State models for monitoring process

A system running on at least one computer for preparing a state model defining the behavior of logical objects in a process as a set of permitted states and a set of permitted transitions between the permitted states, and said system configured to:

• select a template for the state model;
• select object components for the state model;
• select or define state transitions for the state model;
• select an assessment template;
• define permitted state transitions from a “from state’ to a “to state” with a State Transition Rule name;
• associate state transitions with state transition rules, names, and conditions;
• enumerate the state transition names and state transition rule names;
• extract the state transition rules from a database;
• wherein said states, transitions, and extracted rules comprise a state machine execution engine;
• process a model through said state machine execution engine;
• and
• provide an assessment corresponding to the selected assessment template.

A system running on at least one computer for using a state model that defines behavior of logical business objects, each business object representing a corresponding business deal that can progress through multiple steps in an associated business, the state model including a set of permitted states and a set of permitted transitions between the permitted states and corresponding to the business process in such a manner that each of the permitted states represent one of multiple business process steps, said system configured to:

• select a template for the state model;
• define permitted state transitions for the state model that are each from a Permitted “from state’ of the state model and to a permitted “to state” of the state model;
• associate state transitions of the state model with state transition rules and conditions;
• use a state machine execution engine for the state model to determine current states for the business objects, the current state of a business object reflecting a current status of the corresponding business deal in progressing through the steps of the associated business process, the business deals being in multiple distinct states of progression through the steps of the business process, the state machine execution engine based on the permitted states, the Permitted transitions and the state transition rules;
• generate a sales pipeline funnel model that represents the business deals, the sales pipeline funnel model having multiple sections that each correspond to one or more of the steps of the business process such that the business deals currently progressing through those corresponding business process steps are associated with that section of the sales pipeline funnel model;
• and
• display a sales pipeline graphic for the sales pipeline funnel model that shows the current status of the business deals associated with the multiple sections of the sales pipeline funnel model.