Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is directed to automatically extending a task in a project schedule. If certain information items associated with a task are not specified, the scheduled completion time for a task may be automatically extended under the assumption that if these information items are unknown, the task will take longer to complete than originally planned. The project schedule, incorporating the automatically extended tasks, may then be displayed.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is directed to automatically extending a task in a project schedule. If certain information items associated with a task are not specified, the scheduled completion time for a task may be automatically extended under the assumption that if these information items are unknown, the task will take longer to complete than originally planned. The project schedule, incorporating the automatically extended tasks, may then be displayed.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is directed to automatically extending a task in a project schedule. If certain information items associated with a task are not specified, the scheduled completion time for a task may be automatically extended under the assumption that if these information items are unknown, the task will take longer to complete than originally planned. The project schedule, incorporating the automatically extended tasks, may then be displayed.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is directed to the analysis of a document. The document may be retrieved and automatically analyzed to measure quality metrics defined for the document. A quality metric is any attribute of the document and may be, for example, a word count, a sentence count, a paragraph count, or any other suitable attribute. A set of results based on the act of analyzing the document may be generated and stored and a report based, at least in part, on the set of results that indicates measurements of the quality metrics over a period of time.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to project management. In one embodiment, a process model may be defined in a programming language. The process model may include an executable specification of the process and the executable specification may be executed to simulate the process. Executing the specification may also result in the generation of project management artifacts, such as a budget and a project schedule.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for distributing a software patch to a plurality of customers includes downloading the software patch from at least one server to one of a number of kiosks located at public customer-accessible locations. In another aspect, a system for distributing a software patch includes kiosks located in public customer-accessible locations, and one or more servers configured to download the software patch to the kiosks. In another aspect, a method of updating a computer by installing a software patch includes traveling to a location of a kiosk, using a customer interface of the kiosk to create a copy of the software patch on at least one portable computer readable medium, transporting the at least one portable computer readable medium to a location of the computer, and installing the software patch from the at least one portable computer readable medium onto the computer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to project management. In one embodiment, a process model may be defined in a programming language. The process model may include an executable specification of the process and the executable specification may be executed to simulate the process. Executing the specification may also result in the generation of project management artifacts, such as a budget and a project schedule.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present-invention are directed to creating repeatable solutions so that a development team does not have to recreate an approach for developing a product, even though an approach used by a prior team for building a similar product has previously been created and would have been suitable for reuse in building the second product. In one embodiment, a method for creating a solution is provided in which a solution that defines a planned process is determined. The solution may then be documented and implementation of the solution may begin. During the implementation process, the solution may be modified and the modified solution may be documented.

Abstract: The process of designing and developing a software project is facilitated with one or more of multiple exemplary data structures. These exemplary data structures facilitate interaction among team members from one or more teams selected from those of an exemplary team model and across process phases of two or more process phases selected from those of an exemplary process model. Moreover, the exemplary data structures facilitate implementation of and adherence to (i) an exemplary risk management discipline and process and (ii) an exemplary readiness management discipline and process. These exemplary data structures include, but are not limited to, a milestone review data structure, a team lead project progress data structures, a vision/scope data structure, a project structure data structure, a team member project progress data structure, a master project plan data structure, a training plan data structure, a functional specification data structure, and a post project analysis data structure.