Method and system for identifying bottlenecks in a securities processing system

A computer assisted diagnostic system for assessing the readiness of a system for adopting a straight through processing trading environment, the system comprising:

• an initial form having an activatable command button wherein online user documentation is displayed upon activation, an activatable command button wherein a listing accessing background information documents are presented upon activation, an activatable command button wherein execution of a straight through processing data tool program is initiated upon activation, and an activatable command button wherein the initial form is exited upon activation;
• online user documentation accessible through the initial programmable form;
• one or more background information documents accessible through the initial programmable form;
• a straight through processing data tool program comprising plurality of self-contained windows, wherein each self-contained window is associated with one of a plurality of straight through processing readiness assessment steps, wherein a straight through processing step may include one or more substeps, and the plurality of straight through processing readiness assessment steps includes:
• identifying one or more assessment issues, the one or more assessment issues relating to automated processing of securities management functions in the system for processing securities transactions;
• storing, on a computer readable medium, the identified one or more assessment issues in an issue and resolution log;
• capturing process and technology performance information relating to a current state of the system for processing securities transactions for the system;
• storing, on a computer readable medium, the process and technology performance information;
• analyzing the process and technology performance information with respect to the one or more assessment issues based on a future state of the system for processing securities transactions;
• capturing information regarding the ability of at least one system external to the system to apply automated straight through processing to securities transactions, wherein the at least one system external to the system includes one or more of an industry-wide system, a business partner system, or a vendor system;
• storing, on a computer readable medium, the information regarding the abilities of at least one system external to the system to apply straight through processing to securities transactions;
• formulating at least one recommendation for improving process and technology performance for the system for processing securities transactions;
• prioritizing the at least one recommendation based on the analysis of the technology and performance information;
• and
• developing an implementation plan, wherein the implementation plan includes at least one task associated with the at least one recommendation.