Enterprise Process Manager for Customizing Mandatory and Optional Steps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing enterprise software packages often include preconfigured features that may not be relevant to specific users, leading to unnecessary resource consumption and installation inconveniences, as they do not meet the unique needs of individual users.

Innovation Solution

A computer system with an enterprise process manager that allows users to select and customize enterprise processes by defining mandatory and optional process steps, enabling the creation of a solution package tailored to their requirements through a filter manager and solution package generator.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If preconfigured customized features are included in enterprise software packages, then the software can meet the needs of a variety of users, but unnecessary features consume computing resources and cause installation inconveniences

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to user needsVSAvoidcomputing resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The enterprise process is segmented into mandatory process steps and optional process steps. Mandatory steps are those that must be included in the solution package, while optional steps can be selectively bound or excluded. This segmentation allows the system to include only necessary features in the base package, reducing resource consumption while maintaining adaptability through selective binding of optional steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables dynamic configuration of the enterprise process by allowing users to selectively bind optional process steps to the mandatory portion based on their specific needs. This dynamic approach transforms a static preconfigured package into an adaptable solution that can be customized without requiring all features to be included by default, thereby reducing unnecessary resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If preconfigured customized features are included in enterprise software packages, then the software can meet the needs of a variety of users, but installation becomes more complex and inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to user needsVSAvoidinstallation convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the process into mandatory and optional components, the installation process is simplified. The mandatory portion is installed by default, while optional portions are presented as selectable bindings. This segmentation reduces installation complexity compared to installing all preconfigured features, while still providing adaptability through selective binding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables users to self-configure their enterprise process by selecting which optional process steps to bind to their mandatory requirements. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex preconfigured customizations and reduces installation inconveniences, as users can independently select only the features they need.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If all optional process steps are included in the enterprise process, then the process is comprehensive, but the system complexity increases and resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of process optionsVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the enterprise process into mandatory process steps that are always included and optional process steps that can be selectively bound. This segmentation reduces system complexity by not loading or configuring all optional steps by default, while maintaining completeness of options through the binding mechanism. Users can select only the optional steps relevant to their specific needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of including all optional process steps by default (excessive action), the system includes only the mandatory portion and allows users to add optional steps only when needed (partial action). This approach reduces system complexity and resource consumption while maintaining the completeness of the process options through selective binding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS8650533B2Management of variants of an enterprise process

Publication Date: 2014.02.11 SAP SE

AI summary

A method can include receiving an indicator that an enterprise process has been selected from a plurality of enterprise processes, and receiving an enterprise process value defining at least a portion of a mandatory process step associated with a mandatory portion of the enterprise process, and an enterprise process parameter value defining at least a portion of an optional process step related to the mandatory process step. The method can include receiving an indicator that a filter from a set of filters has been selected, and defining a representation of the mandatory process step and a representation of the optional process step in response to the filter being selected. The method can also include receiving an indicator that the optional process step has been selected for binding to the mandatory portion of the enterprise process in a variant of the enterprise process.