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Project board game processProject board game process description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080084027, Project board game process. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001]This invention generally relates to process improvement, and more particularly to a method of modeling a process as a game. [0002]The use of process charts to model processes is known. For example, engineering processes are typically mapped out in process charts to illustrate and document the numerous resources, equipment, and other requirements needed to complete a particular project. The process chart includes a plurality of process stations linked together by a plurality of flow path arrows to illustrate the flow of a process from a start station to a finish station. Each process station corresponds to an instruction or step involved in completion of the process modeled by the process chart. [0003]Engineering processes often include inherent cyclic problems which decrease the efficiency and reliability of a process. Therefore, large amounts of resources are often expended to improve existing engineering processes and the process charts that model these engineering processes. For example, many corporations utilize standard work exercises to improve engineering processes and process charts. Standard work exercises represent the standards and procedures a company uses to simplify and structure its processes to ensure maximum quality, productivity and repeatability over time. Disadvantageously, documenting the standard work may be a daunting and time consuming project due to the massive amounts of information required to be displayed in the form of a process chart. In addition, it may be difficult to identify certain information for documenting the standard work. [0004]Educational games which test the knowledge of employees and provide a continuing education mechanism for professionals in various fields are known. However, these educational games are often repetitive such that they provide little value after the first play. In addition, no known educational game for creating and improving standard work exercises is known. [0005]Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an educational board game for the creation and improvement of process charts that is challenging and flexible and that provides an improved manner of analyzing and documenting standard work. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006]An example method for modeling a process as a game includes establishing a set of game rules, establishing a game board and analyzing a process by playing the game board in accordance with the established game rules. In one example, a known process chart is designated as the game board. [0007]In another example, the game board is established by alternating turns between each of a plurality of players. Each alternate turn consists of adding a playing station to the game board, removing a playing station from the game board or creating an action card associated with each of the playing stations of the game board. [0008]Each of the plurality of players alternate turns to navigate the playing stations of the game board. The plurality of players navigate between a start station and a finish station of the game board. An accounting is requested once a player reaches the finish station to establish a winning player of the game. [0009]The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010]FIG. 1 illustrates an example process chart for modeling a process; [0011]FIG. 2 illustrates an example game board for modeling a process according to the present invention to illustrate fundamental stations; [0012]FIG. 3 is an example game piece for use with the game board of the present invention; [0013]FIG. 4 is a simulated currency for playing the game board of the present invention; [0014]FIG. 5 illustrates a set of action cards associated with the game board of the present invention; and [0015]FIG. 6 illustrates an example method for modeling a process by playing a game according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0016]Referring to FIG. 1, a process chart 10 for schematically representing a process is illustrated. Process charts, such as the process chart 10, may be used to model the steps involved in the completion of virtually any activity or situation. Although the present invention is shown and described herein in terms of an engineering process, it should be understood that any other process whose steps can be mapped in chart form may be utilized in accordance with the present invention. [0017]The process chart 10 includes a plurality of process stations 12 which are linked together by a plurality of flow path arrows 14 to define a given process. Each of the plurality of process stations 12 generally include a set of instructions 13 which inform of the manner the process chart 10 is navigated to achieve a desired result. The flow path arrows 14 provide further support for navigating through each process station 12. That is, the flow path arrows 14 link each process station 12 and schematically demonstrate the order that each instruction 13 represented by the process stations 12 is to be followed. [0018]A process, such as the process modeled by process chart 10 in FIG. 1, may be created and/or modified as a game, as is further discussed below. "Game" is used throughout the present disclosure in the sense of game theory. Game theory is the study of decision making in situations where strategic interaction occurs between rivals. A person of ordinary skill in the art would be able to apply various game theory definitions to either create a new process or modify an existing process as a game according to the teachings of the present invention. [0019]Referring to FIG. 2, an example game board 16 for modeling a process, such as an engineering process, is illustrated. The game board 16 includes a plurality of playing stations 18. The example game board 16 is illustrated as one of trivial complexity. That is, the example game board 16 shown in FIG. 2 includes the minimal number of playing stations 18 required to play a game according to the present invention. The game board 16 must include at least one start station 20, at least one process station 22, at least one review station 24, at least one conditional station 26, at least one feedback loop 28, at least one junction point 30, and at least one finish station 32 to be utilized to improve or create a process according to the present invention. It should be understood that the stations 20-32 are the minimal required elements for the game board 16. A worker of ordinary skill in the art would understand that a game board 16 for modeling a complex process may include an infinite number of playing stations 18. [0020]The start station 20 represents the beginning of the process being modeled and therefore the beginning of the game board 16. Each process station 22 represents a position of the game board 16 where an activity is accomplished. For example, a product design activity may be accomplished at the process station 22. The process station 22 may be positioned at any location on the game board. That is, there is no preferred location for positioning each process station 22. Each process station 22 includes a single input flow path arrow 34 and a single output flow path arrow 36. That is, the arrival at a process station 22 and the completion of an activity associated with that process station 22 may be accomplished only by a single criterion. Continue reading about Project board game process... Full patent description for Project board game process Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Project board game process patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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