  We develop a time-dependent mean field approach, within the time-dependent
variational principle, to describe the Superfluid-Insulator quantum phase
transition. We construct the zero temperature phase diagram both of the
Bose-Hubbard model (BHM), and of a spin-S Heisenberg model (SHM) with the XXZ
anisotropy. The phase diagram of the BHM indicates a phase transition from a
Mott insulator to a compressibile superfluid phase, and shows the expected
lobe-like structure. The SHM phase diagram displays a quantum phase transition
between a paramagnetic and a canted phases showing as well a lobe-like
structure. We show how the BHM and Quantum Phase model (QPM) can be rigorously
derived from the SHM. Based on such results, the phase boundaries of the SHM
are mapped to the BHM ones, while the phase diagram of the QPM is related to
that of the SHM. The QPM's phase diagram obtained through the application of
our approach to the SHM, describes the known onset of the macroscopic phase
coherence from the Coulomb blockade regime for increasing Josephson coupling
constant. The BHM and the QPM phase diagrams are in good agreement with Quantum
Monte Carlo results, and with the third order strong coupling perturbative
expansion.
