If the Stage and Gate Tracking system is used in an R&D War Room as discussed in Chapter 12, then using a similar visual display for IP processes is appropriate.  Such a visual display used in an R&D War Room is shown in the “Invention Status Map” figure. Project ideas and research disclosures that are in the idea phase (not yet funded as a project) are placed on this matrix both vertically and horizontally. The vertical axis denotes the time that the idea has remained in this ideation state. This allows a person auditing the process to see at a glance where the delays are occurring. There are five intellectual property stages associated with capturing ideas. They range from documentation and brainstorming on the basic concept in stage 1, through to preparing a patent draft on the idea in stage 5.