Shared To-Do Lists Evolving Into Business Processes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing business process management systems lack flexibility, requiring pre-defined workflows and not allowing real-time modifications or user-created rules, limiting adaptability to specific work situations and preventing users from making changes during task execution.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that evolve shared to-do lists into business processes by establishing action rules with events and business actions, allowing users to modify business steps and rules during execution, and enabling the creation of templates for future use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If pre-defined workflows are used to manage business processes, then process structure and control are improved, but flexibility and adaptability to specific work situations deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms static pre-defined workflows into dynamic shared to-do lists where users can modify tasks, add new ones, and change priorities in real-time during execution. This allows the business process structure to adapt dynamically to specific work situations while maintaining overall process coherence through shared visibility and coordination among workgroup members.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of starting with rigid pre-defined workflows and allowing minimal variations, the patent inverts the approach by beginning with flexible shared to-do lists and evolving them into structured business processes over time. Users naturally organize and refine tasks into workflows through actual usage, rather than being constrained by predetermined structures from the outset.
2Reliability
If workflow is created ahead of time by designers, then process control and consistency are improved, but user autonomy and real-time modification capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables users to autonomously create, modify, and manage their own tasks and sub-tasks within the shared to-do list without requiring workflow designers' intervention. Each user can add tasks, assign them to themselves or others, set priorities, and update status in real-time, empowering users to self-manage their work while maintaining process coherence through shared visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows workflow structures to evolve dynamically as users work through tasks. Users can create ad-hoc tasks, modify existing ones, and reorganize priorities on-the-fly based on changing work situations, transforming the rigid designer-defined workflow into a flexible, user-adapted process structure that maintains reliability through real-time coordination.
3Stability of the object's composition
If fixed rules are established for business process execution, then process consistency and predictability are improved, but adaptability to changing work situations deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces fixed rules with dynamic priority assignments and task states that users can modify in real-time. Instead of predetermined rule-based execution, the system allows users to adjust task priorities, add new tasks, and reorganize workflows dynamically while maintaining overall process consistency through shared visibility and coordinated updates among all workgroup members.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared to-do list provides continuous feedback to all users about task status, priorities, and changes made by any team member. This real-time feedback mechanism allows users to adapt their work dynamically while maintaining process consistency, as everyone can see and respond to changes made by others, creating a self-coordinating system that adapts to changing situations.
4Stability of the object's composition
If detailed workflow diagrams are used to represent business processes, then process clarity and structure are improved, but system complexity and ease of modification deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential elements of workflow diagrams (tasks, priorities, assignments, and status) and represents them in a simplified shared to-do list format. Instead of complex visual diagrams requiring specialized authoring tools, the system uses a straightforward list interface where users can easily add, modify, and organize tasks without dealing with complex diagramming syntax or structured programming languages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses simple text-based task representations that can be easily copied, pasted, and modified, replacing complex workflow diagram representations. Users can quickly replicate task structures and priorities through simple interface interactions rather than manipulating complex diagram elements, reducing the cognitive and technical burden of process representation while maintaining clarity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for evolving a shared to-do list into a business process is disclosed. A business process includes one or more business steps and zero or more action rules related to the business steps. Members of a workgroup participate in the business process and are able to view, modify, add and delete business steps and action rules as needed. An action rule is comprised of one or more business actions and one or more events that trigger the actions to be executed. A computer program keeps track of the business steps, interprets the set of rules, and updates states of the business process, notifies the members and validates and accepts modifications by the members to the action rules of a business steps.