Procedure Flow Administration with Side-by-Side Draft Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing procedure flow management systems struggle with modifying and approving complex procedures in a collaborative environment, as they can only show a small portion of the procedure at a time and make it difficult to test and implement modifications, especially when multiple users are involved.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allow an editing user to create a draft of a live procedure flow, make modifications, and submit them for approval, while displaying both the live and edited versions side-by-side for easy comparison, with synchronized scrolling and approval mechanisms to manage changes effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If traditional procedure flow tools are used to display complex procedures, then the tool can show procedure steps, but it can typically only show a small portion of the procedure at any one time
Solution Approach 1:
The procedure flow is divided into multiple navigable sections or views. The system allows users to segment the display into different portions (e.g., current view, next section, previous section) enabling comprehensive procedure visibility while maintaining manageable display areas through structured segmentation of the procedure content.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single linear view to a multi-dimensional display approach, showing the current procedure section in the main view while providing navigation controls and summaries of other sections. This adds temporal and spatial dimensions to the display, allowing users to access different parts of the procedure without losing overall context.
2Reliability
If procedure flows are made live and being used by the organization, then the procedures are enforced and tracked, but it is difficult to modify the procedure and test modified versions prior to release
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a draft version mechanism where modifications are created, tested, and approved before being released to live execution. This preliminary action phase allows thorough testing and validation of procedure changes in a controlled environment before they affect actual operations, maintaining both reliability and ease of modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary approval process between draft creation and live deployment. A reviewer or approval mechanism acts as the intermediary, validating modifications before they become live procedures. This intermediary layer ensures reliability while maintaining ease of modification through structured review workflows.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple users are involved in modifying procedures simultaneously, then collaboration is enabled, but conflicts and coordination difficulties arise
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements real-time feedback mechanisms that notify users of simultaneous modifications. When multiple users are editing procedures, the system provides feedback about concurrent changes, allows users to see who else is working on the procedure, and coordinates save operations to prevent conflicts. This feedback loop enables collaborative editing while managing coordination complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates isolated copy instances of procedures for each user's editing session. When users work on procedure modifications, they are working on their own copies rather than directly on the shared live procedure. This copying mechanism allows multiple users to collaborate simultaneously without conflicts, as each user's changes are isolated until approved and merged.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for collaboration between users for editing and reviewing a live procedure flow comprising at least one decision step and at least one action step is disclosed. Each step is interconnected with at least one other step by at least one flow arrow indicating a direction of flow. There is disclosed a method of displaying a live version and an edited version of a procedure flow on a display device side-by-side and highlighting the edited portions in both the live version and an edited version while providing for synchronised scrolling of both versions. There is disclosed a method of navigating between procedure flows of a given procedure comprising rendering a graphical representation of a procedure flow, comprising steps, on a display, anchoring a hyperlink on one of the steps wherein when the hyperlink is selected, a sub procedure flow is displayed.