Abstract: At least a first future external event is obtained as input. At least one future effect of the at least one future external event is predicted. The at least first future external event is similar to at least a first past external event. Future utilization of at least one tangible resource is forecast by superimposing events-normalized forecasted data and the at least one predicted future effect of the at least one future event similar to the at least first past external event.

Abstract: A plurality of application profiles are obtained, for a plurality of applications. Each of the profiles specifies a list of resources, and requirements for each of the resources, associated with a corresponding one of the applications. Specification of a plurality of constraints associated with the applications is facilitated, as is obtaining a plurality of cost models associated with at least two different kinds of servers on which the applications are to run. A recommended server configuration is generated for running the applications, by formulating and solving a bin packing problem. Each of the at least two different kinds of servers is treated as a bin of a different size, based on its capacity, and has an acquisition cost associated therewith. The size is substantially equal to a corresponding one of the resource requirement as given by a corresponding one of the application profiles. Each of the applications is treated as an item, with an associated size, to be packed into the bins.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for planning a workforce headcount for a given business process. The method comprises the steps of providing as inputs, i) productivity ramp-ups to model the level of experience and to measure the performance of both new hires and current employees, and ii) industry/market attrition rates for employees; and performing an evaluation, using said inputs, of at least one given management objective. On the basis of this evaluation, a future hiring and transition plan is provided for the given business process for a defined period of time. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, uncertainty is associated with one or more of the inputs, and the future hiring and transition plan is provided by using stochastic programming to model the uncertainty associated with at least one of said one or more of the inputs.

Abstract: A method of matching a query fingerprint to a plurality of file fingerprints. The method comprises the steps of determining a plurality of partial features of each of the file fingerprints. For each partial feature, derive a list of all file fingerprints which have said partial feature as one of their partial features. Determine a plurality of query partial features of the query fingerprint, and derive a ranked list of the file fingerprints based on identifying the individual query partial features in the partial features of the respective file fingerprints. Then perform one-to-one matching of the query fingerprint with selected ones of the ranked list of the file fingerprints.