Data Supply Chain Governance

2:

• A method of claim 1, further comprising purposes, data objects, data services, hierarchical relationships, specifications, metrics, supply resources, scales, and tasks;
• for which the steps of the method are:
• Identifying one or several purposes;
• and then, for each purpose identified, identifying one or several data objects for which the consuming of the data object is required to attain the purpose;
• and then, for each data object identified, identifying one or several data services for which the supplying of the data service is required to support the data object;
• whereupon, for each identified purpose/data object/data service combination, a DSCPI is thus identified;
• and then, for each DSCPI identified, identifying a hierarchical relationship of the corresponding data object to one or several other data objects, if warranted, wherein relevant elements of the superior data object's DSCPI(s) may be inherited by the subordinate data object's DSCPI(s);
• and then, for each DSCPI identified, identifying one or several specifications;
• and then, for each specification identified, identifying one or several metrics, which may include but are not limited to:
• metrics to measure the attainment of the purpose;
• metrics to measure the performance of the data service;
• metrics to measure the consumption of resources in the performance of the service;
• and then, for each specification identified, identifying one or several thresholds to indicate the degree to which the DSCPI is in adherence to the specification, wherein a statistic is identified, which is derived by:
• combining one or more identified metrics, which then may be combined with one or more external factors, whereupon the threshold is set along the scale of the statistic;
• whereupon, the tasks within this claim corresponding to the identified DSCPI are collectively referred to as DSCPI operational tasks, wherein said DSCPI operational tasks include, but are not limited to:
• supply of data services, consumption of data objects, attainment of purposes, collection of metrics, evaluation of thresholds;
• and then, for each DSCPI operational task, identifying the method and periodicity of the execution of the DSCPI operational task;
• and also, for each threshold identified, identifying one or several incentives to be invoked if the threshold is crossed, in order to induce the execution of the DSCPI operation task(s) in adherence to the specification;
• and then, for each DSCPI identified, commencing with the execution of the DSCPI operational tasks, and continuing execution in perpetuity, until the DSCPI is retired;
• whereupon, the identified DSCPI is thus instantiated, as the collection of all elements identified within this claim corresponding to the identified DSCPI, and the execution of corresponding DSCPI operational tasks.

3:

• A method of claim 1, further comprising operational maturity, implementation maturity, happiness indicators, weighting factors, scaling factors, issues, and tasks;
• for which the steps of the method are:
• identifying one or several DSCGDs, wherein for each DSCGD, as a collection of all DSCPIs instantiated with the domain, the authority exists to resolve issues and invoke health improvement actions within or amongst or in support of all DSCPIs within the DSCGD;
• and then, for each DSCGD identified, identifying one or several metrics, from metrics collected during the operation of DSCPIs within the DSCGD;
• and also, for each DSCGD identified, identifying one or several metrics of the operational maturity of the DSCGD, wherein, within the DSCGD, the extent to which selected purposes, data objects, and/or data services are governed by a DSCPI, is measured;
• and also, for each DSCGD identified, identifying one or several metrics of the implementation maturity of the DSCGD, wherein, the extent to which selected planned changes to an operational environment, which may impact elements within the DSCGD, will influence corresponding changes to, retirement of, or creation of, a DSCPI, is measured;
• and also, for each DSCGD identified, identifying one or several metrics measuring selected issues related to elements within the DSCGD;
• and also, for each DSCGD identified, identifying one or several metrics measuring selected happiness indicators related to elements within the DSCGD;
• and then, for each DSCGD identified, identifying one or several thresholds to indicate the degree to which a measured aspect of the DSCGD is satisfactory, wherein a score which is derived by:
• combining one or more identified metrics, which then may be combined with one or more external factors to form a statistic, which then is combined with a weighting factor and a scaling factor, by which the score may be balanced against all other scores within the DSCGD, whereupon the threshold is set along the scale of the score;
• and then, for each threshold identified, identifying one or several health improvement actions to be invoked if the threshold is crossed, wherein said health improvement actions may include, but are not limited to:
• the instantiation of one or several new DSCPIs;
• the retirement of one or several existing DSCPIs;
• the amendment of one or several elements within one or several existing DSCPIs;
• the resolution of issues with regards to one or several existing DSCPIs;
• and then, for each DSCGD identified, setting a periodic budget for health improvement actions;
• and also, for each DSCGD identified, setting scalable cost estimates for categories of health improvement actions;
• whereupon, the tasks within this claim corresponding to the DSCGD are collectively referred to as DSCGD operational tasks, wherein said DSCGD operational tasks include, but are not limited to:
• collection of metrics, evaluation of thresholds, invocation of health improvement actions, management of the budget and cost estimates, resolution of escalated issues;
• and then, for each DSCGD operational task, identifying the method and periodicity of the execution of the DSCGD operational task;
• and then, for each DSCGD identified, commencing with the execution of the DSCGD operational tasks, and continuing execution in perpetuity, until the DSCGD is retired;
• whereupon, the identified DSCGD is thus instantiated, as the collection of all elements identified within this claim corresponding to the identified DSCGD, and the execution of corresponding DSCGD operational tasks.

4:

• A computer program product, comprising a computer readable storage device having computer readable program code stored therein, said storage device not being a signal, said program code containing instructions executable by a processor, wherein:
• the product may be invoked to execute steps to record all elements, relationships, and related content in order to instantiate a DSCPI within the product;
• the product may be invoked to execute steps to record all elements, relationships, and related content in order to instantiate a DSCGD within the product;
• the product may be invoked to execute an algorithm to track the periodicity of threshold evaluations for instantiated DSCPI(s);
• wherein, for each threshold evaluation period-end reached, the algorithm calculates corresponding statistics and executes said threshold evaluation;
• wherein for each threshold crossed, the algorithm invokes corresponding incentives;
• the product may be invoked to execute an algorithm to track the periodicity of threshold evaluations for instantiated DSCGD(s);
• wherein, for each threshold evaluation period-end reached, the algorithm calculates corresponding scores and executes said threshold evaluation;
• wherein, for each threshold crossed, the algorithm identifies corresponding health improvement actions as open, and then calculates a relative value for each open health improvement action based on the relative deflection of the corresponding score from the corresponding threshold, scaled to the corresponding budget, and also calculates a relative cost of said health improvement action based on the corresponding cost estimate for its category, scaled to the supply resources consumed;
• whereupon, the algorithm calculates a ranking of all open health improvement actions for the DSCGD based on a ratio of value to cost, and presents as recommended for invocation all of the highest-ranking open health improvement actions whose net cost fit within the remaining corresponding budget;
• wherein, for each open health improvement action invoked, the algorithm will decrement the corresponding budget by the health improvement action's net cost.

5:

• A computer program product of claim 4, further comprising purposes, data objects, data services, hierarchical relationships, specifications, metrics, supply resources, scales, and tasks;
• for which:
• the product enables the recording of one or several purposes;
• for each purpose recorded, the product enables the recording of one or several data objects for which the consuming of the data object is required to attain the purpose;
• and then, for each data object recorded, the product enables the recording of one or several data services for which the supplying of the data service is required to support the data object;
• whereupon, for each recorded purpose/data object/data service combination, a DSCPI is thus recorded;
• and then, for each DSCPI recorded, the product enables the recording of a hierarchical relationship of the corresponding data object to one or several other data objects, if warranted, wherein relevant elements of the superior data object's DSCPI(s) may be inherited by the subordinate data object's DSCPI(s);
• and then, for each DSCPI recorded, the product enables the recording of one or several specifications;
• and then, for each specification recorded, the product enables the recording of one or several metrics, which may include but are not limited to:
• metrics to measure the attainment of the purpose;
• metrics to measure the performance of the data service;
• metrics to measure the consumption of resources in the performance of the service;
• and then, for each specification recorded, the product enables the recording of one or several thresholds to indicate the degree to which the DSCPI is in adherence to the specification, wherein a statistic is calculated, which is derived by:
• combining one or more recorded metrics, which then may be combined with one or more external factors, whereupon the threshold is set along the scale of the statistic;
• whereupon, the tasks within this claim corresponding to the recorded DSCPI are collectively referred to as DSCPI operational tasks, wherein said DSCPI operational tasks include, but are not limited to:
• supply of data services, consumption of data objects, attainment of purposes, collection of metrics, evaluation of thresholds;
• and then, for each DSCPI operational task, the product enables the recording of the method and periodicity of the execution of the DSCPI operational task;
• and also, for each threshold recorded, the product enables the recording of one or several incentives to be invoked if the threshold is crossed, in order to induce the execution of the DSCPI operation task(s) in adherence to the specification;
• and then, the product enables the recording of the execution of DSCPI operational tasks and corresponding related content of the DSCPI;
• whereupon, the recorded DSCPI is thus instantiated within the product, as the collection of all elements identified within this claim corresponding to the recorded DSCPI;
• and then, the product enables the amendment or retirement of a DSCPI as represented within the product.

6:

• A computer program product of claim 4, further comprising operational maturity, implementation maturity, happiness indicators, weighting factors, scaling factors, issues, tasks;
• for which:
• the product enables the recording of one or several DSCGDs;
• and then, for each DSCGD recorded, the product enables the recording of one or several DSCPIs within the DSCGD;
• and then, for each DSCGD recorded, the product enables the recording of one or several metrics, from metrics collected during the operation of DSCPIs within the DSCGD;
• and also, for each DSCGD recorded, the product enables the recording of one or several metrics of the operational maturity of the DSCGD, wherein, within the DSCGD, the extent to which selected purposes, data objects, and/or data services are governed by a DSCPI, is measured;
• and also, for each DSCGD recorded, the product enables the recording of one or several metrics of the implementation maturity of the DSCGD, wherein, the extent to which selected planned changes to an operational environment, which may impact elements within the DSCGD, will influence corresponding changes to, retirement of, or creation of, a DSCPI, is measured;
• and also, for each DSCGD recorded, the product enables the recording of one or several metrics measuring selected issues related to elements within the DSCGD;
• and also, for each DSCGD recorded, the product enables the recording of one or several metrics measuring selected happiness indicators related to elements within the DSCGD;
• and then, for each DSCGD recorded, the product enables the recording of one or several thresholds to indicate the degree to which a measured aspect of the DSCGD is satisfactory, wherein a score which is derived by:
• combining one or more recorded metrics, which then may be combined with one or more external factors to form a statistic, which then is combined with a weighting factor and a scaling factor, by which the score may be balanced against all other scores within the DSCGD, whereupon the threshold is set along the scale of the score;
• and then, for each threshold recorded, the product enables the recording of one or several health improvement actions to be invoked if the threshold is crossed, wherein said health improvement actions may include, but are not limited to:
• the instantiation of one or several new DSCPIs;
• the retirement of one or several existing DSCPIs;
• the amendment of one or several elements within one or several existing DSCPIs;
• the resolution of issues with regards to one or several existing DSCPIs;
• and then, for each DSCGD recorded, the product enables the recording of a periodic budget for health improvement actions;
• and also, for each DSCGD recorded, the product enables the recording of scalable cost estimates for categories of health improvement actions;
• whereupon, the tasks within this claim corresponding to the DSCGD are collectively referred to as DSCGD operational tasks, wherein said DSCGD operational tasks include, but are not limited to:
• collection of metrics, evaluation of thresholds, invocation of health improvement actions, management of the budget and cost estimates, resolution of escalated issues;
• and then, for each DSCGD operational task, the product enables the recording of the method and periodicity of the execution of the DSCGD operational task;
• whereupon, the recorded DSCGD is thus instantiated within the product, as the collection of all elements identified within this claim corresponding to the recorded DSCGD;
• and then, the product enables the amendment or retirement of a recorded DSCGD.

7:

• A computer program product of claim 4, further comprising:
• an end user interface, which presents selectable alerts, when an executing algorithm detects that a threshold has been crossed;
• an end user interface, which the user may select to present an end user navigable map of selectable elements of a DSCGD, wherein the map presents the selected elements, selectable attributes of the elements, and selectable relationships between the elements, wherein the navigation may begin at any element, and may proceed through any or all elements of the DSCGD, using drill-up, drill-down, drill-across, and/or hierarchical explosion techniques (including inside any DSCPI within the DSCGD), wherein the map may present the elements and relationships graphically, or tabularly, and also the map may present current, historical, or trend data of metrics, statistics, and/or scores associated with the presented map elements, wherein the elements may be presented in the form of reports, dashboards, graphical map icons, and/or other presentation modes;
• and also the map may indicate where there are gaps in the DSCGD in relation to a reference standard DSCGD, and also the map may indicate where there are proposed changes to the DSCGD, as reflected through the implementation maturity metrics within the DSCGD, and also the map may present open recommended health improvement actions, including their relative rankings, values, and costs, in relation to selected elements presented on the map;
• an application programming interface (API) of this product (herein referred to as the claimed product), which may be embedded within any other program product (herein referred to as an external product), wherein when embedded in an external product, the API may be associated with any data object used within the external product, and when activated by the external product, the API opens a portal into the claimed product, wherein the portal may then perform any of several functions available within the claimed product, depending on attributes selected through the API, including but not limited to:
• the portal may lookup whether the data object is governed within a DSCGD;
• the portal may activate and present the map of the DSCGD, using the selected data object as the beginning navigational element;
• the portal may present the DSCPI element interfaces, to allow a user to create or amend DSCPI elements related to this data object;
• the portal may present the DSCGD element interfaces, to allow a user to create or amend DSCGD elements related to this data object.