically composed of text data, but image data, audio data,
It is also possible to attach and send a program file and the like. The image data, audio data, and program file are encoded by a predetermined method, attached to an e-mail, and transmitted. The receiving side decodes the image data attached to the e-mail using a decoding method corresponding to the encoding method, so that the image data attached to the e-mail can be extracted.

The user terminals 1A, 1B, 1C and 7 and the scanner connection terminals 2 and 6 can use general computer devices, respectively. In each of these terminal devices, a GUI (Graphical User Interf
ace) is applied, and an intuitive operation by a user can be performed using a pointing device such as a mouse. For example, a function assigned to the displayed button by designating a button or the like that is arranged and displayed on the screen based on the coordinate information output from the pointing device and performing a predetermined operation on the pointing device Can be executed. Hereinafter, a series of processes for button display using the pointing device will be expressed as "operate a button", "press a button", and the like. Of course, not only the pointing device but also other input means such as a keyboard may be used to execute the predetermined function. Similarly, a general server device can be used for the database server 4 and the mail server 20. A detailed description of each terminal and each server device will be omitted.

The main operations of this system are as follows. The first is a decision application input function. The creator inputs an application for a new approval matter. The application input screen can be newly created or can be used by selecting and copying an example that has been approved in the past. In the case of new creation, the sample form of the application input screen can be copied by specifying the type of approval. The designation of the approval route can be easily and automatically input according to the organization master. It is also possible to manually change and enter the approval route. At the same time as inputting a decision application, a notification of the application input is sent to the superior and the target of the pre-viewing by email.

The second is a decision application confirmation / approval input function. Prior confirmation and approval of the applied matter is performed by a designated confirmer or approver (hereinafter referred to as a confirmer / approver). The confirmer / approver can enter an acknowledgment or objection to the matter and a comment associated therewith. The next notification to the approver will be by email. If the decision is approved, the drafter will be notified by email.

The third is a decision progress status inquiry function. You can check the approval progress status of the applied matter. Also, past decision information can be checked.

The fourth is a master maintenance function.
In order to perform maintenance of this system, registration and maintenance of each master are performed by this system. In this system, a user master, an organization master, an organization manager master, a decision rule master, and a proxy approver master are used. The user master manages the user name and password of this system. The organization master manages in-house department / organization information. The organization chief master manages the organization chief of each section. The approval rule master manages the classification of the approval, the authority of the approval, the range of the amount, and the like. The proxy approver master manages the proxy approver and its rank in the case where the decision-making authority is absent.

Fifth, there is an interface with another system. Import organization / user information from HR system,
Improve the efficiency of master maintenance. Also, the equipment budget information is taken in from the budget system, and the usage budget is confirmed. Also, the budget progress information is reflected in the budget system.

3 to 5 show the details of the functions of the system. With the logon management shown in FIG. 3,
Users who use the system and programs of the system are managed. The system requests each terminal to input a user ID and a password to a user who intends to use the system, and a combination of the input user ID and password determines the authority of the user to use the system. The user who is determined to have the use right of the system is permitted to log on to the system.

Further, for a logged-on user, usable functions can be restricted by a combination of a user ID and a password. By controlling the display of the menu screen displayed after the logon according to the use function authority of the logged-on user, it is possible to limit the functions that can be used for the user. In addition, each function of the decision making system can be called from the menu screen, and an end of the decision making system can be instructed.

At the time of logon, the version of the program used in the system can be checked. Although details will be described later, for example, the latest version of the program is always registered and stored in the database server 4, and when logging on to the system from each terminal, the terminal that logs on inquires the server 4 of the latest version. You. Each terminal compares the version of the program stored in itself with the latest version. If it is determined that the version of the program stored in itself is not the latest version, the terminal sends the latest version to the server 4. A request is made to transfer this program. In response to this transfer request, the latest version of the program is transferred from the server 4 to the terminal, and the terminal updates the old version of the program with the transferred program.

The approval application function, the confirmation and approval input function, and the applied matter list search function shown in FIG. 4 can be used to input and display the approval. For example, a screen prepared for each function can be selected from a menu screen displayed after logon. An example of a specific screen will be described later.

Regarding the decision making application function, it is possible to search or copy the decision matter already applied for. A new application can be input based on the copied application information. Of course, it is also possible to input a completely new decision without using the existing application information.

With respect to the application input of a decision matter, it is possible to input the contents of the application in accordance with the rules of the decision, and to preview and print a decision application based on the inputted contents. A pre-approval application can also be entered and printed. In addition, it is possible to specify the approval route of the application and the pre-confirmation department. If the content of the application is related to capital investment, it is possible to input information on the amount of budget to be implemented and information on unaccounted application. Budget information can be input with reference to the capital investment budget database 8. further,
If there is an attached document accompanying the application, it can be registered.

The application information input as described above is
Confirmation and approval can be performed by the confirmation and approval input function, and comments and the like can be input. It is also possible to correct the already input application information.

The applied matter is registered and stored in the decision making management database 3. The registered matter can be searched by the applied matter list search function. The retrieved applied matter can be displayed and printed.

Each master of the database used in this system is managed by the master management function shown in FIG. In this example, the master management function prepares the above-described masters, that is, the maintenance screens of the user master, the organization master, the decision making master, and the proxy approver master. Further, a common master maintenance screen which is a master related to common information used in the system is prepared. On the maintenance screen, search, registration, correction, and deletion of each information can be performed.

Next, the actual operation of this system will be described. First, in drafting, the department in charge reviews the contents of the decision. Next, the decision making drafter prepares necessary documents according to the examined contents, and then activates the decision making system. When the decision making system is activated,
The user name and password are input in a predetermined manner, and the process proceeds to step S100 of the decision application input flowchart of FIG. As a result, a logon screen as shown in an example in FIG. 7 is displayed. Here, there may be cases where the drafter of the decision making and the creator of the application form are different, for example, when the drafter of the decision asks another person to create a draft for the draft.

The logon screen functions as a menu screen of this system, as shown in FIG. 7 by way of example, and each button of “apply”, “approval” and “master” provided on the display screen is designated. By operating, each function of application for approval, approval of approval, and master maintenance can be called. As described above, the functions permitted for the user are limited by the combination of the user name and the password input at the time of login of the user. In the example of FIG. 7, only the approval request function is permitted to the logged-in user, and menus of “apply for approval” and “inquiry for approval” are displayed.

The drafting drafter then displays the case for which an application is being created in step S101, and selects a search for a list of approved applications in step S102. As a result, a list of past approval applications issued by the same organization as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. For example, in the menu screen of FIG. 7, when the “Authorization Inquiry” button is operated by the drafter, the database management server 3 is searched by the database server 4, and the approval application list display screen of FIG. 8 is displayed based on the search result. Is done.

This list of approval application screens shows the status of approval at the department to which they belong, and is used to confirm the status of approval, and is also used to take out the approval application screen of a similar matter from among them. In the "Status" section of this screen,
“Under creation” is a matter that has not yet been applied because only the contents of the application have been saved, “Under application” is a matter that has been applied by the initiator and has not been confirmed by the superior, and “Confirmed” has been confirmed by the superior “Approved” refers to a matter approved and approved, “Rejected” refers to a matter rejected after application, and “Discarded” refers to a matter that was saved and discarded without application.

In the list display in the decision application list screen shown in FIG. 8, the reverse display indicates data selected by the user (drafter). By operating a button provided on the lower left side of the selected data, a condition search, a copy, a statement display, and the like can be performed. The search condition of the condition search can be specified by “select condition” on the upper right. A new decision application can be created based on the new or copied data.

If a new payment application is to be created, the process proceeds to step S103. If the settlement application is created using the copy, the process proceeds to step S106. In the case of the continuous creation, the processing is performed in step S10.
Move to 5.

If a new decision application screen is to be created, the process proceeds to step S103, where a decision item selection screen as shown in the example of FIG. 9 is selected, and a decision type is selected. In S104, the necessary items are changed and entered based on the sample screen to create a decision application screen.

For example, in the above-described screen of FIG. 8, when “new” or “copy” is designated by the user (drafter), a decision item selection screen shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. When a desired decision item is selected, a predetermined sample screen is displayed as highlighted in FIG. By changing and / or filling in each item of the sample screen, a decision application screen can be created. In addition,
When “copy” is designated on the screen of FIG. 8 described above, for example, the sample screen is displayed in a state in which each item of the inverted data in FIG. 8 is previously written in the corresponding item of the sample screen. You.

FIG. 1 shows an example of an image of a decision application screen at this time.
0 to FIG. FIG. 10 is an example of an application screen for approval of expenses and personnel, FIG. 11 is an example of an application screen for approval of sales approval, and FIG.
FIG. 13 shows an example of a decision application screen for an overseas business trip, and FIG. 13 shows an example of a decision screen for capital investment. When the payment application screen is created by the screens of FIGS. 10 to 13, the process proceeds to step S109.

The screens shown in FIGS. 10 to 13 are, for example,
The corresponding screen can be automatically called up based on the contents of the classification items in the list display of FIG. 9 described above. On the screens shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, necessary items are displayed according to the classification contents of the decision. 10 to 1
In the example of No. 3, the classification of the approval is shown in the center of the "section" at the top of each screen. In addition, in a portion arranged at the center of each screen, items to be input regarding the contents of the decision, contents corresponding to the items, and the like are displayed. The items to be input are prepared according to the classification of the decision. For example,
In the examples of FIGS. 10 and 11, only the items and their contents are displayed, but in the examples of FIGS. 12 and 13, the screen is configured to input more detailed information.

The display data of each of the screens shown in FIGS. 10 to 13 can be created, for example, by accessing a necessary database by the database server 4 and referring to each master described above in a predetermined manner.

The user can create a decision request screen by using the screens of FIGS. 10 to 13 as sample screens and make a decision request. Further, by operating each button provided on the lower right side in each of the approval application screens of FIGS. 10 to 13, it is possible to attach necessary materials and set an approval route, etc., which will be described later in detail. .

In the case of capital investment, an example of which is shown in FIG. 13 above, the selection and accounting of the budget is performed in conjunction with the budget system, using a capital investment budget selection screen as shown in FIG. Can be. For example, in the screen of FIG. 13, by operating the “budget setting” button in the “capital investment item”, the database server 4 refers to the capital investment budget database 8, and the capital investment budget selection screen shown in FIG. 14 is displayed. Is displayed. The user can set a budget based on the capital investment budget selection screen.
For example, desired budget information can be called up by inputting a predetermined budget number into a budget number input field arranged at the center left of the screen.

As described above, in the case where the application for approval is continuously created, the case being created is read out, and the case being created is continuously created in step S105, and the process proceeds to step S1.
Move to 09.

When a payment application is created by copying a past payment application screen, the process proceeds from step S102 to step S106, as described above. In step S106, the past approval request screen is copied. When reapplying based on the copied contents, the process proceeds to step S107. In step S107, a branch number is assigned to the copy matter based on the copied contents, and the process proceeds to step S109 to apply again.

Further, a decision application screen can be created by using a copy of the past settlement application screen. In this case, the process proceeds from step S106 to step S108, in which a copy of the past decision application screen is laid down, the contents are rewritten, and necessary items are filled in to create a decision application screen, and the process proceeds to step S109. Is done.

In the decision application screen created by these methods, a decision application is input by pressing a "save" button in step S109. When a decision application is input, the process proceeds to step S110. On the other hand, if the application does not actually result in the application for approval, the process proceeds from step S109 to step S113, and the application screen is saved in step S113. Step S11
In 3, it is also possible to cancel and end without directly saving the application screen.

On the other hand, the approval route can be edited in step S110, and the approval route and prior or subsequent browsing can be designated in step S111. The approval route is based on the department to which the drafter belongs, and is displayed in the form of, for example, a screen image of a route inquiry as shown in FIG. 15, for example. And can be easily edited. The route inquiry screen of FIG. 15 can also be used to inquire the progress status after application registration, using the management number of the application registration matter as a key.

In the example of FIG. 15, the organization, name, approval category, and the like of a person (approver) to be confirmed or approved are sequentially described in a display portion at the center of the screen. By checking the approval status, it is possible to refer to the progress status after the application registration. This route inquiry screen can be called by a “route setting” button arranged at the bottom of each of the above-described screens of FIGS.

If an attachment is required for a decision application, the attachment is read from an image acquisition device such as a scanner in step S112, and, for example, a PDF (Portable) is read.
Register the file in Document Format). When the attachment is registered, the process proceeds to step S116. PDF is a document file format developed by Adobe Systems Incorporated, and can be displayed while retaining the layout of character font information, size, images, and the like.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of an example of a process for attaching a document to a decision application. Attachment 40, which is, for example, a printed matter, is fetched from scanner terminal 2 by scanner device 2A in step S10. Next step S
At 11, an image file is created in the scanner terminal 2 based on the captured data. The image file is transmitted from the scanner connection terminal 2 to the database server 4, for example, attached to an e-mail. The e-mail transmitted from the scanner terminal 2 is received by the database server 4, and the image file attached to the e-mail is extracted. The extracted image file is registered in the database server 4 in a predetermined manner (step S12). The registered image file is
For example, it is possible to search based on a file name or the like.

FIG. 17 shows an example of an attached material registration screen image for registering attached materials. On the left side, the file storage position on the scanner connection terminal 2 side is shown. The image data captured by the scanner device 2A is converted into an image file by the scanner connection terminal 2, and is stored in the scanner connection terminal 2 for example. Select the desired file in the display on the left side of the attachment registration screen,
By operating the right arrow button displayed in the center of the screen, the image file is stored and registered at a predetermined address (hereinafter, referred to as a predetermined position) of a recording and / or storage medium of the database server 4, for example. can do. A fixed upper limit number of attached sheets is provided on one approval application screen. If the number of attached materials is more than the upper limit number, documents with binding margins that cannot be read from the scanner 2A, quotes, etc. It may be circulated.

In this case, confidential matters such as personnel changes can be encrypted so that anyone other than those involved can not view them. The encryption method is not particularly limited, but a means for decrypting the encryption is provided only to those who are permitted to browse.

In this example, the scanner 2A is used as the image acquisition device used when creating the attached material. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, a captured image is converted into digital data and output. It is also possible to use a digital camera as an image acquisition device. Also, graphic data directly created on the user terminal can be used as an attachment.

Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 6, when the application for approval is input in step S109 described above,
A preview screen of the decision application as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. In this way, a decision application form is formed by imagining a document printed on paper. If it is desired to print the application, the application can be printed in step S114 and output as a decision application in step S115.

In the case where a decision making application is actually made with respect to the decision making application input up to step S109, the process proceeds to step S109.
At 116, the created contents and the approval route are confirmed, the application information is registered in the decision making management database 3, and an application is made to the superior. The application to the superior is made by operating the "Apply for approval" button arranged on the lower left side of each of the above-described screens in FIGS. Step S117 at the same time as the application to the superior
Then, an e-mail for approval notice is sent to the superior.

By assigning a unique management number to the registered decision making application, the decision making application can be easily managed. The management number is displayed, for example, at the upper left of the approval request screen described above with reference to FIGS.

The sending of the approval guide e-mail is performed as follows, for example. The data on the route inquiry screen described above with reference to FIG. 15 is referred to, and the superior whose route No. is designated as “1” to be checked first is searched. The user master is referred to, an e-mail address corresponding to the superior is searched, and an e-mail for approval is sent to the searched e-mail address. By attaching the management number of the approval application described above to the e-mail of the approval guidance,
The decision making application can be easily specified on the receiving side.

Upon receiving the approval guide e-mail sent as described above, for example, at the user terminal 1B, the superior activates the approval system and displays a confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 19 and FIG. Confirm the contents of the application for approval to be taken out, approved or confirmed by the procedure described below.
For example, the superior who receives the e-mail of the approval guide activates the approval system, and inputs a user name and a password on a login screen in a predetermined manner. Then, FIG.
Is displayed. At this time, for example, the menu displayed according to the combination of the user name and the password is controlled, and in the example of FIG. 8, the “approval” button can be operated.

On the confirmation screen, an example of which is shown in FIG. 19, the content of the decision application indicated by the management number displayed at the upper left is displayed. By operating the "approval / confirmation" button at the lower left, approval / confirmation can be performed on the approval application shown on this confirmation screen. By operating the "Reject" button, this decision application can be rejected.
For example, if there is an error, opinion, request or problem in the content of the decision application, write a comment in the comment column and
I press the button.

Although details will be described later, when the “approval / confirmation” button is operated, the next approver (in this case, the decision making office) set on the route inquiry screen described above with reference to FIG. Then, an e-mail for approval is sent. on the other hand,
When the "reject" button is operated, an e-mail notifying that is sent to the originator.

The "suspend" button is a button for suspending the decision on the application for approval shown on this confirmation screen. For example, this confirmation screen for the same application for approval can be called again later.

FIG. 20 shows an example of a confirmation screen for confirming / approving a decision on capital investment. Items related to capital investment are added to the above-described confirmation screen in FIG. 19 so that budget setting and deletion can be performed. The other functions are the same as the confirmation screen in FIG.

In this example, when confirmation / approval is made by the boss of the drafter, an approval guide e-mail is then sent to the decision making office. In the decision making office, for example, when the scanner connection terminal 6 receives this approval guidance e-mail,
Activate the decision making system in the same way as the above-mentioned superior,
The confirmation screen shown in FIG. 19 or FIG. 20 is called.
Then, while confirming the drafting contents and the attached materials, the user operates the “route display” button arranged at the lower right of the screen to call the route inquiry screen of FIG. 15 and confirms the approved route, and the approved route has an error. Make corrections and press the "Confirm" button to pass the decision to the next reviewer / approver. As a result, the approval guide e-mail is sent to the next confirmation / approver (in this case, a pre-viewer). If there is any error, opinion, request, or problem in the content, write a comment in the comment column, press the "Reject" button, and notify the drafter to that effect.

Similarly, the pre-viewer activates the approval system upon receiving the guide e-mail at the user terminal 7, for example, confirms the draft contents, the attached data, and the approval route. If there is no problem, clicks the "confirm" button. Push. As a result, the approval guide e-mail is sent to the next approver (in this example, the approval approver). If there is an error, opinion, request or problem in the content, write a comment and press the "Reject" button to notify the drafter of that. Similarly,
When the next approver (approval approver) receives, for example, an approval guide e-mail at the user terminal 1C, the approver starts the approval system and confirms the drafted content. If there is no problem, the user presses the "approval" button. If there is an error, opinion, request or problem in the content, write a comment in the comment column and press the "Reject" button.

FIG. 21 is a flow chart showing an example of the details of the above-mentioned confirmation and approval work by the approval office or the approver. When the menu of the approval system is activated in step S200 and the “Approve” button is operated, step S201 is performed.
Then, the screen that displays the matter that needs approval of the user is called. FIG. 22 shows an example of the approval approval / confirmation list search screen displayed in step S201. For example, the database 4 is searched based on the user name and password of the logged-on user, and the user
Items that must be confirmed are listed. At the decision office, a list of pending cases is displayed.

In the next step S202, a case to be approved / confirmed is specified from among the cases listed on the approval / confirmation list search screen of FIG. At this time, a “search” button arranged at the lower left of FIG. 22 is pressed to search for a case using each item of the case list as a key, and to specify the case based on the search result. When a case is specified, the process proceeds to step S203, and a screen for confirming the specified case, that is, the content of the approval application (FIG. 19 or FIG. 2)
0) is displayed, and the details of the application are displayed.

If there is an attached document in the confirmed application for approval, at step S204, in this example, the "attached document" button arranged at the lower right of the screen shown in FIG. 19 or 20 is operated to attach the attached document. You can refer to the material. In addition, in the decision office, step S205
, The approval route can be confirmed and corrected.

As described above, steps S203 and S204
If the confirmation on the confirmation screen or the like is performed in step S205, the process proceeds to step S206. Step S2
In step 06, steps S203, S204 and S205
If there is no problem in the contents confirmed in the above, the "approval / confirmation" button is pressed on the confirmation screen, and the approval application is approved or confirmed.

For example, in the case of a decision bureau, a decision is made for a decision application at the scanner connection terminal 6, a decision number is issued, and a comment is entered in a comment field as needed. If there is a problem with the application for approval, the "reject" button is operated and the drafter is notified to that effect. On the other hand, if the approver is an approver, for example, the approval request is approved in the user terminal 1C, and a comment is input in a comment field as needed. If there is a problem with the application for approval, the "reject" button is operated and the drafter is notified to that effect.

When the approval request is approved or confirmed in step S206, the contents of the approval request can be printed (step S207), and a decision application can be created (step S208). By operating the “print application” button arranged on the lower right side of the confirmation screen, for example, the preview screen shown in FIG. 18 described above is displayed, and the “print” arranged on the upper right side of the preview screen is displayed. By operating the “” button, a decision application based on the preview screen is printed from the printer device 5.

In the case of the approver, when the processing in step S206 is completed, the processing shifts to step S209,
The approval information is registered. For example, when the “Approve / Confirm” button is operated on the confirmation screen, the database server 4 is notified that the approval request displayed on the confirmation screen has been approved, and the approval information is registered in the approval management database 3. Is done.

At step S210, it is determined whether or not the approval has been made. If it is determined that the approval has been made, the process proceeds to step S211 to send the approval guide electronically to the next approver set by the approval route. Email is sent. In the case where this approval is the final approval, an e-mail notifying of the approval is sent to the drafter, which is omitted in FIG. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S210 that the request is not approved, the process proceeds to step S212, and an e-mail notifying the drafter that the request is not approved is sent.

Further, when a post-viewer is set for the approval application, a guide e-mail is sent to the post-viewer after approval. Upon receiving the guide e-mail, the post-viewer activates the approval system, calls the confirmation screen according to the procedure described above, and confirms the content.

After receiving the e-mail notification of approval of the approval request in step S210, the drafting drafter attempts to execute the applied matter. On the other hand, the decision-making secretariat sequentially checks the results of the decision, prints the decision-making application every month, and keeps a backup.

In this system, a proxy for an approver can be set when necessary, such as when the originator is the superior or the approver set in the approval route is absent. FIG.
Shows an example of the proxy approver maintenance screen. The proxy approver maintenance screen displays a list of proxy approvers that have already been set. A list of information of persons who are currently set as proxy approvers is displayed in a list at the center. The organization and name to which the proxy approver belongs, the expiration date as the proxy approver, and the like are displayed.

The proxy approver can be added and updated. FIG. 24 shows an example of a proxy approver add / update (organization search) screen for designating / updating a proxy approver after designating an organization. For example, on the maintenance screen shown in FIG. 23, by selecting "Organization" with the select button in the "SELECT KEY designation" area arranged at the upper right side and operating the "Add" button arranged at the lower left area, The approver add / change screen is called. Addition or updating of a proxy approver is performed for the organization specified on the screen of FIG.

On the other hand, on the maintenance screen shown in FIG. 23, when "substitute approver" is selected by a selection button in the "SELECT KEY" area and the "add" button is operated, an example is shown in FIG. 13 shows an example of an addition / update screen. In the screen of FIG. 25, unlike the screen of FIG. 24 described above, for example, an organization in which the proxy approver specified on the screen of FIG. 23 has the approval authority is shown. For proxy approvers,
Authorized organizations can be added or updated.

In this system, a system is adopted in which a user terminal as a client automatically updates a system program as appropriate. FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an example of automatic updating of a system program.
Here, the user terminal 1A will be described as an example. It is also assumed that the latest system program is stored in the database server 4.

In step S301, when the system program is started in the user terminal 1A, in the next step S302, the common master database 3 of the database server 4 is operated by the system program of the user terminal 1A.
For 0, the latest version number of the system program is queried. In the database server 4, the latest version information of the system program is extracted from the shared master database 30, and transmitted to the user terminal 1A.

In step S303, the system program compares the system program of the user terminal 1A (that is, itself) with the latest version information transmitted from the database server 4. Since the system program itself has the version information, this is compared with the version information transmitted from the database server 4. If the two version information match, it is determined that the system program currently installed in the user terminal 1A is the latest version and does not need to be updated, and a series of processes is ended.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S303 that the version of the system program currently installed in the user terminal 1A is older than the version indicated by the latest version information transmitted from the common master database, the process proceeds to step S3031. Move to Step S
In 3031, the user terminal 1A obtains the latest version of the system program.

In this example, the network 21 has a TCP /
IP (File Transfer Protocol)
col) can be used. For example, the latest version of the system program 31 is always stored in a predetermined location of the database server 4, and the user terminal 1A sends the database server 4 "GE"
A "T" command is transmitted, requesting transmission of the system program 31 stored in a predetermined position of the database server 4. In response to this command, the database server 4 transfers the requested system program 31 to the user terminal 1A using FTP. At this time, the transferred system program 31 is
It is preferable to perform compression encoding by a predetermined method because the load on the communication path is reduced.

[0092] The user terminal 1A is pre-loaded with an upgrade program for upgrading the system program. When the latest version of the system program 31 is received by the user terminal 1A, in step S304, the received latest version of the system program 31 is updated by the version upgrade program. The system program is updated by, for example, overwriting an existing system program stored at a predetermined position on a recording medium such as a hard disk drive of the user terminal 1A with the latest version of the system program 31. When the transferred latest version of the system program 31 is compression-encoded, the version-up program decodes and decompresses the compression-encoding, and overwrites it. It should be noted that the system program started at the time of starting the version upgrade ends when the version upgrade program is started.

When the version upgrade of the system program is completed in step S305, the next step S30
At 6, the system program that has been updated to the latest version is activated by the version upgrade program. At the same time, the version upgrade program ends. Although not shown, after the updated system program is started in step S306, the process returns to step S301.

As described above, in the decision making system according to the present invention, even if each department is apart, the decision is approved using the communication network and the guidance by the automatic e-mail is used together, so that the decision making can be performed quickly. Can be done.
Further, the progress of the application being applied can be checked for each drafting department, which is effective in encouraging approval.

Further, at the time of drafting, the drafting work can be greatly shortened by extracting and using the formatted display of the essential items from the decision making rule or copying the decision approved in the past. In addition, since the settled route of the approver can be taken out according to the settlement section, setting and application can be performed without inputting except in special cases.

Further, the progress status of the budget can be grasped by the budget system and the interface of the business plan, and the man-hour of the application can be reduced by selecting the budget number at the time of application. Further, when it is desired to keep the information confidential to a person other than a specific person, such as a personnel organization case, security management can be performed by selecting the case as a secret case. Furthermore, the system software used on the client side can be automatically upgraded, and the software update does not require the user's trouble.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 27 conceptually shows a decision making system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 27, portions common to FIG. 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted. In the second embodiment, a personnel / organization database 10 is added to the configuration of the first embodiment described above with reference to FIG. Therefore, in the second embodiment, in the processing in the first embodiment described above,
Personnel and organizational information can be reflected.

The personnel / organization database 10 includes a personnel database 10A that manages information about personnel and an organization database 10B that manages information about an organization.

Each terminal and database shown in FIG. 27 are connected to each other via a network. FIG. 28 schematically shows how the terminals and the database are connected to the network. In FIG. 28,
The same parts as those in FIG. 2 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description will be omitted. In the example of FIG. 2, the personnel / organization database 10 is connected to a network 22 configured independently of the network 21. The capital investment database 8 is further connected to the network 22. The network 22 is, for example, a LAN using Ethernet (registered trademark), and TCP / IP is used as a communication protocol. The network 21 and the network 22 are similarly connected to each other by a LAN. Of course, this configuration is not limited to this, and the equipment investment budget database 8 and the personnel / organization database 10 may all be connected to the network 21.

Also in the second embodiment, the application for approval and the processing of approval and approval for the application for approval are performed in substantially the same flow as the processing according to the first embodiment. In the description of the second embodiment, a description of processing common to the first embodiment will be omitted to avoid complexity.

Next, the processing in the second embodiment will be described more specifically. First, the personnel database 10A will be described. FIG. 29 shows a data configuration of an example of the personnel database 10A. Human Resources Database 1
One record of 0A corresponds to information of one employee.
As shown in A, "name", "department name",
It consists of "post", "address" (e-mail address), "valid period (start)" and "valid period (end)". FIG. 29B shows an example of a table in which employee data is actually entered in a record.

The record information has a valid period from the date indicated by "valid period (start)" to the date indicated by "valid period (end)". For example, it corresponds to the department and the period during which the employee indicated by the record is indicated by the “department name” and “post”, respectively. When the end time of the valid period is not determined, as shown in FIG. 29B, the item of “valid period (end)” is “9999.9”.
9.99 ".

As can be seen from FIG. 29, “ABC” determines the date from “2000.01.01” to “2000.0” based on the “valid period (start)” and “valid period (end)”.
Until “3.31”, the departments “section X” and “section Y” are concurrently in operation. Also, in the department “X Section”, the date “200
Until "0.03.31", "ABC" was in the post "Manager" and the personnel was changed on "2000.04.01" date, and from that date "DEF" became "Manager" It can be understood that "section X" is taken.

In the case where concurrent duties occur, as in “ABC” in FIG. 29B, drafting of a decision is made in the following first to fifth.
It is performed based on the rules as described below. The first is
Until the date "1999.12.31" by "ABC", that is, while "ABC" is enrolled in the department "X Section", all the approval applications drafted for the department "X Section" will be uniquely assigned to the department. Treated as issued by Section X.

Second, the date “200” was set by “ABC”.
0.01.01 ”to“ 2000.03.31 ”, that is,“ ABC ”is assigned to the departments“ X Section ”and“ Y
Decision application drafted while concurrently serving as "Department" is arbitrarily determined by "ABC" as to whether it is treated as issued from department "X Section" or treated as issued from department "Y Section" .

Third, a decision application drafted in any case other than the above-described first and second cases is handled as that from the department "Y". This corresponds to the date “200” in the example of FIG.
0.04.01 ”or later, that is, a period after the combined period of the department“ X section ”and the department“ Y department ”of“ ABC ”ends.

It is possible to select a secret type with respect to a decision application issued from a specific department. For example, taking the personnel department as an example, it is possible to select between personnel confidentiality related to personnel affairs and normal confidentiality.

Also, for example, when “ABC” retires,
Any settlement application drafted by the principal that has not been settled at that time will be treated as having been destroyed.

In addition, the approval and confirmation performed by the concurrently-executing person for the application for approval is performed in accordance with the following rules. First, the approval or approval guide is notified on the basis of the date on which approval processing such as approval or approval is required.

Fourthly, until the date “2000.03.31”, that is, while “ABC” is enrolled in the department “Section X”, a decision to the post “General Manager” of the department “X Section” is issued. If this occurs, a search is performed from the table, an example of which is shown in FIG. 29B, using the department “section X” and the post “supervisor section” as keys. In this example, "A
Since "BC" is obtained, an approval guide e-mail is sent to "ABC" based on the e-mail address written in the record.

Fifth, despite the notification of the approval processing such as the approval or approval as described in the above-mentioned first, "A
In the case where no approval or approval has been given by Mr. BC, the stage of the date “2000.04.01”, ie, the department “X
In the section, when “DEF” has succeeded the original “Manager” of “ABC”, an approval notification e-mail is sent to “DEF”.

In the second embodiment, a final deadline for settlement can be set when making a decision application. Although illustration is omitted, as an example, FIG.
~ In the decision application input screen described above with reference to FIG.
An input unit for inputting a decision deadline is provided, and the decision deadline is input here. The input decision deadline is registered in, for example, the decision database 3 and a final term of settlement is set. If the applied decision has a time limit, the rules described below as sixth and seventh are followed. Sixth, if final approval is not obtained after the set expiration date, the settlement application is treated as rejected.
At this time, the drafter is notified by e-mail that the application for approval has been rejected. In addition, the data of the rejected application for approval is discarded.

Seventh, when several days before the set expiration date, several days before the expiration date, the drafter is notified by e-mail. The timing of this notification can be set, for example, by the drafter when drafting a decision application. The timing is not limited to this, and may be a timing predetermined by the system. Note that, in the second case, if the drafted date is after the date determined to perform the notification, no notification is made.

Next, the organization database 10B will be described. FIG. 30 shows a data configuration of an example of the organization database 10B. One record of the organization database 10B corresponds to information of one organization, and as shown in FIG. 30A, "department name", "valid period (start)", "valid period (end)", and "successor unit". It consists of each item. The information of the record has a valid period from the date indicated by “valid period (start)” to the date indicated by “valid period (end)”. The “succeeding department signature” indicates a department name that will take over the work of the current department if there is an organization change or the like.

FIG. 30B shows an example of a table in which organization data is actually entered in a record. According to this figure, the “validity period (end)” of the department “Y” is the date “2
000.03.31 "and the successor signature is" W
Department ". On the other hand, since the end time of the validity period of the department “part W” is not specified since the end time of the validity period is “9999.999.99”, the date of the department “Y part” is “2000.0”.
It can be seen that the department is merged with the department "W" with the name "4.01".

As described above, in the second embodiment,
Information on the successor department after the organization change is stored in the organization database 10
B. As a result, even if the approval process of the approval application applied in the original department crosses the organization change time, the organization system 10B is referred to by the approval system, and the signature of the drafting department or the approval route is changed to the signature of the successor department. It can be changed automatically based on the information.

In such a configuration, the personnel / organization database 10 is referred to when the approval guide e-mail is sent out in the first embodiment described above, and the department and position of the superior, and The validity period of is checked. The first to seventh items described above correspond to the checked result.
Is applied to the content of the e-mail sent, the destination, and the information of the source.

For example, the sending of the e-mail to the superior in step S117 of the flow chart of FIG. 6, the sending of the e-mail to the next approver in step S211 of the flow chart of FIG. When sending an e-mail to be sent to the drafter, the above-mentioned personnel / organization database 10 is referred to and the first to seventh rules are applied.

The present invention is not limited to this. For example, the personnel / organization database 10 may be referred to when the approval route is corrected in step S205 in the flowchart of FIG. When the approval route is modified, the personnel / organization database 10 is referred to, and if there is a change from the time of applying for a decision or the time of the previous modification of the approval route, the change is reflected in the approval route.

Information for each user is managed on a user maintenance screen. FIG. 31 shows an example of the user maintenance screen. On the user maintenance screen, it is possible to set attribute information such as a name, organization, post, extension number, and e-mail address. Further, the validity period of such information is set by the application start date and the end date. Further, restrictions on the user are also set from this user maintenance screen.

By operating a "concurrent service setting" button 60 arranged at the center of the user maintenance screen in the example of FIG. 31, a concurrent service maintenance screen, which will be described later, can be called. On the concurrently-operated destination maintenance screen, the user can set the concurrently-executed destination. By operating the "update" button 61 of the user maintenance screen, the setting contents of the user maintenance screen are changed to the approval management database 3
Registered in.

Note that in the registration of an organization on the user maintenance screen, the setting of the organization is made on the date on which an input is made on the user maintenance screen. For example,
When the input of various items including the organization on the user maintenance screen is completed and the “update” button 61 is operated, the application date of the set organization for the user is set.

The concurrent service destination for each user is registered in the concurrent service master. The concurrent master is a master added in the second embodiment to each master described in the first embodiment. The part-time job master is a master for registering the part-time job, its position, and the validity period for each employee. By introducing the concurrent post master, it is possible to draft and approve a decision application even in a post at the same post. The part-time master is managed by a part-time maintenance screen whose example is shown in FIG. 32.

On the combined service maintenance screen, the display section 80 displays the user ID and user name passed from the user maintenance screen. At the same time, the application date of the information displayed on this screen is input to the display unit 80. The organization that is concurrently used by the user for the organization displayed on the user maintenance screen and the position in the organization can be selected in the display unit 81.
For example, a list of organizations obtained by referring to the personnel / organization database 10 from the concurrently-operated maintenance screen can be displayed by operating “▼ (inverted triangle)” provided at the right end of the item “organization”. , From the displayed,
You can choose. The same applies to the item “post”. In addition, the effective period of the concurrent service can be input by the application start date and the end date for each concurrently-executed party. The application start date and end date are the current date and the date “9999.999.9.
9 "are default values.

By operating the "update" button 82, the concurrent service master is updated based on the information modified or added on the concurrent service maintenance screen. "Delete" button 8
By operating 3, the specified line can be deleted from the lines displayed on the display unit 81.

In the second embodiment, in order to flexibly respond to the change of affiliation between organizations, employees belonging to each organization are selected and the organization ID of the user master is collectively selected.
Can be changed. FIG. 33 shows an example of an employee batch organization change screen for performing such processing. In the display section 70, the organization name of the organization to which the user currently belongs and the application date of the organization to which the user currently belongs are input. In the display unit 71,
The organization name of the organization to be changed and the application date of the organization to be changed are input. The application date of the display units 70 and 71 is
The default value is today's date.

By operating the "search" button 77, the specified current organization ID, that is, the user (employee) belonging to the current belonging organization displayed on the display unit 70 is searched from the personnel / organization database 10, A list of the employee names of the search results is displayed on the display section 72. When one or a plurality of employees to be moved to the destination organization are selected and the “Select” button 73 is operated, the selected employee name is displayed on the display section 75 in which the employee names of the destination organization are listed. Is moved,
The selected employee name displayed on the display unit 72 is deleted from the display. In the example of FIG. 33, three employees have already been displayed on the display unit 72 from the original affiliated organization employees to the display unit 7.
5 have been moved to the target organization employees. By operating the "quit" button 74, the employee moved to the display unit 75 can be returned to the display unit 72.

On the display section 76, the application date of the transfer destination organization is displayed. The left column of the display unit 76 is the start date of the effective period of the transfer destination organization, and the value of the application date displayed on the display unit 71 is displayed as it is. The right column of the display unit 76
End date of the validity period. In this example, the end date of the validity period is not set for the transfer destination organization, and the default value “9999/99/99” is displayed.

By operating the "update" button 78, the user master is updated based on the settings made on the employee batch organization change screen. The organization of the employee transferred to the destination organization employee on the display unit 75 is updated on the destination organization side.

With reference to FIGS. 34, 35, and 36, the relationship between the operation on the employee batch organization change screen and the user master will be described. FIG. 34 shows an example of a user master before a change is made on the employee batch organization change screen. The user master includes, for example, “user”, “organization”, “application start date”, “application end date”, and “e-mail address”.
(Omitted in FIG. 34). The item “user” includes a user ID and a user name, and the item “organization” includes an organization ID and an organization name. The items “application start date” and “application end date” indicate the validity period of the information. In the user master illustrated in FIG. 34 and FIG. 36 described later, the item of the e-mail address is omitted because there is no direct relation to this description.

According to the example shown in FIG. 34, initially, the users “Taro Yamada”, “Hanako Suzuki” and “Migration Ichiro” are included in the organization “System 1 Section”, and the users “Taro Yamada” and “Mr. ”Is included in the organization“ System 2 Section ”. The user “Taro Yamada” has a date “2001/01/01 /
01 ”to“ System 2 ”from the organization“ System 1 Section ”
Section ". Also, the user “Mae-Karaban” is enrolled in the organization “System 2 Section” from the date “2001/01/01”. Note that the example of FIG.
11/01 ".

FIG. 35A schematically shows an example of the above-mentioned employee batch organization change screen corresponding to the user master shown in FIG. In FIG. 35A, the organization “System 1” is the current organization, and the organization “System 2” is the migration destination organization. The display unit 72 displays the user “Taro Yamada” belonging to the organization “System 1” as of the date “2000/11/01”,
"Hanako Suzuki" and "Migration Ichiro" are displayed, and the display 7
5 displays users “Taro Yamada” and “Mae-Karaitayo” as employees to be transferred to the organization “System 2 Section”.

Here, the transition from the organization “System 1” of the user “Taro Yamada” to the “System 2” is canceled.
It is assumed that the user “Migration Ichiro” is migrated from the organization “System 1” to “System 2”.

The display unit 75 for the user “Taro Yamada”
Is selected, and the "quit" button 74 is operated to return to the current organization. The user “Taro Yamada” on the display unit 75 is deleted, and the display unit 72 is deleted.
Only the user "Taro Yamada" is displayed. No processing is performed on the user "Hanako Suzuki". Regarding the user "Migration Ichiro", it is selected on the display unit 72,
By operating the “select” button 73, the user “transition Ichiro” is displayed on the display unit 75, and the user “transition Ichiro” is transitioned from the organization “system 1” to “system 2”. No processing is performed on the user “Mae-Karaban”. Since the user “Mae-Karaban” originally belongs to the organization “System 2 Section”, the process using the “Stop” button 74 is not possible.

As a result of such processing, the display of the employee batch organization change screen is as shown in FIG. 35B. The current organizational employees displayed on the display unit 72 are the users “Taro Yamada”, “Hanako Suzuki” and “Migration Ichiro”, and the organizational employees to be migrated displayed on the display unit 75 are the user “Mr. And "Transition Ichiro".

FIG. 36 shows an example of a user master corresponding to FIG. 35B. The above-described user master of FIG. 34 is updated to the user master illustrated in FIG. 36 through the above-described processing. In the figure, the line with a strikethrough indicates that the organization has been moved once,
Indicates that the move has been canceled. Also, in the figure, the line indicated by italic characters indicates that the organization has been moved and belongs to the organization indicated in that line. In actual data, for example, a predetermined flag is set for this row to indicate that the movement has been canceled or the organization has been moved. In this way, the history of changes is left in the user master.

[0137]

As described above, the first aspect of the present invention is as follows.
The invention comprises a terminal, a database, a computer network that connects the terminal and the database so that they can communicate with each other, at least one of the terminals is a decision drafter terminal used by the decision drafter, and at least other of the terminal One is the approval approver terminal used by the approval approver, the approval drafter inputs the approval application from the approval drafter terminal to the database, and the approval approver accesses the database from the approval approver terminal to read the approval application, It is characterized in that the read approval application is approved or rejected. As a result, there is an effect that the decision making from the application for approval to the approval of the approval can be digitized and paperless, and the processing can be promptly performed.

The invention of claim 2 of the present invention is characterized in that it has scanner means connected to a computer network, and that the drafter of the decision can input relevant data into the database from the scanner means and attach it to the decision application. And As a result, the related materials can be digitized and attached to the decision making application, which has the effect of facilitating decision making.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a copy means connected to a computer network, and a decision application stored in a database can be copied as a decision document using the copy means in accordance with an instruction from a terminal. There is a feature. As a result, the decision document can be easily created from the digitized material, and the backup storage can be facilitated.

According to the invention of claim 4 of the present invention, the database stores a sample of a decision application, information on a decision application made by a decision drafter, decision approval information made by a decision approver, decision regulation information and organization information. In addition, the decision making drafter is characterized in that a decision making application and an approval route can be created based on the information stored in the database. As a result, the work of drafting a decision application can be facilitated and errors can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to easily check the progress from the drafting of approval to approval of approval, and as a result, it is possible to speed up the work from application for approval to approval of approval.

The invention of claim 5 of the present invention is characterized in that at least one of the terminals is a secretariat terminal and collectively manages a decision application and a decision result from a decision originator terminal.
This makes it possible to centrally manage the decision making operation, and has an effect that the materials can be safely stored.

According to the invention of claim 6 of the present invention, the computer network forms a separate e-mail network, and automatically sends the approval approver terminal to the approval approver terminal upon inputting the approval application according to the approval route input from the approval drafter terminal. And a guide e-mail is sent. As a result, the guidance is automatically sent to the approval approver via e-mail, so that the processing is easy, there is no communication error, and the guidance can be reliably provided.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a terminal of a confirmer who confirms a decision application before a decision is made, a terminal of a pre-viewer who browses the decision application before the decision, and a terminal of a decision maker. By designating terminals of post-viewers who view the application after approval, guidance e-mails are automatically sent to these terminals according to route conditions. As a result, the guidance can be reliably sent to the concerned persons automatically via the e-mail, and there is an effect that the processing is easy and the communication error is eliminated.

The invention of claim 8 of the present invention is characterized in that it has an encryption means for encrypting a decision application so as to be inaccessible to anyone other than the target related party in accordance with the confidential instruction of the decision-maker. As a result, there is an effect that security management can be sufficiently performed for a matter to be kept secret.

The invention of claim 9 of the present invention has a proxy registration means for registering a proxy approver with the approval approver, and this proxy approver can substitute the proxy approver as necessary when the approval approver is absent. The terminal device accesses the database from the terminal of the user, reads the application for approval, and approves or rejects the read application for approval. This allows
It is possible to perform proxy approval as needed, which has the effect of eliminating delays in work.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, each terminal has a system program, and when one of the terminals is a server and the other terminal is a client, the system program of the client is installed on the server as necessary. If the version of the server system program is newer than its own version, the system is automatically replaced with the server system program and the version is upgraded. As a result, the software used on the client side can be automatically upgraded, and there is an effect that it is possible to easily deal with bugs, change the screen format, and add or change functions.

According to the second embodiment of the present invention, personnel information is reflected in a system for making a decision using a network, so that it is possible to flexibly cope with personnel changes. There is. Further, since the system also reflects organization information, there is an effect that it is possible to flexibly cope with not only a change in an individual but also a change in a department name or the dissolution of a department.

Further, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, a time limit can be set for a decision, so that the decision can be completed before the issue of the decision becomes meaningless. It is possible to select whether to abandon the decision, and it is possible to prevent a redundant decision from remaining in the decision flow.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram conceptually showing a decision making system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a state of network connection of each terminal and a database.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a function of a decision making system.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of functions of a decision making system.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of functions of a decision making system.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a decision application input operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display screen image of an example of a logon screen.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display screen image of an example of a list search screen.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display screen image of an example of a decision item selection screen.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display screen image of an example of a decision application input screen.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display screen image of an example of a decision application input screen.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display screen image of an example of a decision application input screen.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display screen image of an example of a decision application input screen.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display screen image of an example of a capital investment budget selection screen.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display screen image of an example of a decision application route inquiry screen.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of an example of a process for attaching a document to a decision application.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an attached material registration screen image for registering attached materials.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display screen image of an example of a decision application preview screen.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display screen image of an example of a decision approval / confirmation screen.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display screen image of an example of a decision approval / confirmation screen.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of an example showing details of confirmation and approval work by a decision office or an approver.

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display screen image of an example of a decision approval / confirmation list search screen.

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display screen image of an example of a proxy approver maintenance screen.

FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display screen image of an example of a proxy approver addition / change screen.

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display screen image of an example of a proxy approver addition / change screen.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for automatically updating a system program.

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram conceptually showing a decision making system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 schematically shows how each terminal and database are connected to a network.

FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram illustrating a data configuration of an example of a personnel database.

FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram illustrating a data configuration of an example of an organization database.

FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a user maintenance screen.

FIG. 32 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a combined service maintenance screen.

FIG. 33 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an employee batch organization change screen.

FIG. 34 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a user master before a change is made on the employee batch organization change screen.

FIG. 35 is a diagram for explaining change of employee affiliation on the employee batch organization change screen.

FIG. 36 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a user master after a change is made on an employee batch organization change screen;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... User terminal, 2 ... Scanner connection terminal, 3 ...
..Decision management database, 4 ... Database server, 5 ... Printer device, 10 ... Human / organization database, 20 ... Mail server, 21, 22 ...
network

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Yoshiaki Onodera 4-7-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony System Design Co., Ltd. (72) Chie Komatsu 4-7-135 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo No. Sony System Design Co., Ltd. (72) Kohei Shimizu 4-7-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inventor Sonic System Design Co., Ltd. (72) Sachiko Uchino 4-73, Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo No. Sony System Design Inc. (72) Inventor Tomoyuki Eguchi 4-7-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony System Design Inc. (72) Inventor Yuno Ataka 4-73-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo No.Sony System Design Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kohei Tsuchiya Shinagawa, Tokyo 4-7-35 Kita-Shinagawa-ku, Sony System Design Inc. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Kishi 4-7-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony System Design Inc. (72) Inventor Akira Matsumura Shinagawa, Tokyo 4-7-35 Kita-Shinagawa-ku, Sony System Design Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshio Suenaga 4-7-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony System Design Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5B017 AA07 BA07 CA16

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. A computer comprising a database, a terminal and a computer network for communicatively connecting the terminal and the database, wherein at least one of the terminals is a decision originator terminal used by a decision originator, and at least one of the terminals is One is a decision approver terminal used by a decision approver, the decision drafter inputs a decision application to the database from the decision drafter terminal, and the decision approver accesses the database from the decision approver terminal by accessing the database. A decision making system, wherein the decision making application is read, and the read out decision making application is approved or rejected. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a scanner connected to the computer network, wherein the drafter of the decision can input relevant data into the database from the scanner and attach it to the decision application. Item 7. The approval system according to Item 1. 3. A copy means connected to the computer network, wherein the decision request stored in the database can be copied as a decision document using the copy means in accordance with an instruction from the terminal. The decision making system according to claim 1, wherein 4. The database includes a sample of a decision application, information on a decision application made by the decision drafter,
It stores decision approval information, decision regulation information and organization information performed by the decision approver, and the decision drafter can create the decision application and approval route based on these information stored in this database. The decision making system according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The decision making system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the terminals is a secretariat terminal, and collectively manages the decision application and the decision result from the decision drafter terminal. 6. The computer network forms a separate e-mail network, and automatically guides the approval approver terminal to the approval approver terminal at the time of inputting the approval application in accordance with the approval route input from the approval initiator terminal. The approval system according to claim 1, wherein an e-mail is sent. 7. The method according to claim 7, wherein the drafting authority determines during the approval route.
By designating a terminal of a confirmer who confirms the application for approval before the approval, a terminal of a pre-viewer who browses the application for decision before the approval, and a terminal of a post-viewer who browses the application for decision after the approval, 7. The approval system according to claim 6, wherein a guide e-mail is automatically sent to the terminal. 8. The decision-making system according to claim 1, further comprising an encrypting means for encrypting the decision-making application so that a person other than the person concerned is not able to view the decision-making application in accordance with a confidential instruction of the decision-creating drafter. . 9. A proxy registering means for registering a proxy approver with respect to the approval approver, and the proxy approver stores the proxy approver from the proxy approver terminal to the database as required when the approval approver is absent. The decision making system according to claim 1, wherein the decision making application is accessed to read out the decision making application, and the read out decision making application is approved or rejected. 10. Each of the terminals has a system program. When one of the terminals is a server and the other terminal is a client, the system program of the client refers to the system program of the server.
The approval system according to claim 1, wherein when the version of the system program of the server is newer than the version of the server, the server is automatically replaced with the system program of the server to upgrade the version. 11. A decision making system for making a decision via a communication network, comprising: a communication network for connecting a plurality of information processing devices so as to be able to communicate with each other; and connected to the communication network for managing decision information. A decision information management means, a personnel information management means connected to the communication network for managing personnel information, and a decision application created by a user connected to the communication network and the created decision application created by the communication network And at least one decision application terminal input to the decision information management means via the communication network; and the decision application created by the user at the decision application terminal connected to the communication network by the user through the communication network. Read from the management means and approve or And at least one approval approval terminal for performing approval processing as to whether or not to perform the approval processing, wherein the approval application to perform the approval processing is created for the user who performs the approval processing at the approval approval terminal. Is notified via the communication network, and the notification is made based on the personnel information managed by the personnel information managing means. 12. The approval system according to claim 11, wherein based on the personnel information managed by the personnel information management means, the affiliation of an approver specified in the approval application to perform the approval process is determined. If it has changed at the time of the above notification, the successor of the approver of the department before the change of the approver is set as a new approver, and based on the personnel information managed by the personnel information management means, the new approver is A decision making system, wherein the notice is sent to the user. 13. The decision making system according to claim 11, wherein, based on the personnel information managed by the personnel information managing means, the affiliation of a decision making drafter who created the decision making application at the decision making application terminal is determined. If the change has been made before the final approval process for the application has been performed, a notification will be sent to the drafting decision maker to prompt the decision drafter to decide whether to withdraw or continue the decision request. A decision making system characterized by: 14. The decision making system according to claim 11, further comprising: organization information management means connected to said communication network for managing organization information, wherein organization information of members managed by said personnel information management means is provided. Can be changed in a lump, and when the lump is changed, based on the organization information managed by the organization information management means, the content of the lump change is the change of the belonging organization name or the dissolution of the belonging organization. A decision making system for determining whether to make a batch change, withdraw, or continue the above decision making application. 15. The approval system according to claim 11, wherein the personnel information management means sets a validity period for each of the information of the managed members. 16. The approval system according to claim 11, wherein the personnel information managing means manages information of the plurality of organizations in association with the members when the managed members belong to the plurality of organizations. A decision making system. 17. The decision making system according to claim 16, wherein when the members belonging to the plurality of organizations draft, the organization to draft is selected from the plurality of organizations, and at the time of the approval processing, the member is selected. Wherein the approval process can be performed by any of the plurality of organizations to which the device belongs. 18. The approval system according to claim 16, wherein when the members belonging to the plurality of organizations draft, the organization to draft is selected from the plurality of organizations, and selected during the approval process. A decision making system wherein the approval process can be performed only in an organization. 19. A decision making system for making a decision via a communication network, comprising: a communication network connecting a plurality of information processing apparatuses so as to be able to communicate with each other; A decision information management means, a personnel information management means connected to the communication network for managing personnel information, and a decision application created by a user connected to the communication network and the created decision application created by the communication network And at least one decision application terminal input to the decision information management means via the communication network; and the decision application created by the user at the decision application terminal connected to the communication network by the user through the communication network. Read from the management means and approve or At least one approval approval terminal for performing approval processing as to whether or not to perform a decision, setting an expiration date for the approval application, and performing predetermined processing based on the expiration date. Characteristic decision system. 20. The decision making system according to claim 19, wherein the predetermined process is a process of notifying the drafter of the decision application to that effect a predetermined number of days before the expiration date. Decision making system. 21. The approval system according to claim 19, wherein the predetermined process is a process of automatically rejecting the application for approval if the approval process is not performed even after the expiration date. A decision making system. 22. The decision making system according to claim 19, wherein the predetermined process is a process for notifying the drafter of the decision application if the approval process is not performed even after the expiration date has passed. A decision making system characterized by the following.