Abstract: A method for automatically analysing a data set is disclosed. The data set comprises a plurality of data items together representing an aspect of the performance of an entity. Each item has a descriptor value within each of one or more categories of description data and associated performance data values. The method comprises selecting each unique descriptor value in turn and for each unique descriptor value: a) selecting every data item having said descriptor value; b) calculating a key performance indicator (KPI) value for the data items selected in step (a); and identifying any of the unique descriptor values for which the KPI value fails to meet a predetermined performance criterion.

Abstract: A method of predicting a future value of a key performance indicator (KPI) is disclosed. The method comprises: a) retrieving, from a database, a data set from which the present KPI value can be derived; and b) operating on data extracted from the data set using a prediction algorithm to calculate the future value of the KPI.

Abstract: data processing apparatus is disclosed for receiving recognition data from a speech recognition engine and its corresponding dictated audio data where the recognition data includes recognized words or characters. A display displays the recognized words or characters and the recognized words or characters restored as a file together with the corresponding audio data. The recognized words or characters can be processed and link data is formed to link the position of the words or characters in the file and the position of the corresponding audio component in the audio data.

Abstract: An hierarchical data retrieval method for retrieving an hierarchy of data from a first store is described. The hierarchy of data comprises one or more items of data of a first level, at least one of which is associated with one or more items of data of a second level. The method comprises: i) retrieving from the first store the items of data of the first level only; ii) displaying the items of data of the first level to a user; iii) retrieving from the first store the items of data of the second level associated with one of the items of data of the first level in response to a user request indicating that item of data of the first level; and, iv) displaying the items of data of the second level retrieved in step (iii) in addition to the items of data of the first level.