Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for assigning a plurality of agents to incoming calls by an automatic call distributor. The method includes the steps of defining a plurality of agent groups for processing calls received by the automatic call distributor and assigning at least some agents of the plurality of agents to an agent group of the plurality of agent groups based upon a skill level of the at least some agents and a set of required qualifications for the agent group. The method further includes the steps of delivering calls to the at least some agents of the agent group based upon the required qualifications for the agent group and upon agent idle time, monitoring a call loading of the agent group and adjusting a number of the at least some agents of the group based upon the monitored call loading.

Abstract: A system (200) and method for simulating operation of an autonomic call distributor (100) is provided. The system (200) provides an indication of hardware resources, such as digit collector cards (120) and digital audio source cards (118), required for any given call volume and configuration of the automatic call distributor (100). The system (200) obtains system configuration data relating to the configuration of the automatic call distributor (100) from a user and/or by downloading the data from the automatic call distributor (100). Call traffic data relating to a desired call volume is similarly provided to the system (200). The system (200) simulates operation of the automatic call distributor (100) based on the system configuration and call traffic data and determines hardware resources required in the automatic call distributor (100) for the desired call volume based on the simulated operation of the automatic call distributor (100).