Abstract: A system may associate a first activity of a group of activities with a first resource, a first start time on the first resource, and a first end time on the first resource, associate a second activity of the group of activities with a second resource, a second start time on the second resource, and a second end time on the second resource, and resolve a maximum constraint of the first activity and a maximum constraint of the second activity after the association of the first activity with the first resource and the association of the second activity with the second resource.

Abstract: Customers buy a variety of equipments and gadgets from multiple vendors and interact with manufacturers through contact centers to get their questions on the bought products answered. The market opportunities and competitiveness are forcing manufacturers to be accommodative and innovative in providing post-sale support. An essential aspect of this market dynamics is customer churn and the manufactures are required to ensure that product loyalty and brand loyalty of the customers are high. While Customer Relationship Management (CRM) has been playing an all important role of monitoring and managing customer relationships, it is necessary to augment CRM with more specific enhancements. The need is to have an integrated, practical, and realizable approach that focuses on measuring customer satisfaction index based on multiple interactions of customers with manufacturers.

Abstract: A method and computer program product, for evaluating a project, the method includes: receiving task timing information and task relationship information; locating at least one hidden critical path; and estimating a robustness of the project in response to at one characteristic of the at least one hidden critical path.

Abstract: An exemplary method and system for administering a construction activity for a telecommunications company can include designing the activity, transmitting the activity to a second datastore, and communicating the one or more tasks. The first datastore may include an inventory of at least one of one or more tasks and inventory items and the second datastore may provide a communication interface for a first entity managing the activity and a second entity completing the one or more tasks to accomplish the activity at a construction site, where the one or more tasks can be communicated to the second entity. Moreover, the second entity can create a change in plan and communicate the change in plan to the second datastore, which in turn communicates the change in plan to the first datastore. Generally, once the change in plan is approved, a task is completed for the activity.

Abstract: Techniques for refining a schedule involve identifying schedule alternatives to an original schedule and generating one or more substitute schedules using one or more of the schedule alternatives. An objective function is used to perform an analysis of the original schedule and the one or more substitute schedules, and a refined schedule is selected based on the analysis.

Abstract: A schedule for a network of transportation resources is produced by generating a proposed schedule that satisfies at least one predefined constraint using constraint programming. Multiple schedule alternatives including the proposed schedule and at least one alternative to the proposed schedule are identified, and the schedule alternatives are analyzed using an objective function to identify a refined schedule.

Abstract: A method and system of managing work flow in provisioning service orders is provided, particularly telecommunications service delivery orders, where each service order may include of tasks from different worklists from different sources. The method includes merging the worklists and prioritizing tasks in accordance with work-when-ready work flow. The merged worklist provides an end-to-end view on a graphical user interface of all tasks pending to provision each service order. A change of status of a task results in automatically updating both the native and merged worklists. When a task is completed on the native system, the task is automatically deleted from both worklists. Selected search criteria and sorting fields may be used to narrow the displayed results. New tasks created by exceptions are inserted appropriately into the active worklist. The method eliminates the need for a user to log onto different systems to manually prioritize tasks.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are provided for human resource assessment. A resource planning device includes a processor, a memory, and a user interface coupled to one another. The device includes program instructions storable in the memory and executable by the processor to present, in a selectable configuration, organization specific human resource content after processing according to a selectable set of business rules. The selectable set of business rules are process neutral, brand neutral, and assessment neutral between various organizations. The device can track input to the organization specific content and analyze the input. A participant loading module is coupled to the processor and memory. The participant loading module includes a set of instructions which can be executed by the processor to load a client provided file of personnel information from a particular organization's enterprise database.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are provided for human resource assessment. A resource planning device includes a processor, a memory, and a user interface coupled to one another. The device includes program instructions storable in the memory and executable by the processor to present, in a selectable configuration, organization specific human resource content after processing according to a selectable set of business rules. The selectable set of business rules are process neutral, brand neutral, and assessment neutral between various organizations. The device can track input to the organization specific content and analyze the input.

Abstract: A server-side project manager utilizes a set of web service APIs to create, update, schedule and manage projects on a server. A user submits a project update request when the user creates a new project or modifies an existing project. The project update request is associated with an API that calls the server via a web service to update the project. Example APIs include a data retrieval call, an administrative call or a data update call. A processor compares the project update request to any existing project definition to identify update values. A set of calculations is performed using the update values and any existing project definition. The project is updated based on the calculation results and stored in a data store.

Abstract: A terpolymer of a monovinylic aromatic monomer, an acrylic monomer and maleic anhydride is formed according to a polymerization method in which the maleic anhydride is added to the reactor in a molten state, free of solvents and diluents, and the polymerization reaction is conducted in bulk in the absence of solvents and diluents. The terpolymer is useful in various applications including blending with ABS graft polymers.

Abstract: Thermally stable bisimido polymers, devoid of diamine component and well adapted for the production of laminates, are prepared by copolymerizing (a) an N,N'-bismaleimide with (b) an acrylate comonomer, e.g., a novolak epoxy (meth)acrylate, in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of (c) an imidazole compound, and, optionally, (d) a chlorinated or brominated epoxy resin, or admixture thereof with a non-chlorinated or non-brominated epoxy resin.

Abstract: An acrylic copolymer rubber which is a random copolymer of(A) a cyano group-containing acrylate or methacrylate of the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen or methyl, and R.sup.2 is --C.sub.n H.sub.2n -- or --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --0--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, wherein n is an integer of from 2 to 4,(B) at least one of ethyl acrylate and n-butyl acrylate, and(C) at least one of glycidyl methacrylate and allyl glycidyl ether, or vinyl chloroacetate,wherein the amounts of units derived from the above (A), (B) and (C) in said copolymer are from 5 to 70% by weight, from 20 to 94.5% by weight and from 0.5 to 10% by weight, respectively, and which has a Mooney viscosity ML.sub.1+4 (100.degree. C.) of at least 5.

Abstract: The invention is an improved process for polymerization of vinyl monomers under polymerization conditions with hydrazone initiators at a temperature range of from -10.degree. C. to about 98.degree. C. in the substantial absence of a peroxide to prepare an addition polymer thereof. The process is especially useful for preparation of polymers of acrylic acid, C.sub.1-4 esters of acrylic acid and acrylamide.

Abstract: Intrinsically low birefringent molding polymers having a molten stress optic coefficient that is greater than or equal to -1000 Brewsters and less than or equal to +1000 Brewsters, a glass transition temperature of at least 140.degree. C., and a water absorption (A.sub.H.sbsb.2.sub.O) according to ASTM D570-81 after 24 hours immersion in water at 23.degree. C. of less than 0.25 percent comprising in polymerized form at least one structural component providing a positive melt homopolymer stress optic coefficient and at least one other structural component providing a negative melt homopolymer stress optic coefficient.

Abstract: Water soluble polymerizable acrylic prepolymers can be formed from ethylenically unsaturated monomers that include monomers that provide a pendant group that is a blocked, saturated, ethylenic group, followed by unblocking the pendant saturated ethylenic group to leave a pendant ethylenically unsaturated group. These prepolymers can be copolymerized through these unsaturated groups, for instance after impregnation into a permeable substrate as in chemical grouting or shut off processes, to form cross linked solid polymers. The polymerizable monomers that are ethylenically unsaturated but which also include the blocked ethylenic group are also novel.

Abstract: Novel polyacrylic acid resins are prepared by polymerizing H.sub.2 C.dbd.CHCO.sub.2 H, H.sub.2 C.dbd.CRCO.sub.2 X, or HRC.dbd.CHCO.sub.2 X, wherein R is an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon, halogenated hydrocarbon, or sulfonated hydrocarbon of from C.sub.1 to C.sub.20, phenol, naphthol, sulfonated phenol, sulfonated naphthol, or a halogen, and X is hydrogen, alkyl, or a hydroxylated, ethoxylated, sulfonated, or halogenated aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon of from C.sub.1 to C.sub.20, sodium, potassium, ammonium, or quaternary amine, in the presence of aromatic sulfonic acid or its salt to form a polymer in which the sulfonated aromatic compound is covalently bound to the polymer. In an alternative embodiment, a textile processing or cleansing compound is included in the polymerization reaction along with the acrylic acid and aromatic sulfonic acid or its salt.

Abstract: An optical material, comprising a resin composed of a polymer constituted of 10 of 95 mol %, based on the polymer, of a first structural unit represented by the formula (I) and 90 to 5 mol %, based on the polymer, of a second structural unit represented by the formula (II), and having a weight-average molecular weight of from 1.times.10.sup.3 to 5.times.10.sup.6 in polystyrene equivalent: ##STR1## The optical material has a Tg value not less than 120.degree. C., a light transmittance value not less than 85%, and a pencil hardness not lower than H.

Abstract: Crosslinkable, functional polymers of vinylpyrrolidone and aminoalkyl acrylamides are provided herein. Such polymers are readily crosslinked with a crosslinking agent, e.g. a multi-aldehyde, such as a di-, tri- or tetra- aldehyde, preferably, glutaric dialdehyde, to form an aqueous gel of predetermined viscosity suitable for making hydrogels, adhesives and coatings.

Abstract: A liquid composition comprising:(A) a monomeric, or essentially monomeric, diallyl-carbonate of a possibly halogenated diol containing aromatic groups; or a diallyl-ester of a halogenated aromatic bicarboxy acid;(B) a reactive monomer selected from diallyl orthophthalate, diallyl isophthalate, diallyl terephthalate, triallyl cyanurate and triallyl isocyanurate;(C) an oligomeric, or essentially oligomeric, diallyl-carbonate of diethylene glycolis polymerized under the action of a free-radical initiator, in order to yield optical articles having a high refractive index, low light dispersion, and with enhanced mechanical and color characteristics.