US006237915B1
(12) United States Patent
(10) Patent N0.:
Ledet et al.
(54)
(75)
(45) Date of Patent:
BOARD GAME FOR TEACHING PROJECT
5,456,473
10/1995 Whitney .
MANAGEMENT SKILLS
5,673,915 5,826,878
10/1997 Shalders . 10/1998 Kiyosaki et a1. .
Inventors: Michelle R. Ledet; Winston J. Ledet; Spiro M. Maroulis; Winston P. Ledet, an of Humb1e> TX (Us)
(73) Assignee: Practice Fields L.L.C., Humble, TX (US) *
US 6,237,915 B1
Notice:
May 29, 2001
5,876,035 3/1999 Medina, Jr- 5’887’871 3/1999 Zappolo ' * cited by examiner
Primary Examiner—Benjamin H. Layno Assistant Examiner—Vishu K. Mendiratta (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Rosenthal & Osha L.L.P.
Sub'ect to an y disclaimer, the term of this J
patent is extended or adjusted under 35
(57)
ABSTRACT
U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
A game for teaching project management skills is disclosed. The game includes a play space having an area to track
(21) Appl. NO-I 09/345,436 .
progress of tasks from a predetermined group of tasks Which
_
upon completion constitutes a game project. The project
(22)
Flled'
(51)
Int. Cl.7 ...................................................... .. A63F 3/00
(52)
us. Cl. ........................ .. 273/236; 273/287; 273/256;
Workers assigned to the project tasks by the players, tracking
273/278
project tasks, and project funds. The assigned Workers incur
Field Of Search ................................... .. 273/256, 235, 273/278 287 FOR 236 213
Corresponding amounts of Project funds @Xpendimre during each project period. The game includes ?rst information
(58)
Jun' 30’ 1999
tasks When completed constitute completion of a game
’
(56)
’
’
project. The game includes indicators for Work effort for
indicators for each project task, each stating a minimum task
References Cited
completion time, a total Work effort, project funds costs, and
U-S~ PATENT DOCUMENTS
an inherent delay time for each task. The game includes second information indicators for identi?cation and mitiga
3’737’167
6/1973 Kelley _
tion of a risk associated With selected ones of the tasks, each
377657682
10/1973 Braude_
second indicator stating consequences comprising one of
3,850,433
11/1974 Purlia _
additional Work effort to complete the task, delay in com
4,095,799
6/1978 Stringer.
pleting the task, additional task errors and expenditure of
4,150,827 4,289,313 *
4/1979 Barnett . 9/1981 Delamontagne -
additional project funds on the task. The consequences are incurred on occurrence of a probabilistic event. The prob
4,354,684
10/1982 McKinley.
4,363,628
12/1982 Kirkpatrick et al..
ability of the event occurring, and the magnitude of the consequences is related to Whether the players have miti gated the risk. Occurrence of the ?rst and second probabi
4,386,778 * 6/1983 Hall. 4,484,748 * 11/1984 BecZe.
4’856’788
8/1989 Fischel _
5,071,135
12/1991 Campbell .
5,207,792
5/1993 Anderson .
listic events is determined by a random event generator.
32 Claims, 34 Drawing Sheets
(wimMpTGZiUQ Tel/Ems
U.S. Patent
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Sheet 1 0f 34
US 6,237,915 B1
FIG. 1-B
FIG. 1-F
FIG. 1-J
FIG. 1-N
FIG. 1-R
FIG. 1-G
FIG. 1-G
FIG. 1-K
FIG. 1-0
FIG. 1-8
FIG. 1-D
FIG. 1-H
FIG. 1-I.
FIG. 1-P
FIG. 1-T
FIG. 1-E
FIG. 1-!
FIG. I-M
FIG. 1-0
FIG. 1-U
FIG. 1-A
U.S. Patent
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Sheet 2 0f 34
Egbimsa?uo
FIG. 1-B
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Sheet 3 0f 34
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Sheet 4 0f 34
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mizk I._____________ I
4
FIG. 1-D
5
IAHwTa
U.S. Patent
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Sheet 5 0f 34
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COMPLETED ACTIVITIES
WEEKLY REPORT
PROJECTMANAGER INPUT CARDS WEEKLY REPORT
106
FIG. 1-E
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Sheet 6 0f 34
a? a?! FIG. 1-F
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Sheet 7 0f 34
,GQ FIG. 1-6
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10
11
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12
13
14
15
Sheet 8 0f 34
16
17
18
FIG. 1-H
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20
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Sheet 9 0f 34
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1343 10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
_______________________________________ _...|:>_.______.__.____.____
—/
FIG. 1-!
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Sheet 10 0f 34
The Project Value Game
112A
25$9 m95
AV
FIG. 1-J
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Sheet 11 0f 34
PIACRTOGVNEIS QNIUNVISH lO/IGOHd ‘IV/l
SINEIUHOEIHQ' UEIEI'IdWOO
I7 0d
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Sheet 12 0f 34
COMMUNICATIONS OVERHEAD
PROJECTALIGNMENT
FIG. 1-L
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BURNED BUDGET
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Sheet 13 0f 34
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7
[134
/
[POTENTIAL STAKEHOLDER INPUTI
PROJECT BUDGET
REPORTED PROGRESS
PROJECT MANAGER TIME
FIG. 1-M
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Sheet 14 0f 34
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Home
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SKTWERILAMGYHET FIG. 1-N
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Sheet 15 0f 34
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FIG. 1-0
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Sheet 16 0134
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\~120
142
__._______:>____.___._____________
166-\\
| CURRENT STAKEHOLDER UNDERSTANDINQ
1 FIG. 1-P
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Sheet 17 0134
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=11
REPORTED PROGRESS \ 172
/_ PROJECT MANAGER TIME
FIG. 1-0
768
U.S. Patent
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152