WO2013034178A1

WO2013034178A1 - Computer-implemented method for asset lifecycle management

Info

Publication number: WO2013034178A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/065444
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mustafa FAKHIR
Original assignee: Fakhir Mustafa
Priority date: 2011-09-07
Filing date: 2011-09-07
Publication date: 2013-03-14
Also published as: EP2754018A1

Abstract

The invention provides a computer-implemented method for asset lifecycle management, such as employee lifecycle management, implemented in a software application. The method uses a lifecycle model and offers a three-dimensional graphical user interface to enable an employer to manage the asset lifecycle without being confronted with the complexity of the many variables, actors and systems involved.

Description

Computer-implemented method for asset lifecycle management FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to asset lifecycle management, including employee lifecycle management. More specifically, the invention relates to a computer-implemented method and a graphical user interface for asset lifecycle management .

BACKGROUND

A principle of asset custodianship is the effective management of assets throughout the asset lifecycle. Good business practice requires that assets be appropriately secured and maintained, used for the purposes intended, periodically accounted for, assessed to ensure their continued value to the organization and properly disposed of.

In general an asset is defined as a future economic benefit that is controlled by an organization, as a result of a past transaction or event, which can be reliably measured.

Assets are typically classifiable intangible or tangible.

Examples of intangible assets are patents, copyrights,

franchises, goodwill, trademarks and trade names. Examples of tangible assets are buildings, real estate, vehicles,

inventories and equipment. With respect to asset lifecycle management, employees may be regarded as assets. Also, with respect to asset lifecycle management, patients may be regarded as assets.

The management of an asset throughout its lifecycle includes planning and support for investment decisions,

acquisition, access and ongoing maintenance, through to

replacement or retirement planning. The objective of asset lifecycle management is to optimize asset acquisition, maximize the use of the asset and reduce associated service and

operational costs resulting in increased asset performance and , lower total cost of ownership.

In order to attract well qualified employees it is important for an employer to be distinctive while controlling labor costs. The working conditions offered by the employer play an important role in attracting new employees.

Long term effects of the working conditions are often difficult to predict at the time of employment. Moreover, the management of the working conditions over time can be a

difficult task. This is caused by the complexity of the many variables involved in such calculations. Such variables include e.g. fiscal aspects of the working conditions and payroll, which may change over time. The complexity may even increase if at some point in time errors are made, which may have to be

corrected retroactively.

Besides the working conditions the employer has to manage human resources activities, including recruitment, career development, payroll and e.g. absence registrations. This often involves many actors and non-integrated systems.

Current and future working conditions and activities of human resources have an impact on the employee lifecycle.

Because of its complexity and actors and systems involved, management of the employee lifecycle is difficult.

Workflow management solutions are known that can reduce the complexity of processing data from various sources.

For example WO2007/056656A2 discloses methods and apparatus for processing business objects, electronic forms, and work-flows. The system of WO2007/056656A2 empowers users to author logical business objects, author intelligent business forms, and create automated workflows. The logical business objects include data definitions and methods from existing and new data sources. An object broker interprets the business object definition and brokers data/information and method calls to the data sources. The intelligent business forms are created by an information worker in a rich web-based tooling

environment. The automated workflow tools include process discovery features that assist users during the process

identification phase. The tools assist users to identify

processes within the organization, including supporting solution artifacts such as forms, rules, actions, outcomes and business objects involved. Process modeling features include the ability to combine defined artifacts into a process model that can be published into a runtime environment where it can be executed and used by business users in the organization. The methods and apparatus disclosed in O2007/056656A2 are typically used in the context of processing customer orders, but do not provide for an employee lifecycle management solution.

Another example is found in US2008/0162215A1 that discloses enterprise methods and systems in which decision types are defined with attributes that can be stored as decision objects that assist in storing and executing decisions. The methods and systems include methods for logically linking decision processes based on commonality of decision variables across different aspects of an enterprise. The disclosed

enterprise methods and systems do not provide for an employee lifecycle management solution.

Yet another example is found in US2004 /0138934A1 that discloses a method for affecting changes in a business including a multiple interrelated business processes. The method includes: providing a business information and decisioning control system to a user, the business information and decisioning control system having a business system user interface; generating an output result using a business model provided by the business information and decisioning control system, the output result providing guidance on the control of the business; presenting the output result to the user via the business system user interface; receiving the user's selection of a command via the business system user interface, where the command prompts at least one of the interrelated business processes to make a change, the change based on guidance provided by the output result; transmitting instructions to the at least one of the interrelated business processes, where the instructions are based on the command; and executing the change in the at least one interrelated business processes in response to the command. Again, the disclosed method does not provide for an employee lifecycle management solution.

There is a need for a computer-implemented method for asset lifecycle management, such as e.g. employee lifecycle management, that enables an employer to manage the asset

lifecycle without being confronted with the complexity of the many variables, actors and systems involved. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the invention a computer- implemented method for asset lifecycle management is proposed. The method is based on a three-dimensional model. The three- dimensional model comprises a first dimension defining financial aspects of an asset lifecycle. The three-dimensional model further comprises a second dimension defining organizational design aspects of the asset lifecycle. The three-dimensional model further comprises a third dimension defining risk aspects of the asset lifecycle. The method comprises displaying a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface comprises a three-dimensional representation of the model. The three- dimensional representation comprises a first axis representing the first dimension, a second axis representing the second dimension, and a third axis representing the third dimension. The graphical user interface further comprises one or more focal points in the three-dimensional representation of the model. Each focal point corresponds to a multi-disciplinary activity from two or more of the dimensions and/or a predefined action at a moment in time. The method further comprises receiving a first user input resulting in the selection of one of the focal points. The method further comprises performing a predefined action to the selected focal point.

Thus, the invention provides a computer-implemented method for asset lifecycle management that enables an employer to manage the asset lifecycle without being confronted with the complexity of the many variables, actors and systems involved. The graphical user interface enables a clear visualization of and interaction with the focal points in the asset lifecycle.

The embodiment of claim 2 advantageously enables an employee life cycle to be managed using the graphical user interface .

The embodiment of claim 3 advantageously enables the boundaries of the model wherein the focal points are located to be visualized.

The embodiment of claim 4 advantageously enables the viewpoint to be changed. The embodiment of claim 5 advantageously enables predefined actions to be performed related to the selected plane .

The embodiment of claim 6 advantageously enables applications or modules to be activated related to the selected plane .

The embodiment of claim 7 advantageously enables visualization of the activity and/or action associated with the selected focal point. This may be a starting point for

performing the activity and/or action.

The embodiment of claim 8 advantageously enables visualization of multiple or all activities and/or actions associated with the focal points. This may be a starting point for performing activities and/or actions.

The embodiment of claim 9 advantageously enables visualization of a chain of activities and/or actions of a focal point. Software applications for performing the activities and actions in the chain may be started by selecting an activity or action .

The embodiment of claim 10 advantageously enables tracking of the status of activities and/or actions.

The embodiment of claims 11 advantageously enables an alternative visualization of the asset lifecycle.

The embodiment of claims 12 advantageously enables the asset lifecycle to be graphically visualized in a more user friendly manner.

The embodiment of claim 13 advantageously enables data from external sources to be used in the three-dimensional model without having to store or input the data locally.

According to another aspect of the invention a graphical user interface is proposed that is configured to be displayed using one or more of the above described methods.

According to another aspect of the invention a computer program product is proposed, which, when being executed by a processor, is adapted to perform one or more of the above described methods .

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described in further detail. It should be appreciated, however, that these embodiments may not be construed as limiting the scope of protection for the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the invention will be explained in greater detail by reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

Fig.l, Fig.2, Fig.3a, Fig.3b, Fig.4a and Fig.4b show examples of elements of a graphical user interface of exemplary embodiments of the invention; and

Fig.5 shows steps of a method according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A computer-implemented method for asset lifecycle management, such as e.g. employee lifecycle management,

implemented in a software application is proposed that uses a lifecycle model and offers a graphical user interface to enable an employer to manage the asset lifecycle without being

confronted with the complexity of the many variables, actors and systems involved.

The software application may be a stand-alone application, but is preferably implemented as a web-based application. A three-dimensional graphical user interface visualizes the various aspects of the lifecycle model and enables user interaction with the software application for obtaining information and modifying data.

In the following examples the assets which lifecycle is managed are employees. It is to be understood that the lifecycle of any other asset may be managed similarly and that the

invention is not limited to employee lifecycle management.

An asset lifecycle model includes asset specific data. For example an employee lifecycle model includes employee related data such as company characteristics, personal data and working conditions of employees, and various human resources related data. Data used by the model is stored in a standardized format to ensure compatibility with external software

applications and computer system. The software application typically includes a proactive process of collecting and managing information about the asset from external data sources and from manual data entries. For employee lifecycle management the software application typically includes a proactive process of collecting and managing

information, skills and competencies for employees.

The model is used as a process-oriented approach to the most important steps in maintaining a regulated control over the execution of management tasks. Herein, four important steps are harmonization, integrated management, implementation and

enforcement .

The model provides for a three-dimensional approach for managing an asset lifecycle, such as an employee lifecycle. In a first dimension financial aspects are processed, such as

harmonization of salary and employment costs. In a second dimension aspects of the organizational structure or

organizational design are processed. In a third dimension risk aspects are processed for enforcement and monitoring of

organizational choices with respect to risks and their coverage. The three dimensions together define the multidisciplinary activities involved in the asset lifecycle.

With respect to the financial aspects in employee lifecycle management, a basis for success is understanding people before numbers. Personal performance and business

performance are determined by human behavior. Clear

communication, a clear direction, knowing what you want and what you do best determine confidence and performance. Talent in the meaning of human capital is about people (i.e. involves salary), while talent in the material sense represent money and finance (i.e. involves costs). The first dimension of the model brings this together with behavioral finance to real applicable

solutions for professionals working with people.

With respect to the organizational aspects in employee lifecycle management, it is typically in the interest of a company to have a company specific structure. This includes how social costs are managed and effectiveness of company policies. To effectively manage multi-disciplinary activities and maintain a grip on e.g. employee related costs, the model integrates elements such as knowledge, self-reflection, organizational behavior and risks. Usually departments like finance/accounting, IT and human resources are centralized, while departments such as purchasing, manufacturing, distribution, marketing and sales decentralized. The second dimension of the model is based on a centralized management model, wherein e.g. a board of directors creates conditions, sets frames and guards coherence, and wherein a controlling department controls.

With respect to the risk aspects in employee lifecycle management, the term risk' implies that an outcome effecting choice exists or existed. Potential losses can also be risks. The risk is the potential that a chosen action or activity

(including a choice of inactivity) will lead to a loss (an undesirable result) . A shifting role of the government (in public sector) leads to more private interests (in private sector) to insure risks. The amount of possibilities for risk insurance grows while the complexity of assessing risks also increases. This results in a new form of risk assessment and risk management. Recent studies show that only one third of all organizations structurally assess their risks. Generally, organizations see risks as a burden. If an organization wants to be strong, it is necessary to have a good risk management. Risk management enables concentrating the focus on achieving targets, without having to deal with unexpected effects. The third dimension is used to implement risk management in the asset lifecycle management.

The software application may be used by various actors to manage the asset lifecycle. E.g. a human resources financial controller may use the software for employee lifecycle

management to determine a desired behavior of the organization with respect to a point in the employee lifecycle. The software application is typically used to determine when

multidisciplinary activities are to be performed or interact. The software may help to effectively manage social costs.

The three dimensions are visualized in the graphical user interface along three axes. It is indifferent how the dimensions are allocated to the axes. Fig.l shows an example of a graphical user interface wherein the x-axis 1 is used for the first dimension (financial aspects) , the y-axis 2 is used for the second dimension (organizational aspects) and the z-axis 3 is used for the third dimension (risk aspects) .

Important aspects along the axes may be visualized to form a three-dimensional cube 4, as shown in Fig.2. The axes of Fig.2 are the same as in Fig.l. For employee lifecycle

management, along the x-axis 1 the two planes 'costs' 11 and 'salary' 12 form two sides of the cube 4. Along the y-axis 2 the two planes 'human resources' 21 and 'finance/accounting' 22 form two other sides of the cube 4. Along the z-axis 3 the two planes 'public sector' 31 and 'private sector' 32 form two other sides of the cube 4.

The software application uses the model to determine one or more focal points. A focal point defines a multi- disciplinary activity and/or a predefined action at a specific moment in time. For employee lifecycle management, the moments in time typically are the start of employment, the end of employment, at employment mutations and at predefined control moments .

Figs.3a, which is based on Fig.2, shows an example of a graphical user interface wherein a single focal point 5 is displayed at the center of the cube 4. Fig.3b, which is also based on Fig.2, shows another example of a graphical user interface wherein multiple focal points 5 are displayed within the cube 4. Each focal point 5 represents a different multi- disciplinary activity and/or a predefined action at a specific moment in time.

The graphical user interface is interactive. User input may be received in any known manner, e.g. by using a keyboard, a mouse or a touch screen. An object displayed in the graphical user interface may be associated with different actions

depending on the type of interaction with the object. Types of interaction are e.g. clicking or tapping, double clicking or double tapping, hovering on the object, and clicking/tabbing and holding the object. The types of interaction in the following examples are to be understood as exemplary and non-limiting. Any suitable type of interaction may be used.

The cube 4 may e.g. be rotated into any direction to change the view or to get a specific plane 11, 12, 21, 22, 31, 32 in front of the view. The x, y and z-axis rotate together with the cube 4.

For a specific focal point 5 the planes may be

clickable to activate a software module related to the selected plane. In case of Fig.3a the specific focal point is the one displayed. In case of Fig.3b a focal point may have to be clicked to become selected before the planes become clickable. It is e.g. possible for a specific focal point 5 to start an external human resource application by clicking on the *human resource' plane 21 or to obtain information about private insurances by clicking the ^private sector' plane 32. It is to be understood that any plane can thus be clickable to activate any internal or external software module related to the plane.

A full lifecycle 6 including all focal points may be displayed after clicking a focal point 5. Double clicking the focal point 5 as shown in Fig.3a may e.g. result in displaying the lifecycle 6 in a listed format as shown in Fig.4a. In the listed format the focal points 5 are typically listed

chronologically and each focal point 5 represent a multi- disciplinary activity and/or a predefined action 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 at a specific moment in time. In Fig.4a the rectangular boxes indicate text locations for displaying each activity and/or a predefined action 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 or a summary thereof. It is to be understood that the layout on screen may deviate from what is shown in Fig.4a.

The lifecycle 6 as shown in Fig.4a may be displayed in a new window, in a pop-up window, as a layer or in any other known manner.

A multi-disciplinary activity and/or a predefined action 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 may comprise multiple sub- activities and/or multiple sub-actions accessible by clicking the displayed activity/action. The sub-activities and sub- actions of an activity/action form a chain of activities and actions to be performed for a focal point. Applications to perform the sub-activities and sub-actions may be started by further selecting the sub-action or sub-action.

The status of each ( sub) activity/ ( sub) action may be visualized to indicate where and when activities/actions are due. If all activities and actions for a focal point are performed, this may be visualized by changing the appearance of the focal point in the graphical user interface, e.g. by

changing its shape, size and/or color.

The multi-disciplinary activity / predefined action and the sub-activities / sub-actions of a single focal point 5 may be displayed directly by clicking the focal point 5 in the graphical user interface of Fig.3a or Fig.3b. In this case displaying of the lifecycle 6 is bypassed.

In another example double clicking the focal point 5 as shown in Fig.3a may result in displaying the lifecycle 6

graphically as shown in Fig.4b. In Fig.4b the focal points 5 are typically connected chronologically and each focal point 5

represents a multi-disciplinary activity and/or a predefined action 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 at a specific moment in time. The location of each activity/action 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 within the cube 4 is typically calculated such that all focal points 5 are visible and clickable. Displaying the lifecycle 6 as a spiral is particularly suitable for this purpose, but any other form may be used.

The starting point 51 of the employee lifecycle 6 corresponds e.g. to the start of employment and the end point 58 of the employee lifecycle 6 corresponds e.g. to the end of employment. Intermediate points 52-57 correspond e.g. to

employment mutations and predefined control moments.

Each activity/action 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 and/or focal point 5 shown in Fig.4a and Fig.4b may be clickable to return to the graphical user interface of Fig.3a for the selected focal point 5.

Instead of displaying the full lifecycle only a subset of the full lifecycle may be displayed. In this case Fig.4a and Fig.4b show a subset of all activities/actions.

The lifecycle 6 as shown in Fig.4a or Fig.4b may be displayed in a similar manner starting from the graphical user interface as shown in Fig.3b.

With the graphical user interface of the present invention asset lifecycle management becomes very user friendly and clear. Focal points are visualized and made accessible and the effects of mutations at focal points 5 may advantageously be visualized by updating the lifecycle 6 in the graphical user interface .

The software application for asset lifecycle management may be implemented as an open and modular system enabling software modules to be added and data to be imported from other systems. This enables data to be imported from e.g. human resources applications, payroll systems, absence registration systems and recruitment systems. The imported data is brought into conformity and used in the determination of the focal points 5. The software application may have one or more modules for communication with third party systems, e.g. at a safety, health and welfare service provider or an assessment service provider. This enables the third parties to receive information or directly input data into the model.

The software application may be implemented as a set of software components. An asset-lifecycle-engine component

comprises the model used for determining the focal points from which activities, reports and/or overviews of one or more assets may be generated. An expert-interface component enables access to - typically web based - applications for entering data related to the planes. Typically there are plane specific applications accessible through the expert-interface. A cube component displays the interactive three-dimensional cube. The planes of the cubes are clickable to access the expert-interface component. A user-interface component enables access to a dashboard application for end-users to obtain overviews of activities, reports and overviews generated by the asset- lifecycle-engine component.

The software application may be used to store electronic employee files.

Fig.5 shows steps of a method according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In step 101 the graphical user interface is displayed. In step 102 a user input is received resulting in the selection of a focal point 5. In step 103 a predefined action to the selected focal point 5 is performed.

One embodiment of the invention may be implemented as a program product for use with a computer system. The program(s) of the program product define functions of the embodiments

(including the methods described herein) and can be contained on a variety of computer-readable storage media. Illustrative computer-readable storage media include, but are not limited to (i) non-writable storage media (e.g., read-only memory devices within a computer such as CD-ROM disks readable by a CD-ROM drive, ROM chips or any type of solid-state non-volatile semiconductor memory) on which information is permanently stored; and (ii) writable storage media (e.g., floppy disks within a diskette drive or hard-disk drive or any type of solid state random-access semiconductor memory or flash memory) on which alterable information is stored. Moreover, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, which may be varied within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for asset lifecycle management, wherein the method is based on a three-dimensional model comprising:

a first dimension defining financial aspects of an asset lifecycle;

a second dimension defining organizational design aspects of the asset lifecycle; and

a third dimension defining risk aspects of the asset lifecycle,

the method comprising:

displaying (101) a graphical user interface comprising: a three-dimensional representation of the model, the three-dimensional representation comprising a first axis (1) representing the first dimension, a second axis (2) representing the second dimension and a third axis (3) representing the third dimension; and

one or more focal points (5) in the three- dimensional representation of the model, each focal point

corresponding to a multi-disciplinary activity from two or more of the dimensions and/or a predefined action at a moment in time;

receiving (102) a first user input resulting in the selection of one of the focal points (5) ; and

performing (103) a predefined action to the selected focal point (5) .

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the asset lifecycle management is an employee lifecycle management and the asset lifecycle is an employee lifecycle, and wherein the moment in time is one of a start of employment, an end of employment or any time in between the start and end of employment.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the graphical user interface further comprises:

a graphical representation of a cube (4) comprising along the first axis (1) a cost plane (11) and a salary plane (12), along the second axis (2) a human resources plane (21) and a finance/accounting plane (22), and along the third axis (3) a public sector plane (31) and a private sector plane (32) .

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising receiving a second user input resulting in a rotation of the cube ( 4 ) .

5. The method according to claim 3 or claim 4, further comprising receiving a third user input resulting in a selection of one of the planes (11, 12, 21, 22, 31, 32) and performing a predefined action to the selected plane.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the predefined action to the selected plane comprises activating a software module related to the selected plane.

7. The method according to any one of the claims 1-6, wherein the predefined action to the selected focal point comprises displaying a textual indication of the multi- disciplinary activity and/or the predefined action (51-58) of the selected focal point (5).

8. The method according to any one of the claims 1-6 wherein the predefined action comprises displaying a lifecycle (6) in the form of a list textual indications of the multi- disciplinary activity and/or the predefined action (51-58) of each focal point (5).

9. The method according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the multi-disciplinary activity and/or the predefined action (51-58) comprises one or more sub-activities and/or sub- actions forming a chain of activities and/or actions to be performed for the focal point (5), and wherein the method further comprises receiving a fourth user input resulting in displaying the one or more sub-activities and/or sub-actions.

10. The method according to any one of the claims 7-9, wherein the multi-disciplinary activity and/or the predefined action (51-58) comprises a status indicating if the multi- disciplinary activity and/or the predefined action is performed, and wherein the status is visualized in the graphical user interface by changing the appearance of the focal point (5) .

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising displaying a graphical representation of the employee lifecycle (6) by connecting the focal points (5) chronologically with a line.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the focal points (5) are displayed such that the line forms a spiral .

13. The method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising receiving data from one or more external data sources as input to the three-dimensional model.

14. A graphical user interface configured to be displayed by the method according to any one of the claims 1-13.

15. A computer program product, which, when being executed by a processor, is adapted to perform the method according to any one of the claims 1-13.