Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods are provided to facilitate product development by linking stages of product development with the allocation of resources and support for the product. Products are developed based on a structured framework having distinct stages in which each stage builds upon information of previous stages. At the end of each stage, a review is conducted to determine whether the product is suitable for further development. Upon each review, an integrated set of tools is used to identify and link the product with resources and support needed for the product. In addition, the tools assist in automatically identifying the resources and support needed for the product as it progresses through each stage.

Abstract: A method and information processing system manage workflow instance migration. An initial workflow process model is compared with a new workflow process model. A set of differences between the initial workflow process model and the new workflow process model are determined. At least one set of activities associated with the initial workflow process model that is migrateable to the new workflow process model is identified based on the set of differences. A migration plan associated with the initial workflow process model and the new workflow process model is generated. The migration plan includes the at least one set of activities associated with the initial workflow process model. The migration plan is then used to evaluate a set of workflow instances associated with the initial workflow process model and migrate one or more of these workflow instances to the new workflow process model based thereon.

Abstract: Generating an optimized pricing plan includes accessing a hierarchy comprising a sequence of levels, where each level includes an objective function and a set of constraints associated with the objective function. A mathematical programming model representing a pricing plan problem is determined for an item group comprising items. The following is repeated for each level of the sequence of levels: selecting a level comprising an objective function and a set of constraints associated with the objective function, determining an optimized boundary for the objective function, and adding a constraint generated from the optimized boundary to the set of constraints of a next level. An objective function of a last level of the sequence is optimized subject to the set of constraints associated with the objective function to yield an optimized result. An optimized pricing plan is generated in accordance with the optimized result.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods and computer program products for online marketing, scheduling and booking of service appointments as well as financing of promotional services. In one example, the system enables a service promoter and a service provider to execute a secured financing transaction pursuant to which a service promoter provides an agreed upon amount of monetary funds to a service provider in exchange for the right to promote to users a plurality of service offers from the service provider. The system then promotes service offers from the service provider and facilitates booking of service appointments for users with a service provider based on promoted service offers.

Abstract: Systems, methods and software applications for managing programs, projects, and various aspects thereof. A program may include a number of related aspects, such as, assets, contracts, projects, entities, and funding sources. Users may select one or more projects to be grouped as a program. The systems, methods, and software may use a program management application that is configured to provide users with tools for effectively managing programs and projects that may be fully or partially funded from one or more funding sources.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods and computer program products for online marketing, scheduling and booking of service appointments. In one example, the system for scheduling and booking of service appointments includes an inventory database containing schedules of booked and available service appointments associated with a plurality of service providers. The system further includes a calendar-based service provider interface for creating a schedule of services provided by the service provider and storing the schedule in the inventory database. The system further includes a calendar-based service user interface for displaying schedules of available service appointments and booking one or more service appointments.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a system and method for service parts planning in a network having one or more service parts. For at least a subset of the one or more service parts, a calculation is performed to determine a location within the network at which allocating the service part provides the greatest gain in system availability per item cost. In an embodiment, the calculations are based, at least in part on machine-specific information. In one embodiment, inventory position is determined based, at least in part, on a unique identifier associated with a service part.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting an elemental analysis of a job's functions and requirements, conducting a medical diagnosis of a worker to determine the physical capabilities and limitations of the worker, and comparing the elemental analysis and the medical diagnosis to determine whether the worker can function in a particular job be it the current job, another existing job or a modification of either.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improving processes in a healthcare organization by mining historical data for information that can be used to more effectively allocate resources and process components. Factors used for the analysis include time, information, motivation, skills, and authority for particular resources. Arbitrage processing is used to minimize opportunity costs and increase efficiency.

Abstract: Target setting, forecasting, and budgeting methods 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: Example methods and apparatus to determine the effects of trade promotions on subsequent sales are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes determining a plurality of decremental effect factors, each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of weeks, wherein at least some of the decremental effect factors are indicative of a downward trend in sales of a product that was under a promotion condition during a first one of the plurality of weeks. The example method also includes determining a plurality of decremental effect terms, each decremental effect term equal to the product of a corresponding coefficient multiplied by a corresponding one of the decremental effect factors, and determining a pantry loading effect term based on the plurality of decremental effect terms. Further, the example method includes determining a pantry loading incremental sub-volume based on the pantry loading effect term, and generating a report including the pantry loading incremental sub-volume.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus, systems and methods for determining from a set of delivery times for each of a plurality of services for each of a plurality of carriers a potential delivery schedule for each of the plurality of services for each of the plurality of carriers in response to a request by each of a plurality of users, according to an input by each particular user of a shipping date, a set of parcel specifications for shipping a particular parcel, a set of shipping requirements for shipping the particular parcel, a particular origin postal code and a particular destination postal code. Each user accesses the present invention over a global communications network using a client computer device, and each user client computer device has an individual electronic connection to the global communications network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring, managing and improving the quality and performance of supplied products and services across a large and potentially very diverse organization or enterprise. The invention provides a more accurate and comprehensive view of a supplier's overall quality and performance record than conventional systems and methods because it features real-time, interactive access to both quantitative and qualitative performance data throughout the entire life of the supplied product or service. The invention provides this real-time interactive access to the quality and performance data at multiple levels of detail according to user preference.

Abstract: Community ratings are determined for users of an electronic marketplace. In a typical configuration, the community rating of an individual reflect the individual's reputation in the electronic community (e.g. feedback rating) as well as the reputations of the users the individual sponsors and the reputations of each user they sponsor, and so on. Various methodologies are provided for determining a community rating, such as aggregating feedback ratings, or weighting or thresholding these feedback ratings.

Abstract: A project management system having executable program modules, including a first module to create a requirement by a requestor. A second module receives an identity of a first receiver and sends the requirement to the first receiver. A third module sends an acceptance of the requirement to the requestor, and a fourth module sends a rejection to the requestor as specified by the first receiver. A fifth module sends a notification of completion of the requirement from the first receiver to the requester. A sixth module partitions the requirement into sub requirements as specified by the first receiver. The first receiver uses the second module to send the selectable number of sub requirements to at least one second receiver. The second receivers use the third, fourth, and fifth modules to respond to the first receiver, and also use the sixth module to further partition the sub requirements.

Abstract: Techniques for providing mining life pattern are described. This disclosure describes mining a life pattern of an individual, for example, by identifying places visited during the individual's daily activities. Mining the individual life pattern includes collecting location data for the individual and predicting behaviors and preferences of the individual based at least in part on a location history. The location history of the individual is represented with a sequence of geographical regions that have been visited by the individual with corresponding arrival and departure times for each region. Once the life pattern is predicted from the location history, information is recommended to the individual based at least in part on the life pattern.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for structured implementation of business adaptability changes. In some embodiments, a pre-defined resource vocabulary is utilized to assist a decision making entity in selecting an appropriate response to a change trigger event. The pre-defined resource vocabulary provides a mechanism for a plurality of different organizations to consider resource selection for responding to change trigger events in a uniform, repeatable, and consistent manner so as to increase decision agility. In other embodiments, a pre-defined common vocabulary defines a range of business adaptability. The pre-defined common vocabulary provides a mechanism for a plurality of different organizations to consider changes in business adaptability in a uniform manner and provides a mechanism to produce consistent repeatable results for considered changes in business adaptability.

Abstract: A method and system of generating at least one of a solution and a profile of solutions for a problem, including trading off a reduction of an objective of the problem against a number of activities utilized in a solution. The method and system further include partitioning activities into known and potential new activities, and generating, via non-linear integer programming, a model comprising a profile of solutions based on the known and potential new activities.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to a method or process for structuring and operating an integrated interviewing and capture process including providing a produced recording of the interview. In one embodiment, the process includes collecting data from the subject, customizing the interview questions, managing employee availability and selecting an interviewer, conducting the interview, capturing the interview in a recorded format, editing the captured interview, producing a recording of the edited interview, soliciting and collecting feedback and revising the interview questions. In one embodiment, the process includes an integrated interviewing, capture and delivery process for operating an entire interviewing business in a highly efficient and cost effective manner.

Abstract: A solution for improved management of user events scheduled during a user absence period a determination module configured to determine a user absence period having a start date and an end date. A detection module configured to detect a new user event scheduled during the user absence period. A reporting module configured to report statistics on the new user events. A response module configured to automatically respond to the new user event scheduled during the user absence period, the new user event scheduled after the user absence period is defined. A definition module configured to define the user absence period having a start date and an end date. A search module configured to search two or more calendaring repositories for a scheduled user event having a start/end date during the user absence period, and a presentation module configured to present to the user the scheduled user event.