A project management system designed to leverage a gig-workforce to deliver real-time infrastructure services requires key work-order elements in a flexible workflow construct. The system must also support programmable constraints that will limit select actions, materials, and assignments for a given work-order or project. These constraints may be associated with a project and/or work-order type, or be unique for a given client, site, contractual component, or regulation. The project management system must simplify the creation of a “project definition document”, “work-order request” and subsequent “workflow descriptions” for each client request. The following is a high-level hierarchy of elements to support client request for delivery of real-time infrastructure services (the range provided in [ ] represent how many entries can be supported per client request):
- Client – Type, ID, Profile [1]
- Project/Contract – Type, ID [1]
- Sub-Client(s) – Type, ID, Profile [0->N]
- Project Manager(s) Assigned [1->N]
- Project Dates (start, stop, milestones, scheduled deliverables, etc.) [1->N]
- Work Order(s) – Type, ID, Action Item List, Constraints List [1->N]
- Visit(s) – Type, ID, Sites, Assets, Workflow Actions, Assigned Representatives, Equipment,
- Transportation, Inventory, etc. [1->N]• QC of Work Order Results/Actions completed by representative(s) [1->N]
- Report(s) and Guide(s) from activities completed [1->N]
- Material/Data collected from activities [1->N]
- QC Review and Approval (manual and/or automated) [1->N]
- Report(s)/Guide(s)/Document(s) Created [1->N]
- Client Review and Approval [1->N]
- Client Billing for Services [1->N]
- Representative(s) Invoicing for Services [1->N]
- Inventory Management (standalone system or integrated subsystem) [1->N]
- Work Order Linking [1->N]
- Dashboard Update – tracking project progress and links to associated activities, assets, sites, and clients
- Standardized Output and APIs to support access to data, reports and guides by licensed/approved clients, partners, and contractors
All work-order elements can be assigned variable values, ranges, and/or attributes that limit what is assigned, used, or incurred during work-order processing and execution. These element constraints can be applied based on project type, work-order type, visit type, client, and/or location of activities. Reports and notifications can be triggered when any element constraint or assigned attribute is violated. Violation of assigned element constraints may require approval by select personnel before work-order processing can continue.
List of programmable constraints and/or notification triggers for work-order elements:
- Costs
- Representative contracted pay, expenses, or travel
- Equipment expense (repair, rental, transportation, etc.)
- Parts, Component, Asset replacement and/or installation cost
- Representative Type and/or Number of Representatives Assigned
- Representative Types include: Field Service Representative, Employee, Sub-Contractor, Independent Contractor, Partner Organization, Consultant, etc.
- Assets
- Asset type(s) targeted for evaluation, installation, and/or repair
- Equipment used in execution of work-order action items
- Amount of time asset is assigned to a work-order and/or site
- Time
- Time to assign, start, complete a work-order
- Time to QC, generate reports/guides, billing, invoicing for a work-order
- Visits
- Number of visits or work-orders for a given site/location
- Number of total visits for a single work-order
- Number of wasted trips incurred for a site/location and/or work-order
- Location of Site/Asset
- Address, area, region, county, country, etc. of work-order request
The work-order elements and associated constraints supported by the project management system must be well defined and implemented to support efficient and effective delivery of infrastructure services. We recognize the difficulty in identifying all possible work-order elements and constraints prior to deployment of any project management system. The system must be able to add elements and constraints over time to adapt to new business opportunities and changes in operations, regulations, laws, and/or available skills. A modular design approach will be key to creating an adaptable and sustainable project management system.