JPH1074220A - Method for defining job execution information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently support the job execution of an operator regardless of experience and know-how by describing job execution information by the combination of steps composed of an operation procedure. SOLUTION: The entire control part 100 of a job execution information definition program 10, an input/output control part 110 for controlling the input/ output of data to an input means 20 and an output means 30 and an information management part 120 for managing information relating to the steps among the constituting elements of the job execution information are provided. Then, the job execution information is described by the combination of the start of a job, the end of the job, the parallel processing of the plural steps, the synchronous processing of the plural steps for turning the other steps to a standby state until the final step is completed, conditional branching for deciding the step to be processed next corresponding to an operation result until then and optional branching for enabling the optional selection of the step to be processed next in addition to the steps (operation procedure).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for assisting a worker in performing a task using a computer system, and more particularly, to graphically represent components of task performance information so that the worker can smoothly perform a task. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for defining task performance information that assists in performing the task.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A task performed by a plurality of workers, such as circulation of documents and slip processing, is called a business process.
As a conventional technique relating to a method and an apparatus for configuring a system for supporting this business process, for example, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 6-321949. In the above-mentioned conventional technology, at least a business process is circulated from one worker to another, waiting for a plurality of documents during the circulation, dividing the queued documents, copying the document, and distributing the documents to a plurality of circulation destinations. Describe in a combination of broadcast, collection of bundled documents together, branching to select a circulation route according to the processing result of workers on documents, and transfer documents based on the described business process information. It is possible to control.

[0003]

According to the above-mentioned prior art, who receives the necessary documents and who receives the processed documents is automated, and the delivery of the documents is efficiently performed. I was able to support the workers. However, the procedure for processing the received documents is left to the operator's own judgment, and systematic support has not been considered. Therefore, the efficiency and quality of the results of the processing itself largely depend on the experience and know-how of the worker. For example, a newcomer who has just been assigned needs to compensate for the lack of experience and know-how in some way, such as by referring to a manual or asking a veteran who is familiar with the work procedure, leading to a decrease in work efficiency. In many cases.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for defining work performance information for graphically representing a work procedure to be performed by a worker and efficiently supporting the work performance of the worker without depending on experience or know-how. Is to provide.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, in addition to steps (work procedures), work execution information is added to start of work, end of work, parallel processing of a plurality of steps, and Synchronous processing of multiple steps in which other steps are in a waiting state until a step is completed, conditional branching to determine the next step to be processed according to the work result up to that point, and optional steps to be processed next It is described by a combination of arbitrary branches that enable selection. These steps, start, end, parallel processing, synchronous processing, conditional branching, and arbitrary branching, which are the components of the business performance information, are displayed with icons, and the arrows indicate the order relation between the components and the icons indicating the components. To display. In addition, a character string symbolizing the branch destination step is displayed on the icon indicating the branch. In addition, objects that exchange information during business execution are displayed with icons, connected with icons indicating steps and arrows to clearly indicate input and output of data in each step, arrows indicating the order relationship of components, and data And the arrow indicating the input / output relationship of the display.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a business performance information definition program according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a task performance information definition program, 20 denotes an input means, 30 denotes an output means, and 40 denotes a definer of the task performance information. The business performance information definition program 10 is a so-called C
It can be provided in a form recorded on a portable storage medium such as a D-ROM or a floppy disk, and is loaded into a memory on a computer system such as a personal computer or a workstation (not shown) and executed. The input unit 20 is actually realized as an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse provided in a computer system. The output means 30
Actually, it is realized by a CRT display, a liquid crystal display device or the like provided in the computer system.

[0010] 100 is a business performance information definition program 10
And 110, an input / output control unit for controlling input / output of data to / from the input means 20 and the output means 30.
Reference numeral 120 denotes a part that manages information on steps in the components of the task execution information. Reference numerals 130 to 135 denote components for managing information for controlling steps in the components of the task execution information, and include a start information management unit, an end information management unit, a parallel processing information management unit, a synchronization processing information management unit, and a condition, respectively. A branch information management unit and an arbitrary branch information management unit.
Reference numerals 140 to 142 denote components for managing information relating to data input / output targets among the components of the task execution information, which are a database information management unit, a file information management unit, and a department information management unit, respectively. Reference numeral 150 denotes an information storage unit of the business performance information definition program, which stores business performance information. The business performance information definition program 10 includes an overall control unit 100, an input / output control unit 110, and information management units 120, 130 to 135, and 140 for each component of the business performance information.
142, and a task performance information storage unit 150.

The overall control unit 100, in accordance with a processing procedure described later, has an input / output control unit 110 and an information management unit for each component of business performance information, that is, a step information management unit 120, a start information management unit 130, and an end information management. Unit 131, parallel processing information management unit 132, synchronization processing management unit 133, conditional branch information management unit 134, arbitrary branch information management unit 135, database information management unit 140, file information management unit 141, and department information management unit 142. Controls the transfer of information.
The input / output control unit 110 receives an input from the task execution information manager 40 via the keyboard 20 and outputs a processing result to the CRT 30. Business execution information storage unit 1
50 is a step information management unit 120, a start information management unit 1
30, end information management unit 131, parallel processing information management unit 13
2. Synchronous processing management unit 133, conditional branch information management unit 13
4. Stores information handled by the optional branch information management unit 135, the database information management unit 140, the file information management unit 141, and the department information management unit 142. Step information management unit 120, start information management unit 130, end information management unit 13
1. Parallel processing information management unit 132, synchronization processing management unit 13
3. Conditional branch information management unit 134, optional branch information management unit 1
35, the database information management unit 140, the file information management unit 141, and the department information management unit 142 are elements that constitute the task execution information, “step”, “start”, “end”, “parallel processing”, and “synchronization”. Processing "," conditional branch ",
Manages information for handling "arbitrary branch", "database", "file", and "department" with icons,
The contents are stored in the business performance information storage unit 150, and the contents are read from the business performance information storage unit 150.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for defining task performance information by the task performance information definition program 10 in the embodiment.

After starting, the business performance information definition program 10 receives an input from the business performance information definer 40 via the keyboard 20 (step 200), and the received input pastes a component icon of the business performance information on the screen. It is determined whether or not the instruction is to be performed (step 201). If the received input instructs to paste the component icon on the screen, the attached information of the component icon is stored in the task performance information storage unit 150 (Step 202). Then, the result of pasting the component icon on the screen is displayed on the CRT 30 (step 20).
3) Return to step 200.

If it is determined in step 201 that the received input does not instruct the pasting of the component icons to the screen, it is determined whether or not the input indicates the connection between the component icons (step 210). If the received input indicates a connection between the component icons, the connection information between the component icons is recorded in the task performance information storage unit 150 (step 211). Thereafter, the result of connecting the component icons with arrows is displayed on the CRT 30 (step 212), and the process returns to step 200.

If it is determined in step 210 that the received input does not indicate a connection between component icons, it is determined whether or not the input indicates deletion of an unnecessary icon (step 220). If the received input is an instruction to delete the unnecessary icon, the paste information on the corresponding unnecessary icon and the connection information to another icon are deleted from the task execution information storage unit 150 (step 221). Thereafter, the result of deleting the unnecessary icon and the arrow connected to the unnecessary icon from the screen is displayed on the CRT 30 (step 222), and the process returns to step 200.

If it is determined in step 220 that the received input is not an instruction to delete unnecessary icons,
It is determined whether the instruction is to end the definition of the business performance information (step 230). If the received input does not indicate the end of the definition of the business performance information, the process returns to step 200, and if the received input indicates the end of the creation of the business performance information, the process ends.

FIGS. 3 to 5 are explanatory diagrams for explaining the outline of the process of defining the business performance information in the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a process of defining business performance information.
FIG. 5 shows a screen on which step icons and control icons are affixed among the icons indicating the components of the task execution information. FIG.
, A task execution information definition screen 300, a step icon component display window 310 for displaying an icon indicating a step as a component among the components of the task execution information, and a step control among the components of the task execution information Icon display window 320 that displays an icon indicating a data input / output icon among components of the task execution information, as a component.
30, a business performance information definition window 34 for defining business performance information by combining icons displayed as parts
It has 0. 311 and 312 are step icons affixed to the task execution information definition window 340 as components of the task execution information, and 321 to 323 are control icons. In the step icon component display window 310, steps which are a part of the components of the task execution information are displayed as icon components. In the control icon component display window 320, icons that indicate start, end, parallel processing, synchronous processing, conditional branching, and arbitrary branching, which are components of the task performance information, are displayed as icon parts. In the data input / output icon part display window 330, icons, which are databases, files, and departments, which are a part of the components of the task execution information, are displayed as icon parts. The business performance information definer 40, as shown by the dashed arrow in the figure,
In the manner of drag and drop, a step icon component display window 310, a control icon component display window 320, a data input / output icon component display window 33
The user can select a necessary one from the icons displayed on the job execution information definition window 340 and paste it on the job performance information definition window 340. The components of the business performance information can be combined arbitrarily and are visually represented. In the figure, 2
Step icons 311 and 312 and three control icons 321 to 323 are shown as examples of combinations.

FIG. 4 shows a process of defining business performance information.
The screen which linked the icon which shows the component of business performance information with the arrow is shown. In FIG. 4, reference numerals 400 to 404 denote arrows connecting the icons. When the definer 40 of the task execution information specifies the icon to be the start point and the icon to be the end point, the connection between the icons is made, and arrows 400 to 404 are displayed between the icons. Also, here, the definer 40 of the task execution information can assign a specific name to the pasted step icon, following the operation described with reference to FIG. In the figure, the step icons 311 and 31 attached on the work execution information definition window 340 are shown.
2, “Step 1” and “Step 2” are assigned as names, respectively.

As described above, the order relation of the components of the task performance information indicated by the icons is visually represented. In the figure, an arrow 400 indicating the order from the control icon “start” 321 to the control icon “parallel processing” 322, an arrow 401 indicating the order from the control icon “parallel processing” 322 to the step icon “step 1” 311, Arrow 402 indicating order from control icon “parallel processing” 322 to step icon “step 2” 312, arrow 403 indicating order from step icon “step 1” 311 to control icon “end” 323, step icon “step” 2 ”312 to the control icon“ end ”32
Arrow 404 indicating order to 3 is shown as an example.

FIG. 5 shows a process of defining business performance information.
A screen in which a data input / output icon is attached and a step icon and a data input / output icon are connected by an arrow is shown. FIG.
, 331, 332 are data input / output icons, 5
Reference numerals 00 and 501 are arrows connecting the step icon and the data input / output icon. In FIG. 5, the definer 40 of the task performance information pastes a data input / output icon on the task performance information definition window 340 following the operation described with reference to FIG. The target of information exchange during business execution is displayed as an icon, and the input and output of data in each step are visually represented by connecting to the step icon with an arrow. In the figure, two data input / output icons 331 and 332 are illustrated. Further, an arrow 500 indicating data input from the step icon “step 1” 311 to the data input / output control icon 331, and an arrow 501 indicating data access from the step icon “step 2” 312 to the data input / output icon 332.
Is shown as an example.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the structure of the business performance information and the data structure of the business performance information corresponding to the configuration example. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 600 denotes business performance information, and 610 denotes a table showing the data structure of business performance information. In FIG. 6, “step 1”, “step 2”, “step 3”, and “step 4” are illustrated as icons indicating the components of the task execution information 600. In addition, as a control icon,
"Start", "Parallel processing", "Synchronous processing", "End"
“Database” and “department” are illustrated as data input / output icons. “Start” is an icon indicating the start of a task among the components of the task execution information.
“Parallel processing” is an icon indicating a parallel processing of a plurality of steps among the components of the task execution information. The step to which the arrow is connected becomes the target of parallel processing. "Synchronous processing"
Is an icon indicating that, among the components of the task execution information, the other steps are in a waiting state until the last step is completed. The step connected by the arrow is the target of the synchronization process. “End” is an icon indicating the end of a task among the components of the task execution information. The “database” is an icon indicating a digitized data store as an information access target among the components of the task execution information. “Department” is an icon indicating an organization to which information is to be accessed among the components of the task execution information. For example, the job represented by the job performance information shown in FIG. 6 starts from “start” and “step 1”, “step 2”, and “step 3” are “parallel processed”. Next, “Step 4” is performed, and the task is “finished”. However, since “Step 1” and “Step 2” are subject to “synchronous processing”, it is necessary to complete both operations before performing “Step 4”. In “Step 1”, “Step 2”, and “Step 3”, information is input to the “database”. In "Step 4", a message is transmitted to the "department" with reference to the "database". Arrows indicating the order relation of the components are expressed by solid lines, and arrows indicating the input / output relation of data are expressed by dotted lines. This makes the difference between the two clear. Table 610 shows the data structure of task performance information 600,
“ID”, “component icon”, “connection destination ID”,
It consists of a "data input / output icon" and a "data operation".
“ID” is an identifier of each icon indicating a component of the task performance information defined in the task performance information 600. “Component icon” indicates an icon specified by “ID”. The “connection destination ID” is an identifier of an icon connected by an arrow starting from the icon specified by “ID”. The “data input / output icon” indicates a data input / output icon connected by an arrow starting from the icon specified by “ID”. “Data operation” indicates the type of data operation (input only, output only, input / output) for the “data input / output icon”. The shape of the arrow indicating the data input / output relationship differs depending on the type of data manipulation operation.

FIG. 7 shows another example of the configuration of the business performance information and the data structure of the business performance information corresponding thereto. FIG.
In the figure, 700 is business performance information, and 710 is a table showing the data structure of business performance information. In FIG. 7, “step 1”, “step 2”, “step 3”, and “step 4” are illustrated as icons indicating the components of the task performance information 700. Furthermore, as control icons, “start”, “arbitrary branch”, “conditional branch”, “end”
However, “file” is exemplified as a data input / output icon. The “arbitrary branch” is an icon indicating an arbitrary selection from a plurality of steps among the components of the task execution information. The step to which the arrow is connected is the target of arbitrary branching. "Conditional branch" is a component of business performance information.
It is an icon indicating selection of a step according to the work result up to that time. The step to which the arrow is connected is the target of the conditional branch. A branch label (a character string representing the branch destination) is set for each branch destination. The “file” is an icon indicating a non-digitized data store as an access target of the information, among the components of the task execution information. For example, in the job represented by the job performance information shown in FIG. 7, the process starts from “start”, and first, the process represented by “step 1” is performed. Next, “Step 2”, which is the target of “arbitrary branch”,
One of “Step 3” and “Step 4” is selected and executed. Next, since there is a “conditional branch”, the work result up to that point is determined. If the work result thus far corresponds to the branch label “OK”, the task is “terminated” as it is. If it corresponds to “NG”, the process returns to “Step 1”. In “Step 1”, information is input to “File”. "Step 2", "Step 3",
In “Step 4”, data is updated with reference to “File”. The table 710 stores the business performance information 70.
0 indicates the data structure, and is composed of “ID”, “component icon”, “branch label”, “connection destination ID”, “data input / output icon”, and “data operation”. "ID",
The “component element icon”, “connection destination ID”, “data input / output icon”, and “data operation” are the same as the items in the task performance information data table 610 in FIG. The “branch label” is valid only for the “conditional branch” icon, and is a character string that symbolizes the branch destination.

FIG. 8 shows a process of calling an object managed in association with each step when performing a task. In FIG. 8, reference numerals 800 and 801 denote screens when a task is performed. 810 is business performance information, 820 is a step constituting the business performance information, and 830 is an object managed in association with the step. Reference numeral 840 denotes a storage unit for storing the substance of an object that is called when performing a task.
The objects 41 and 842 are called and displayed on the screen. On the business performance screen 800, business performance information 8
10 is displayed. The worker performs the task execution information 810
By looking at, you can check information such as the whole work, progress, and what to do next graphically. Further, objects (word processor, spreadsheet document file, etc.) necessary for performing the work are managed in association with individual steps. For example, Step 8 of configuring the business performance information 810
20, the related object 830 of “Step 1”
Is stored as “document.doc”, “calculation.xls”, and the like. The entity of the related object is stored in storage means 840 such as a hard disk of the computer system. When the operator selects “Step 1” in performing the task, the storage content of the related object 830 is read. Based on the read contents, the storage means 84
Call the entity of the related object stored in 0. The called entities are “document.doc” 841 and “calculation.xl”
"s" 842, etc. are displayed on the job execution screen 801. As described above, the worker can call the related object necessary for the work only by selecting the steps constituting the task performance information, and can efficiently proceed with the work.

FIG. 9 shows a display screen for managing the state of each step according to the result of business execution and grasping the progress of the entire business. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 900 denotes a table for storing the status of each step according to the result of business execution, and reference numerals 901 to 903 denote legends for displaying the status of the step. In FIG. 9, the task performance information 600 and the task performance information data structure table 610 are the same as the tables shown in FIG. The table 900 that stores the status of each step according to the result of business execution includes an item “status”,
It is managed together with the business performance information data structure table 610. As the state of the step, "not started",
Three types of “in process” and “completed” are assumed. “Unstarted” means a state where the work has not been started, “work in progress” means a state where the work is being advanced halfway, and “completed” means a state where the work has been completed. On the business performance information screen, 9
01 (thin frame white outline), 902 (thick frame white outline), 903
(Thick hatching). In the figure, among the components of the work execution information 600, “start”, “parallel processing”,
"Step 1" is "Complete", "Step 3", "Synchronous processing", "Step 4" is "Work in progress", "Step 2",
"End" is "Not started". Each is visualized according to the legend. The worker
By looking at this information, it is possible to intuitively grasp the progress of the entire business and the bottleneck. For example, in the drawing, it is obvious at a glance that the delay of “Step 2” affects the whole.

[0024]

According to the present invention, a work procedure to be performed by a worker is graphically represented, and the definition of work performance information for efficiently supporting the work performance of the worker without depending on experience or know-how is defined. It becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a business performance information definition program.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for defining task performance information using a task performance information definition program.

FIG. 3 is a screen configuration diagram in which a step icon and a control icon are affixed among icons indicating components of the business performance information in a process of defining the business performance information.

FIG. 4 is a screen configuration diagram in which icons indicating components of the business performance information are connected by arrows in a process of defining the business performance information.

FIG. 5 is a screen configuration diagram in which a data input / output icon is affixed among icons indicating components of the business execution information and a step icon and a data input / output icon are connected by an arrow in a process of defining the business execution information.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of business performance information including a start icon, a parallel process, a synchronization process, and an end as control icons, a database and a department as data input / output icons, and a data structure of the business performance information.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of business performance information including a start, an arbitrary branch, a conditional branch, and an end as control icons and a file as a data input / output icon, and a data structure of the business performance information.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a process of calling an object managed in association with each step when performing a task.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a display screen for managing the state of each step according to the result of performing a task and grasping the progress of the entire task.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Business execution information definition program 20 ... Keyboard 30 ... CRT 40 ... Business execution information definer 100 ... Overall control unit 110 ... Input / output control unit 120 ... Step information management Unit 130 Start information management unit 131 End information management unit 132 Parallel processing information management unit 133 Synchronous processing information management unit 134 Conditional branch information management unit 135 Optional branch Information management unit 140: Database information management unit 141: File information management unit 142: Department information management unit 150: Business execution information storage unit

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Akira Kumomura 2-2-2 Kagahara, Tsuzuki-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside the Business System Development Center, Hitachi, Ltd. (72) Minoru Yamakoshi 2-chome Kagahara, Tsuzuki-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture No. 2 Inside the Hitachi, Ltd. Business System Development Center

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A method for defining task performance information in a system for supporting a task performed by a worker, wherein the task performance information is described by a combination of steps comprising a task procedure. 2. The work execution information further includes: start of work, end of work, parallel processing of a plurality of steps, synchronization of a plurality of steps in which another step waits until the last step is completed, It consists of components that include a combination of conditional branches that determine the next step to be processed according to the work result of the above, and optional branches that allow the optional selection of the next step to be processed, and are described in these combinations. The method for defining business performance information according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The business according to claim 2, wherein the components of the business performance information are displayed by icons, and the order relation between the components is displayed by arrows connecting the icons indicating the components. How to define performance information. 4. A method for defining business performance information according to claim 3, wherein a character string symbolizing the step at the branch destination is displayed on the icon indicating the branch. 5. An object for exchanging information during the execution of a task is displayed with an icon, and the icon indicating the step is connected with an arrow to clearly indicate data input / output in each step. How to define the described business performance information. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein an arrow indicating the order relation of the constituent elements and an arrow indicating the data input / output relation are displayed in different notations. 7. An object to be called when performing a task,
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the task management information is managed in association with each step. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the status of each step is managed according to the result of the task execution.