Abstract: A load support for a vehicle load bar can include a base, a first arm coupled to the base and rotatable about a pivot axis, and a second arm coupled to the base and rotatable about the pivot axis. The first arm and the second arm can be configured to selectively move relative to each other. A locking device coupled with the first arm can be configured to selectively fix a position of the first arm and the second arm relative to each other in a locked configuration. The locking device can be configured to engage a notch in the second arm to prevent movement of the first arm and the second arm relative to each other and configured to disengage from the notch to allow movement of the first arm and the second arm relative to each other and separately about the pivot axis.

Abstract: A support pad for a vehicle roof load support system is disclosed where the support pad includes a base layer, a contact layer for contacting a load disposed on the support pad, and ribs extending between the base layer and the contact layer such that the contact layer is spaced from the base layer. The support pad is configured to flex in multiple directions to support the load disposed on the support pad.

Abstract: A support pad for a vehicle roof load support system is disclosed where the support pad includes a base layer, a contact layer for contacting a load disposed on the support pad, and ribs extending between the base layer and the contact layer such that the contact layer is spaced from the base layer. The support pad is configured to flex in multiple directions to support the load disposed on the support pad.

Abstract: A load support for a vehicle load bar can include a base, a first arm coupled to the base and rotatable about a pivot axis, and a second arm coupled to the base and rotatable about the pivot axis. The first arm and the second arm can be configured to selectively move relative to each other. A locking device coupled with the first arm can be configured to selectively fix a position of the first arm and the second arm relative to each other in a locked configuration. The locking device can be configured to engage a notch in the second arm to prevent movement of the first arm and the second arm relative to each other and configured to disengage from the notch to allow movement of the first arm and the second arm relative to each other and separately about the pivot axis.

Abstract: A method (and system) for contact center management contract evaluation including determining a potential profitability/risk for contact center management based upon a proposed contract term between one of a client and a service provider, and a service provider and a vendor.

Abstract: A system (and method) for allocating a contact to a vendor includes determining a real-time allocation of contact based upon one of a client-to-service provider payment structure, a service provider-to-vendor payment structure, and a real-time client contact handling demand.

Abstract: A method (and system) for contact center management contract evaluation including determining a potential profitability/risk for contact center management based upon a proposed contract term between one of a client and a service provider, and a service provider and a vendor.

Abstract: A method (and system) for allocating contacts to a vendor including determining an allocation of contacts to a vendor based upon one of a client to service provider payment structure, a service provider to vendor payment structure, and a client contact handling demand.

Abstract: An integrated Resource Capacity Planning (RCP) process and tool program is presented. The RCP program includes identifying future labor needs and predicted labor supply. A gap analysis between the predicted future needs and supply is performed. Based on the gap analysis, resource actions are planned and taken to alleviate predicted future labor shortages. The predicted gap analysis is later compared with actual future needs/supply to evaluate the effectiveness of the parameters used in the RCP program. The RCP program is enterprise-independent, thus permitting re-use of data and parameters, and allowing the RCP program to be scalable.

Abstract: The substitution of employees in a service engagement is a computer based method designed to consider a set of attributes that describe the resource capabilities required for delivering a services engagement and identify the actual real-world human assets that can be substituted and/or matched to these attributes. The method will produce an allocation plan that provides the set of permissible substitutes for a given resource demand, given a set of allowable substitute resources for a particular resource attribute, and substitution and matching rules for the given resource demand. A set of metrics is created that identify which substitutions are best relative to the ideal match of resources to the demand.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for allocating human resources to tasks using constraint satisfaction programming, where fictitious persons are used to satisfy required constraints, to ensure that the solution process continues until a solution is found, and capability constraints and job constraints are relaxed until a solution is found. Tasks using fictitious persons are identified, and information about task capability requirements not met and capabilities of unallocated human resources are displayed so that constraints may be relaxed and fictitious persons removed. There is provision for handling multi-task jobs where if a fictitious person is assigned to any task then all tasks will be assigned a fictitious person.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for optimizing a sourcing strategy for potential services offerings of large, multinational services organizations. This optimization method considers existing capabilities, resource skills, locations of the resources, costs of the resources, desired profit margins and other strategic sourcing policies to produce an optimized service offering staffing plan.