Control Automation Tool for Discrete Risk Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Organizations face challenges in effectively managing and understanding risks, threats, and controls due to the lack of a transparent and actionable approach for risk management, as well as inefficient communication and implementation of controls across various organizational areas and data stores.

Innovation Solution

A control automation tool (CAT) is developed to support discrete management of controls and their metrics, utilizing a software application connected to relational data repositories, which assists in lean project management, action plan implementation, and financial functions, providing transparency and ease of control and metric management through a user-friendly interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual control management methods are used, then implementation flexibility is maintained, but control management efficiency and transparency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol management efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol management system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical control management processes with an automated software system that uses computer algorithms and data processing to manage controls and metrics. The control automation tool substitutes human-driven manual tracking with automated computational methods, improving efficiency while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized interfaces and workflows.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If comprehensive control tracking is implemented, then risk mitigation improves, but system complexity and difficulty of implementation increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverisk mitigation effectivenessVSAvoidcontrol tracking system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control management system into distinct modular components including control definitions, metric specifications, data collection modules, and reporting functions. This segmentation allows comprehensive control tracking to be implemented through manageable, independent modules that can be configured and maintained separately, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive risk mitigation capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control automation tool is designed as a universal platform that can manage multiple types of controls and metrics across different organizational contexts. The system provides multi-functional capabilities including control definition, metric tracking, gap identification, and reporting within a single integrated tool, reducing the need for multiple separate systems and simplifying implementation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If detailed metric tracking is implemented, then control effectiveness measurement improves, but data management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol effectiveness measurement precisionVSAvoiddata management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer of standardized metric definitions and data collection protocols between the raw data sources and the analysis functions. This intermediary structure standardizes data formatting, validation, and aggregation, enabling precise control effectiveness measurement while reducing data management complexity through consistent data handling procedures and automated data processing routines.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8196207B2Control automation tool
Publication Date: 2012.06.05 BANK OF AMERICA CORP
  • US8196207B2 patent drawing
  • US8196207B2 patent drawing
  • US8196207B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A control automation tool (“CAT”) is configured for supporting discrete management of controls and their corresponding metrics. The control automation tool includes a software application connected with, stored on, and executed by one or more relational, closed-loop data repositories and computer systems. The use and maturation of a control within an organization depends on management of operational performance and expenses, which the CAT assists through lean project management, effective implementation of action plans and financial functions. Further, people resources, organizational hierarchy and access management functions are used to support mapping of controls arranged by organizational unit and support access permissions that are consistent with appropriate data management. The CAT also provides transparency and meaning to control and metric status and relevant data regarding controls and their associated metrics and is configured for ease of control and metric management via the CAT interface.