Abstract: An apparatus for building an information model for supply chain risk decision making includes a risk selection module, a priority module, a risk assessment module, and a scheduling module. The risk selection module selects, based upon a profiling questionnaire, one or more risk categories for an assessment subject. The priority module sets, based upon the profiling questionnaire, a level of importance of and a risk tolerance for the assessment subject in a supply chain. The risk assessment module receives, for each risk category of the one or more risk categories for the assessment subject, a likelihood and an impact of the risk category. The scheduling module sets a risk assessment schedule of the assessment subject based upon the level of importance of the assessment subject.

Abstract: A grid connected keyboard which includes a keyboard base; and a removable keyboard positioned with respect to the keyboard base. The removable keyboard include a keyboard grid having a plurality of spaces; a plurality of keyboard keys positioned within the spaces of the keyboard grid; and fastening means between the keyboard grid and each of the plurality of keyboard keys for maintaining the keyboard keys within the spaces of the keyboard grid. The fastening means allows movement of the keyboard keys in a direction perpendicular to a plane that contains the keyboard grid. The removable keyboard, including the plurality of keyboard keys, are removable from the keyboard base as a unit.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and program product which facilitate contract formation by making explicit the labor content of a bid presented by a second party (potential supplier) to a first party (buying the services or goods). Software executing on an information handling system and controllably accessible to both parties which provides a common set of the job roles, job skills and costs associated with a bid to be presented. Such clarification by use of a common taxonomic table enables the buying party to better understand the cost build up for the labor component and to rank the cost build up among several bidders.

Abstract: A dynamic review and approval process includes determining a minimum approval limit and constructing an approver list for procurement of one of goods and services. The approver list comprises a plurality of approvers, each approver having an approval limit that at least meets the minimum approval limit. The process includes removing one or more approvers who are unavailable and utilizing delegates for unavailable approvers. Processing approvals comprises notifying a first approver of the need for review and approval, receiving an approval or unapproval from the first approver, and repeating the steps of notifying and receiving for the remaining approvers on the approver list. An approval or unapproval from an approver not on the approver list is received and it is determined if the approval process is complete. It indicated to a user if the approval process is complete, otherwise the steps of notifying and receiving are repeated.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide approaches for user access control to a secured application. Specifically, a custom authentication tool is configured to intercept a request from a user for access to a secured application and override one or more default requirements (e.g., application pre-registration, for accessing the application). That is, when credentials of the user are received at the authentication tool, they are verified against data within a user directory to generate a user profile, which is then provided to the secured application to satisfy the requirements for granting access to the user. As such, the secured application's requirements are met, yet users do not have to manually pre-register to obtain access because the registration is performed in the background by the authentication tool.

Abstract: Approaches for data integration between multiple IT sources using automated data processing based on target metadata are provided. Specifically, an integration component is configured to load a mapped data set into a table with delta processing based on a configuration object containing, e.g., the source data location, target table name, and source to target mapping. The integration component uses the target metadata to validate data, identify changes, generate the necessary database programming language (e.g., structured query language (SQL)), and run the database programming language with data binding to perform the actual data updates. The integration component leverages the data target metadata to automate the processing of source data, thus providing a way to validate the data, and identify delta changes at the field level between the source and target. This significantly reduces the overall development effort, while providing consistency in record handling and error reporting.

Abstract: A mapping method and system. The method includes receiving from a computing system, a selection of a first candidate skill from a list of candidate skills. The computing system receives a selection of a first work location of associated with a first skill. The computing system determines a first geographical location identifier identifying a first area comprising the first work location. The computing system determines a first work region comprising the first area and the first work location. The computing system selects a first group of suppliers associated the first work region. The computing system generates a candidate request document comprising the first candidate skill, the first work region, and the first work location. The computing system transmits to the first group of suppliers the candidate request document.

Abstract: A mapping method and system. The method includes receiving from a computing system, a selection of a first candidate skill from a list of candidate skills. The computing system receives a selection of a first work location of associated with a first skill. The computing system determines a first geographical location identifier identifying a first area comprising the first work location. The computing system determines a first work region comprising the first area and the first work location. The computing system selects a first group of suppliers associated the first work region. The computing system generates a candidate request document comprising the first candidate skill, the first work region, and the first work location. The computing system transmits to the first group of suppliers the candidate request document.

Abstract: A modification method and system. The method includes presenting by a computing system to a requester, templates associated with a candidate request. The computing system receives from the requester, first data associated with the candidate request. The computing system generates a request document comprising the first data. The computing system transmits the request document to at least one supplier. The computing system receives from the at least one supplier, a list of candidates. The computing system receives from the requester, a request for modifying the request document. The computing system generates in response to the request for modifying the request document, a modified request document comprising a modified version of the request document. The computing system receives from the requester, approval data approving a transmission of the modified request document.

Abstract: A file attachment processing method and system. The method comprises generating by a first computing system, a configurable list comprising valid computer file types for computer files. The valid computer file types for the computer files comprising a low risk for comprising computer viruses. The first computing system comprises a memory device. The first computing system stores the configurable list in the memory device. The first computing system receives a computer file comprising a first file type. The first computing system compares the first file type to the list to determine if the first file type comprises a valid file type from the first list.

Abstract: A method and system for selecting a candidate. The method includes associating by a computing system, groups of suppliers with geographical areas. The computing system receives a selection of a first skill from a requester. The requester is located within a first geographical area. The computing system receives geographical area specification data associated with the first skill. The computing system receives a selection of a first work location associated with the first skill. The computing system receives a selection of a group of suppliers comprising a first supplier associated with the geographical area specification data. The computing system generates a service request document comprising the selection of said first skill associated with a candidate. The computing system transmits the service request document to the group of suppliers.

Abstract: A pricing method and system. The method includes receiving, by a computing system, data associated with a business. The data comprises a first list of negotiated pricing rates and associated skills, a second list of requesters, and a third list of suppliers. The computing system receives business factors data. The computing system determines requester options with respect to the negotiated pricing rates. The requester options are dependent on the business factors data. The computing system determines supplier options with respect to the negotiated pricing rates. The supplier options are dependent on the business factors data. The computing system determines sourcing buyer authorization options with respect to suppliers and the negotiated pricing rates. The computing system generates a pricing report comprising the requester options, the supplier options, the sourcing buyer authorization options, and the business factors data.

Abstract: An email generation method and system. The method comprises receiving and storing by a computing system, a first data object. The computing system comprises XML files. Each XML file comprises email templates. The computing system receives language identification data identifying a first XML file of the XML files. The first XML file comprises a first set of email templates. The computing system selects the first XML file in response to receiving the first language identification data. The computing system receives template identification data identifying a first email template of the first set of email templates. The computing system selects the first email template in response to receiving the template identification data. The computing system retrieves the first data object stored in the computing system. The computing system automatically generates a first email by incorporating first portions of the first data object into associated sections of the first email template.

Abstract: A routing method and system. The method includes receiving by a computing system data associated with a business. The data includes a first list of authorization roles and a second list including locations. The computing system associates at least one authorization role of the authorization roles with each location of the locations. The computing system receives transaction documents associated with the business. The computing system receives a selection for a location of the locations. The computing system receives a selection for a transaction document of the transaction documents. The transaction document is associated with a specified authorization role of the authorization roles. The computing system determines if the specified authorization role is associated with the location.

Abstract: A ranking method and system. The method includes receiving by a computing system from a first user, a selection for a first candidate skill. The first user is presented with a first group of predetermined criteria. The first group is associated with the first candidate skill. The first user assigns ranking percentage data associated with the first group. A list including portions of the assigned ranking percentage data assigned to each predetermined criteria of the first group is transmitted to a second user. The computing system receiving from the second user a list of candidates and responses to each predetermined criteria of the first group. The computing system receives from the first user, evaluation data related to the responses. The computing system ranks the candidates of the list based on the assigned ranking percentage data and the evaluation data.

Abstract: A renewal method and system. The method includes receiving, by a computing system from a requester, a selection of said first candidate from a list of candidates. The computing system retrieves a portion of candidate related data from an original request document for the candidate. The computing system receives from the requester, a selection of at least a one supplier from a list of suppliers. The computing system generates a first renewal request document associated with the first candidate. The first renewal request document includes the portion of the candidate related data from the original request document. The first renewal request document is for first renewing an association between a first company and the first candidate. The computing system transmits the first renewal request document to the at least one supplier.

Abstract: A global resource method and system. The method includes associating by a computing system, groups of suppliers with geographical areas. The computing system receives a selection of a first skill from a requester. The requester is located within a first geographical area. The computing system receives geographical area specification data associated with the first skill. The computing system receives a selection of a first work location associated with the first skill. The computing system receives a selection of a group of suppliers comprising a first supplier associated with the geographical area specification data. The computing system generates a service request document comprising the selection of said first skill. The computing system transmits the service request document to the group of suppliers.

Abstract: A modification method and system. The method includes presenting by a computing system to a requester, templates associated with a candidate request. The computing system receives from the requester, first data associated with the candidate request. The computing system generates a request document comprising the first data. The computing system transmits the request document to at least one supplier. The computing system receives from the at least one supplier, a list of candidates. The computing system receives from the requester, a request for modifying the request document. The computing system generates in response to the request for modifying the request document, a modified request document comprising a modified version of the request document. The computing system receives from the requester, approval data approving a transmission of the modified request document.

Abstract: A mapping method and system. The method includes receiving from a computing system, a selection of a first candidate skill from a list of candidate skills. The computing system receives a selection of a first work location of associated with a first skill. The computing system determines a first geographical location identifier identifying a first area comprising the first work location. The computing system determines a first work region comprising the first area and the first work location. The computing system selects a first group of suppliers associated the first work region. The computing system generates a candidate request document comprising the first candidate skill, the first work region, and the first work location. The computing system transmits to the first group of suppliers the candidate request document.

Abstract: A pricing method and system. The method includes receiving by a computing system data associated with a business. The data comprises a first list of negotiated pricing rates and associated skills, a second list of requesters, and a third list of suppliers. The computing system, receives business factors data. The computing system determines requester options with respect to the negotiated pricing rates. The requester options are dependent on the business factors data. The computing system determines supplier options with respect to the negotiated pricing rates. The supplier options are dependent on the business factors data. The computing system determines sourcing buyer authorization options with respect to suppliers and the negotiated pricing rates. The computing system generates a pricing report comprising the requester options, the supplier options, the sourcing buyer authorization options, and the business factors data.