Graphical Position Hierarchy Modeling for Organizational Resource Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems require manual effort and data manipulation from multiple sources to manage and update organizational hierarchy charts, especially when employees change positions, leading to inefficiencies and increased workload.

Innovation Solution

A graphical user interface and modeling system that allows users to create, edit, and analyze position hierarchies graphically, using nodal analysis tools to model and predict changes in resource allocation, attrition, and organizational costs, enabling scenario optimization and prediction of future performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional database software is used to manage organizational hierarchy data, then data can be organized and managed, but users must manually change the organizational chart as employees move between positions, requiring inordinate effort to update hierarchy charts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of updating organizational hierarchyVSAvoidtime spent manually updating organizational charts

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically updates the organizational hierarchy chart by detecting changes in employee position data from the database and dynamically regenerating the chart without requiring manual intervention. The chart serves itself by pulling updated information from the database whenever employee assignments change.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a feedback loop where the organizational hierarchy chart continuously monitors the database for changes in employee positions. When changes are detected, the chart automatically updates to reflect the new hierarchy, creating a responsive system that adapts to data changes in real-time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If text-based systems are used to manage organizational data, then data can be stored and processed, but users must spend inordinate amounts of effort to update organizational hierarchy charts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of updating organizational hierarchyVSAvoidtime required for text-based updates

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual text-based editing operations with an automated graphical interface that visually represents the organizational hierarchy. Users interact with the chart through graphical elements rather than text commands, and the system automatically processes updates through database queries and graphical rendering operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a visual copy of the organizational hierarchy structure from the database data, presenting it as an interactive graphical chart. This visual representation can be easily manipulated and updated by dragging and dropping elements, providing an intuitive interface that mirrors the actual organizational structure without requiring text-based data manipulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Ease of operation

If conventional graphical user interface modeling tools are used to display organizational charts, then hierarchical relationships can be visualized, but users must make manual changes to multiple data sets when employees are added, moved, or deleted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual manipulation of organizational hierarchyVSAvoidnumber of data sets requiring manual updates

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system integrates multiple functions into a single unified interface: the graphical hierarchy chart serves as both the display mechanism and the data management tool. A single interaction with the chart simultaneously updates multiple underlying data sets (employee assignments, organizational structure, reporting relationships) without requiring separate manual updates for each data set.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges the visual representation layer with the data management layer. The graphical hierarchy chart is directly linked to the database, so that visual manipulations automatically propagate to all related data sets. This consolidation eliminates the need to manually update multiple separate data structures when organizational changes occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9959524B2Graphical modeling of position hierarchies

Publication Date: 2018.05.01 ORACLE INT CORP

AI summary

A method and system for providing a graphical position hierarchy and associated data sets is described. The method includes receiving a graphical position hierarchy model, analyzing nodes of the position hierarchy model to discern branches and leafs thereof, associating incumbent information with the nodes, where the incumbent information pertains to resources such as employees, contracting services, consulting, and other data and attributes related to the position hierarchy model, and displaying the model to a user thereof. Nodes of a position hierarchy may include incumbents, or may be placeholder position nodes, with no incumbents, allowing the user to model the position hierarchy according to organization needs before associating or allocating resources thereto. The method provides options for users to analyze the effect of changes to the position hierarchy on organizational resource allocation and costs in order to assess, optimize, and monitor the impact of such changes on the organization.