Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for optimizing markdown scheduling that group multiple retail sites into bins (or buckets) for purposes of scheduling markdown pricing on an item (or group of related items) sold by those sites. The groupings can be based, for example, on a metric that is a function of the current inventory of the item (or items) and its expected sales at each site. A markdown schedule is generated for the combined grouping of stores in each bucket, rather than for the individual stores that make up that bucket, thereby speeding price optimization determination. A report of those schedules can be used, for example, by pricing managers or other personnel to set prices at the sites. Alternatively, or in an addition, the schedules can be used in conjunction with an inventory control system to set prices for the items and/or on RFID or other electronic shelf displays.

Abstract: A report generation method and system. The system comprises a computing system comprising data. The computing system presents a first list comprising process categories for a plurality of processes. The computing system receives first selection of a process category from the first list. The computing system presents a second list comprising peer group options associated with the process categories. The computing system receives a second selection of at least one peer group option from the second list. The computing system retrieves a portion of from the data. The portion is associated with the first selection and the second selection. The computing system calculates a plurality of values for attributes associated with the first selection and the second selection. The computing system generates a report comprising the plurality of values.

Abstract: A heuristically developable Internet based taxonomy of data objects presented in multimedia format on web pages replaces inefficient and awkward text boxes traditionally used to submit queries to search engines. The taxonomy is supported by a selection-oriented knowledge base (SOKB) that provides on a server a navigatable network structure configured to selectively construct queries, wherein users communicate with a server via a web browser. The construction of a query is based upon knowledge captured by the SOKB as a result of a sequence of selection steps executed by the user in connection with the navigation of the network structure, whereby at each selection step a choice of classes of data objects is presented to the user. The web pages display a “THAT'S IT” button for the user to recognize the data object the user has in mind and an emergency “HELP” button for immediate assistance from a live agent.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of representing the availability of resources allocated to an entity includes receiving a planned resource description describing how resources were expected to be consumed by the entity, receiving a consumed resource description describing how resources are actually being consumed by the entity, and generating a graphic representation indicating a correlation between the planned resource description and the consumed resource description.

Abstract: In a system and method for conjoint analysis, corresponding utility values are determined for a plurality of individual concept elements and for combinations of multiple concept elements, e.g., pair wise combinations of concept elements. A regression technique, e.g., least squares linear regression, may be used to determine the utility values.

Abstract: A method, system, and article of manufacture for defining and managing time-based organization hierarchies are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a user interface, including a plurality of user interface displays configured to receive a user input to define and/or manage one or more instances of a time-based organization hierarchy, may be generated on a client. The user may then define, via interaction with the user interface, the at least one instance of the organization hierarchy to include a plurality of nodes, and specify an effective period for the instance of the time-based organization hierarchy by defining a start date and an end date. The user may also define a territory to correspond to each of the plurality of nodes in the organization hierarchy. In one embodiment, the territory may include at least one position and an assignment rule, the position having a corresponding quota.

Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating organization efficiency, a method for evaluation service of organization efficiency, an apparatus for generating communication frequencies, a method for generating communication frequencies, and programs and recording media of the same, quantitatively evaluate efficiency of an organization structure.

Abstract: A target setting, forecasting, and budgeting method and tools are provided in which targets are selected at a high level of management through a process of strategic planning to select targets based on a combination of value expected to be added and manageability of the candidate targets, including computer simulations of increased cash flow expected to be generated by the target strategies. The strategically planned targets are then flowed down to the various levels of management, budgets are constructed around those target strategies, and the budgets are then consolidated and flowed upward. By defining organizational targets and then aligning those targets with strategic goals from the beginning, the number and scope of iterations of budget adjustments can be reduced.

Abstract: A method of reporting consumer reaction to a stimulus and resultant report generated by (i) recording facial expressions and eye positions of a human subject while exposed to a stimulus throughout a time period, (ii) coding recorded facial expressions to emotions, and (iii) reporting recorded eye positions and coded emotions, along with an identification of the stimulus.

Abstract: A production unit for which a schedule of tasks is to be accomplished is prepared and stored in a central management device. The unit includes individual electronic devices, control stations, and a network linking the individual electronic devices and the control stations to the central management device. Each individual electronic device includes a device to input the tasks accomplished and problems encountered and further includes a transmission device for information input. The central management device compares data received with the schedule of tasks, generates a warning signal when the comparison detects a gap or discrepancy between the data received and the schedule of tasks, and transmits the warning signal to the individual electronic devices and control stations. The individual electronic devices and the control stations include a device to display the warning signal.

Abstract: A timeline is generated from and fully integrated with a project schedule. The project schedule may be any graphical representation for displaying detailed information associated with a project. The timeline visually represents certain tasks, dates and other information associated with the project schedule such that an overview of the project schedule may be determined.

Abstract: A user interface includes a plurality of selectable graphical elements, each of the graphical elements representing a respective attribute level of a product attribute, a first area for presenting at least one of the plurality of selectable graphical elements that has been designated by a respondent as representing an unacceptable attribute level, a second area for presenting one of the plurality of selectable graphical elements that has been designated by the respondent as representing a least-preferred attribute level, and a third area for presenting one of the plurality of selectable graphical elements that has been designated by the respondent as representing a most-preferred attribute level.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and a computer system implementing the method of a business process transformation wizard leads a business analyst through a series of steps to invoke business transformation patterns, in order to analyze the results of those processes. The wizard first prompts the business analyst to specify business objectives of process transformation. Required parameters are added to the business process model guided by the business process transformation wizard until the business process model is completed. Once the model is completed, the wizard prompts the business analyst to select transformation techniques or patterns for optimizing process parameters and, for each selected transformation pattern, optimizes process parameters using a selected optimization technique.

Abstract: Business Processes handle business transactions. The life cycle of a transaction is controlled by state of the process and events. Events represent information exchange between systems. The states determine when the exchange should take place. Key issues are to identify whether a transaction is anomalous and if so, determining the trace to the root cause To detect anomalies, current approaches evaluate transaction data statistically. To validate whether the transaction is indeed anomalous requires significant storage, processing power and human resources. The new approach audits events as they happen against the business process definition. Events that do not follow the right sequences and conditions of the process definition are identified to be anomalous. The generated audit trail traces the root cause of the transaction anomaly. Businesses can now protect or re-engineer their strategic business processes using audit trail traces.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for determining an effective strategy for growth and development of an enterprise that balances corporate goals and objectives with the technological challenges of providing solutions across the enterprise. A business capability roadmap (BCR) may be developed to express how capabilities derived from corporate strategy may be enabled in terms of people, process, and/or technology solutions as a time sequenced chain of activities. As the BCR solutions are developed, synergies and constraints with existing solutions, solutions under development, and solutions that are planned to be developed across the enterprise may be considered. Developing a BCR in terms of business capabilities provides abstraction of concrete assets that enables high level planning in terms that may be understood by both corporate and technology leadership within the enterprise.

Abstract: A collaborate workspace offers a set of integrated components. Within a project, users may view avatars representing other team members, view the current schedule, add or change meetings, update documents, complete deliverables, and interact with team members around the world. Other projects are shown in the background, enabling users to easily and quickly switch between projects and be informed about actions occurring in the background tasks.

Abstract: In a rules based management system for controlling multiple levels of related catalogs, a method for immediate escalation of, and response to, a request from a customer to change a rule associated with the customer. The rules associated with the customer are used to derive the customer's catalog and each rule is associated with the person imposing the rule, called the owner of the rule. The method prevents, or at least minimizes, customer frustration with administrators of the catalogs by providing automated escalation of the customer's rule change request to the owner of the rule. The owner of the rule may physically reside in the same geographic location as the customer or in an entirely different country than the customer. Starting with the catalog used by the customer, catalogs are search in order of ancestry until the owner of the rule is found.

Abstract: A flexible workflow is described that includes a pocket of flexibility. The pocket of flexibility may include workflow fragments that may be joined together, subject to pre-defined constraints. In implementing the flexible workflow, a user may encounter the pocket of flexibility, and select from the fragments to construct a workflow that is consistent with the user's current needs. The fragments may be incrementally presented to the user on a user interface, such that only those fragments determined to be combinable in a valid way may be selected by the user. In this way, a user who may have little experience with workflow languages or terminology may be able to use the flexible workflow, and be confident that the result is valid. Thus, difficulties in dealing with change in workflow systems may be mitigated, and this mitigation may be achieved without compromising the simplicity and generic nature of a workflow language.

Abstract: A method and system for obtaining and storing accurate skills data relative to human resource objects of an enterprise. Relevant data is extracted from runtime processes that monitor the activities of the human resource objects and a metric value indicative of a skill level attained for each of a list of skills is calculated for each human resource object.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for configuring a business process includes configuring a solution map and deriving a pre-configured set of collaborative business scenarios based on the solution map. The pre-configured set of collaborative business scenarios is then configured and a pre-configured set of event driven process chains is derived based on the configured set of collaborative business scenarios. Finally, the pre-configured set of event driven process chains is configured.