Abstract: A method and apparatus for validating a survey database, preferably before any user requests are submitted to the survey database. This may be accomplished by analyzing the survey database and identifying those portions of the survey database that are potentially problematic, given the expected user request types. The present invention may then notify the user of any potential problems in the survey database, and/or warn the user to view certain results with caution.

Abstract: An improved administration system for use in managing and reporting skill assessment data entered by users of a skill assessment tool is disclosed. The skill assessment tool of the preferred embodiment may include a large skill set of possibly-unrelated skills. A large, diverse use population may employ the skill assessment tool to enter data rating a user's proficiency at performing ones of the skills in the skill set. The resulting skill assessment data may therefore be both extensive and diverse. The administration system allows the skill assessment data to be reported using any selectable subset of the users or any selectable subset of the skills supported by the skill assessment tool.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for warning the user of potential limitations of a database request or the results provided thereby and for warning the user of potential limitations of a database request and the results provided thereby. Preferably, the identified limitations are provided in a number of caveats. The caveats may warn the user that a survey request and/or survey result may be improper, invalid or otherwise deficient in some way. This may prevent the user from basing important business decisions on misrepresentative database results.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for using prior results when processing successive database requests. This is accomplished by storing selected results during the processing of selected user requests. When a subsequent user request is processed, the system determines if appropriate prior results have already been generated and stored by a previous user request. If so, the prior results are used in the processing of the subsequent user request. Because the prior results are not regenerated, the processing time for the subsequent user request may be reduced accordingly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively providing hierarchy to a circuit design. The present invention contemplates providing a number of hierarchical statements in a description of a circuit design, wherein the syntax of the hierarchical statements allows the hierarchical statements to be visible when providing a first representation of the circuit design and effectively invisible when providing a second representation of the circuit design.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing a survey database, wherein a user can perform a wide variety of requests to the survey database without having to independently calculate a desired result. In accordance with the present invention, this may be accomplished by using a rules-based expert system for forming and executing requests to a survey database. In a rules-based expert system, a number of rules are provided wherein the rules contain much of the “knowledge” of the experts, thereby allowing “non-expert” users to perform “expert” analysis of client satisfaction data in an accurate and repeatable fashion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting an endless loop in a rules-based expert system. This is preferably accomplished by maintaining a count for each of the rules during rule processing. The count indicates the number of times a corresponding rule is executed by the rules based expert system. If the count corresponding to any of the rules exceeds a predetermined value, it is concluded that the rules-based expert system is stuck in an endless loop, and the rules-based expert system is interrupted.

Abstract: An improved skill set assessment system and method is disclosed for allowing a user to assess the user's proficiency at performing a predetermined set of skills related to the user's employment position. A user may complete the skill assessment process by reviewing only a subset of skills relevant to the user's current employment position, rather than the comprehensive list of skills provided by the assessment tool. This ability to review an abbreviated list of skills is obtained by using a minimum skill set definition. Minimum skill set definitions may be defined to reflect the hierarchical structure of the organization employing the assessment system.

Abstract: A system and method for management of resources estimated to be required to develop a product and distribution of resources allocated for the development of the product. A hierarchy of projects required for completion of the product is defined in a database, estimates of resource requirements are associated with the respective projects, and project-level target allocations of resources are associated with the respective projects. The project-level target allocations of resources are automatically summed for a calculated total target allocation of resources, and the calculated total target allocation of resources is associated with the product. An actual total target allocation of resources is assigned to the product, and the hierarchy of projects, associated estimates of resource requirements, project-level target allocations, the calculated total target allocation, and the actual target allocation of resources for the product are interactively displayed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently debugging and/or testing a rules based expert system. To provide guidance when updating a test sequence, the present invention contemplates identifying which rule sets and/or rules were exercised by the test sequence, and which were not exercised. The present invention also contemplates identifying the rule sets and/or rules that were exercised, and the percent of the rule sets/rules that were exercised. This and other information may be useful in identifying appropriate changes for the test sequence so that those rule sets and/or rules that were not exercised during the previous iteration are exercised in a subsequent iteration.

Abstract: A system and method for modeling activities of people in an organization. The organization is modeled using definitions of processes performed by the organization, definitions of data elements generated by the entities performing the processes, and definitions of relationships between the data elements generated and the processes. Each relationship definition symbolizes a data element provided by a first one of the processes and required by a second one of the processes. In an example embodiment, the database is accessible to a server system, and a client system is coupled to the server system. Responsive to an input control signal at the client system, a request is sent to the server system for organization modeling data. The client system displays the organization modeling data, wherein processes are depicted as nodes on a graph and the data elements are depicted as directed edges connecting nodes. The system also models events that cause transitions between the processes.