Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Peter De Vries

Alice Pritikin Steinglass

Jonathan Seth Kaufthal

Bonny Lau

Mohammad Yakoob Shahdad

Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward providing a method utilizing project management software for creating a project plan utilizing a top-down strategy allowing a user to describe high-level objectives before filling in details for the underlying tasks of which the high-level objectives are comprised. As an alternative to basing summary task dates and durations solely on subtask data, the present invention allows a user to enter dates and duration values into summary tasks regardless of when the corresponding subtasks occur. By utilizing a top-down project management approach, embodiments of the present invention promote utilizing summary tasks as a starting point of project planning. Users are able to input high-level objectives of a project when more specific details of subtasks are unknown. Because summary task data is not rolled-up from the subtask data, a user may specify details such as dates and durations of subtasks at a later time.

Project management applications utilizing summary tasks for top-down project planning

A project management application provides an environment in which a user can transform a project sketch, which is based on mostly 'freeform' data, into a defined project plan. The project management application facilitates the mixture of freeform task attribute values with structured attribute values of one or more project tasks. The project management application can utilize an internal calculation model to manage the relationships between task attribute values despite accepting freeform values for task attributes. The project management application calculates the attribute values to the extent allowed by the calculation model's recognition of the attribute values.

Scheduling application allowing freeform data entry

A method of and system for handling allocation of task work to resources with flexibly configured availability contours (work calendars) is disclosed. The method includes defining one or more base calendars, a resource calendar associated with each resource, wherein the resource calendar inherits from a base calendar. A calendar reader, a set of recurring exception records, and a set of effective weeks for each calendar are also defined. For a specific date, the method determines whether an exception exists in one of the base calendar and resource calendar, and if an exception exists, computes a cached effective week honoring the exception data from an associated recurring exception record. If an exception does not exist, a cached effective week for the resource is computed from a combination of the calendar's standard week and associated effective week records.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Peter De Vries