Abstract: A project portfolio management system creating virtual interrelationships between projects. Aspects of the system include creating virtual relationships at the Work Breakdown Structure (“WBS”) level with appropriate offsets using interpretations of logic relationships in detailed project schedules using various calculation approaches. The system models the linkages between detailed project schedules in a virtual relationship usable in alternate scenario planning analysis at a summary or working level. The virtual relationships are accurate enough for high level planning by users (e.g., program managers and analysts) with limited familiarity of project details (e.g., which non-workdays are in which project calendars) and reduce the computation times when altering a project planning scenario. Using the virtual relationships allows scenarios to be quickly evaluated to gauge the effects of changing constraints before committing to recalculating the detailed schedules of a project.

Abstract: A project portfolio management system creating virtual interrelationships between projects. Aspects of the system include creating virtual relationships at the Work Breakdown Structure (“WBS”) level with appropriate offsets using interpretations of logic relationships in detailed project schedules using various calculation approaches. The system models the linkages between detailed project schedules in a virtual relationship usable in alternate scenario planning analysis at a summary or working level. The virtual relationships are accurate enough for high level planning by users (e.g., program managers and analysts) with limited familiarity of project details (e.g., which non-workdays are in which project calendars) and reduce the computation times when altering a project planning scenario. Using the virtual relationships allows scenarios to be quickly evaluated to gauge the effects of changing constraints before committing to recalculating the detailed schedules of a project.

Abstract: A system for generating and analyzing alternate project management scenarios at a high level, or a “What If Tool” (WIT) System. The WIT System enhances project management tools by providing simple and reversible scenario generation, analysis, and comparison for complex projects and portfolios. The WIT System imports and transforms the project management information from an external project management tool into collections at a user-defined level while retaining relevant constraints and relationships. The WIT System allows the user to generate and compare alternate constraint and timeline scenarios at a high level without involving all detailed elements of the original project management information, which is often time and cost prohibitive. The differences between scenarios may be visualized and reported to enhance the decision making process. The WIT System also allows the original project management information to be updated based on a scenario.