Abstract: The system includes a comparison unit that identifies products in an initial assortment of products, a desired assortment of products and the performance metric for each product. The comparison unit compares the initial assortment of products and the desired assortment of products to determine kept products, added product and deleted products. The system includes an interaction unit simulating the interaction of the kept products, the added products and the deleted products based on the performance metric. The system generates simulation results identifying the interactions between the kept products, the added products and the deleted products.

Abstract: A system and method permits the selection of services from multiple cloud vendors. The system receives parameters relating to a plurality of services offered by a plurality of vendors in a plurality of cloud computing environments. The parameters relate to an actual cost charged by each of the vendors and a cost relating to an environmental impact of each of the vendors. The system calculates a value for each of the vendors as a function of the received parameters, and selects one or more vendors as a function of the calculated value. The system outputs to a display device one or more of the selected vendors and the calculated values for each of the vendors. In another embodiment, the system establishes a communication connection with one or more of the cloud computing environments, and invokes one or more applications or services from the one or more cloud computing environments.

Abstract: Past realization profiles can be used to predict future realization profiles using a similarity rubric that emphasizes relationships between the past realization profiles. That similarity rubric might involve techniques including manifold characterization of past realization profiles; predictive modeling; and/or matrix factorization. Realization profiles might be related to business projects and track features such as ongoing resource expenditure, revenues realized, or percentage project completion. Realization profiles might relate to other applications such as effectiveness of medical treatment.

Abstract: A system is described for optimizing lead close rates. The system may create a seller scoring model that may be “trained” by a sales lead data over a period of time. The scoring model may be used to measure the performance of sellers in terms of handling and closing sales leads. The scoring model may be used to predict the sellers' close rates for future leads. The system may normalize the sellers based on lead volume to increase the confidence level in the scoring model. The system may utilize the scoring model to determine lead specific handling instructions for future leads to optimize sellers' close rates.

Abstract: A prediction of the cost associated with translating textual content in a source language can be determined. A first quantity estimation of first textual content may be determined. The first textual content is to be translated via human translation. A second quantity estimation of second textual content may also be determined. The second textual content is to be translated via machine translation. An indication of a target language is obtained, wherein the source language and the target language form a language pair. The prediction of the cost associated with translating the first textual content and the second textual content from the source language to the target language is then determined. The prediction is based at least in part on the first quantity estimation, the second quantity estimation, and the language pair.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining print revenue behavior for an account are disclosed. A computing device may determine a print revenue for an account for each of a plurality of time periods. The computing device may select a best fit model from a plurality of models based on the print revenue for the account for the plurality of time periods. The computing device may determine a risk level associated with the account based on a best fit model. The risk level may be based on a difference between the best fit model and the print revenue for the account for each of time period.

Abstract: A workflow is described and subsequently constructed by a general-purpose program. Among other things, such construction enables meta-programming to be employed. Further, workflow item and task dependencies can be explicitly expressed in the workflow and utilized to, among other things, optimize workflow execution for one or more factors. For instance, dependency information can be employed with respect to scheduling concurrent execution of tasks as well as to confine re-execution, upon workflow or item changes, to tasks affected by the changes. In addition, messages pertaining to workflow processing can be typed to facilitate logging in a structured and easily comprehensible manner.

Abstract: The invention allows at least one business process to execute in at least one application while the same is monitored the progress in non-intrusive manner. The various embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system to monitor the business transactions in process unaware systems non-intrusively. The activities occurring in a business process are set up using a business model. The events in the business process are identified based set of application data of a plurality of applications associated with the business process. The identified events are mapped to activities and the activities are mapped to process instances based on predefined mapping rules. Key performance indicators are set for each of the activities in the business process. At least one subsequent activity to be completed for the process instance is determined. An alert is created when KPI violation occurs with respect to the completed activity.

Abstract: A computer-readable medium, computer-implemented method, and system are provided. In one embodiment, a business process is created, and a cost of change value for the business process is defined. An executable process that is generated from the business process is executed, and a change request is received. It is determined whether the cost of change value is greater than a threshold value, and, when the cost of change value is not greater than the threshold value, the change request is initiated.

Abstract: A system and method for managing costs of a target part is presented. The system and method entails five steps. First, the system and method provides features characteristics information of the target part. Second, system and method provides financial information related to the target part. Third, the system and method provides purchasing demand information related to the target part. Fourth, the system and method analyzes the features characteristics data, financial information, and purchasing demand information. Finally, the system and method compares the target part should cost to a supplier's price of the target part to determine cost saving opportunities.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for improving business processes. In one aspect, a method includes defining, for a workstation, a metric that is a function of multiple process variables, providing, to a Lean practitioner candidate, information that suffices to allow the Lean practitioner candidate to determine outcomes of independently applying a same, pre-defined amount of Lean Six Sigma-related change to each of two or more of the process variables, and obtaining information that specifies the outcomes from the Lean practitioner candidate.

Abstract: A method for allocating resources in a business model includes determining a plurality of goals for a specified business problem. A plurality of data parameters are extracted from the goals into a computer program and read by a computer. The data parameters represent each of the goals. The data parameters are analyzed to develop a problem set representing the data parameters. Target criteria are input into the computer program, and the target criteria relates to each of the goals and may include prioritizing and/or attributing a weight to each goal. A solution instruction set is developed using the target criteria and the problem set. A solution model is developed from the solution instruction set. The steps of inputting target criteria, developing the solution instruction set, and developing the solution model are repeated to develop additional solution models and an optimal solution model can ultimately be selected.

Abstract: A method for managing design requirements for a vehicle development program. A requirements management process and software tool are described which ensure that only properly-defined requirements are stored in a repository. Requirements are validated against a structured set of rules before they are allowed to be checked into the repository, and only validated requirements may be checked out and used for vehicle development activities. The process and tool also check the consistency of technical terms and data items as they are encountered, which prevents the improper use of the terms and data items.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for accepting automatically selecting a combination of suppliers yielding a lowest cost of a product of the suppliers is described. A product analyzer receives from a client a set of parameters of a product. The parameters include a quantity of the product and an identification of the product. The product analyzer gathers cost data of the product from different suppliers of the product based on the set of parameters. An optimal supplier engine of the product analyzer computes a total cost of the product for each combination of the cost data and the set of parameters to determine the combination yielding the lowest total cost.

Abstract: A data center power cost accounting system uses server and storage and cooling power consumption models and device maps, together with runtime application maps, to estimate the equipment power consumption and cooling power consumption of individual applications. An approximation of the cooling cost over a period of time, for any given application, can be pieced together by adding up the equipment utilized by the application and applying the cooling estimates obtained from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The cooling estimates can further account for changes or variability in resource usage over time since the cooling estimates are based directly on utilization. The per application power consumption costs are obtained without having to install or depend on power measurement instruments or other hardware in the datacenters.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a loss mitigation reserve requirement based on a risk measure estimation and a confidence interval associated with the risk measure estimation. Distribution parameters of a frequency model and distribution parameters of a severity model are determined, and a covariance matrix representing the determined parameters of the distribution of the frequency model and the determined parameters of distribution of the severity model is generated. One or more analytical derivatives of a cumulative distribution function of the frequency model, one or more analytical derivatives of a cumulative distribution function of the severity model, and a parameter covariance matrix are calculated. A confidence interval is computed for the risk measure estimation based on a vector of derivatives of a cumulative distribution function.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for refining a business process model includes receiving business process data pertaining to a first phase of a business process definition from a first class of users, creating a model of a business process using the business process data received from the first class of users, receiving business process data pertaining to a second phase of the business process definition from a second class of users, and augmenting the model of the business process based on the business process data received from the second class of users. The method further includes iteratively refining the model of the business process in response to input provided by the first class of users and/or the second class of users.

Abstract: A system gathers real-time data about an enterprise over a network. A user device displays a dashboard showing a component business model map, a heat map, key performance indicators for components, key performance indicators for the enterprise, and gradients. The business is enhanced by making investments and changes to those operations having large gradients.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for creating a monitoring template for a business process. A monitoring template for a business process monitoring system is generated by providing a predefined schema definition for the monitoring template, wherein the predefined schema definition comprises a predefined format for describing the business process monitoring system using one or more predefined keywords, wherein the predefined schema definition comprises at least one monitoring model element that allows a user to specify one or more monitoring elements required to generate the business process monitoring system; and receiving a specification of the one or more monitoring elements from the user. The monitoring template can be used, for example, to generate deployable code for an operational runtime version of the business process monitoring system. The monitoring template allows monitoring models and business process monitoring systems to be reused.

Abstract: A method and system defines a mechanism to architect and define extensible methods and processes to build hybrid solutions. Solution templates provide a mechanism to architect and define the software development method in an extensible way and it enables the method architecture to be flexible to assemble method content and process elements only for those solution types that are necessary for a given solution. Solution templates keep the common base method lightweight and reusable and control the proliferation of software development processes necessary to build hybrid solutions by defining the solution templates for each of the solution types as pluggable extensions or add-ons to the base method that can be assembled on demand based on project needs.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems, apparatuses, methods, and computer program products configured to estimate the financial costs and savings associated with moving operations and migrating workforce from one site to another. Embodiments of the present invention provide a comprehensive automated financial model of a proposed move of operations by sourcing real estate costs data and labor data pertaining to both the current site and the proposed receiving site from numerous resources and utilizing such data to estimate the costs and savings associated with the move in real time.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for specifying a monitoring intent of a business process or a monitoring template. A monitoring intent of a business process monitoring system is defined by providing a predefined schema definition for the monitoring intent, wherein the predefined schema definition comprises a predefined format for describing the monitoring intent using one or more predefined keywords, wherein the predefined schema definition comprises a description of the monitoring intent and one or more contextual keywords; and receiving a specification of the description and the one or more contextual keywords from the user. The monitoring intent generally specifies one or more monitoring requirements of the business process monitoring system. The monitoring intent of a business process or a monitoring template may be matched with one or more search keywords. The predefined schema definition for the description comprises a set of expression rules.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for managing multi-supplier environment. In some implementations, a method includes identifying a supplier model configured to identify information for executing different aspects of the transaction associated with different enterprise departments and a primary supplier from a plurality of selectable third-party suppliers in response to at least a request for a enterprise transaction. The model is configured to identify methodologies for executing the different aspects of a transaction. A plurality of requests for the different enterprise departments and the primary supplier are generated based, at least in part, on the supplier model and the transaction request. Each of the different enterprise departments and the primary supplier are associated with at least one of the plurality of requests.

Abstract: Methods and systems for deriving a scoring function, for use in ordering a set of search results, are described. Consistent with some embodiments, a simulation platform includes an offline simulator module that receives search result sets for search queries that result in the conclusion of a transaction. The result set is then processed by the offline simulation platform to derive a set of weighting factors for use with one or more parameters in a parametric scoring function. The weighting factors are determined, for example, by specifying an equation setting one or more constraints and then solving the equation for the weighting factors.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for social modeling is disclosed. The method includes entering into a modeling environment one or more model elements by one or more users via communication device communicating over a communication network, performing modeling actions on the model elements, by the users according to their roles, determining if one or more of the model elements satisfy a policy, and if so determining that the policy satisfying model elements are finalized. A computer program product and a data processing system are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for identifying potential insurance prospects. The potential customers or prospects are identified by determining prospect underwriting affinity scores, prospect affinity scores, and prospect context scores with predictive models. The scores are then combined into a combined prospect score, which is used to adjust insurance underwriting, workflow, and premium determination processes for the prospects.

Abstract: A method and system for quantifying risk by composing a heterogeneous risk model are provided. The method comprises providing risk input data associated with one or more risk nodes to a processor, running one or more risk models to output individual risk quantifications for each risk node, and aggregating the individual risk quantifications into a single output. The system comprises a processor operable to provide risk input data associated with one or more risk nodes to a processor, run one or more risk models to output individual risk quantifications for each risk node and aggregate the individual risk quantifications into a single output.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying and quantifying a risk is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises forming a two-dimensional risk matrix, wherein a first dimension of the matrix comprises risk variable categories and a second dimension comprises standard business processes, placing a risk variable onto the two-dimensional risk matrix, wherein the risk variable is categorized by one of the risk variable categories and one of the standard business processes, connecting the variable node with another risk variable in the two-dimensional risk matrix, and applying a learning method to the two-dimensional risk matrix to compose a risk model to use for quantifying the risk. The system comprises a processor operable to perform the steps embodied by the method.

Abstract: There are provided a method and system for optimizing of a long-term electricity resource plan. The system obtains a capital costs component value including capital costs for emission abatement retrofits at an existing power plant and a new power plant over a period of time. The system obtains a fuel costs component value including the sum of fuel utilization of all generating units in the existing power plant and new power plant over the period of time. The system obtains an emission costs component value including emission allowance costs and emission violation costs in the period of time. The system adds the capital costs component value, the fuel costs component value and the emission costs component value to compute a net present value that meets emission constraints.

Abstract: A method of selecting security actions is provided. The method comprises estimating a maximum forecast loss, identifying general, sector specific, and targeted threats. The method further comprises forecasting a security loss based on the estimated maximum forecast loss and the threats, estimating a reduction in the security loss based on a first investment on a general threat countermeasure, on a second investment on a sector specific countermeasure, and on a third investment on a targeted threat countermeasure. The method further comprises allocating at least a portion of a security investment budget among the first, the second, and the third investments to maximize the estimated reduction in security loss. An aspect disclosed comprises a method that determines rates of return on security investment and selects security investments based on the rates of return. An aspect disclosed comprises a system for forecasting a security loss based on a security investment.

Abstract: An intelligent enterprise architecture (LEA) for an enterprise is defined. One or more IEA entry points are selected. IEA entry points represent a starting point for defining the IEA, which is an architectural development process for defining an enterprise computing architecture within a smart computing system. One or more business drivers for pain points in the enterprise are associated with a selected IEA entry point. A business value model is generated and utilized to focus a scope of the business drivers for the selected IEA entry point. An optimal IEA that satisfies the business drivers to ameliorate the pain points in the enterprise is then defined.

Abstract: A method includes defining a first component set of one or more first components; defining a second component set of one or more second components; and defining an original set of relationships, each relationship being between one component of the first component set and one component of the second component set. The method further includes decomposing the original set of relationships into a collection of view sets, each view set having at least one subset of the original set of relationships where the first and second components are associated with the respective relationships of the subset, and each view set satisfies a set of constraints. The components may be elements of a business model.

Abstract: Embodiments include systems and methods of detecting and assessing multiple types of risks related to mortgage lending. One embodiment includes a system and method of detecting and assessing risks including fraud risks, early payment default risks, and risks related to fraudulently stated income on loan applications. One embodiment includes a computerized method that includes creating a combined risk detection model based on a plurality of risk detection models and using the combined risk detection model to evaluate loan application data and generate a combined risk score that takes into account interaction of different types of risks individually and collectively detected by the plurality of risk detection models.

Abstract: Concentration risk, for example, refers to the risk of over-concentrating organizational resources. For example, if an organization over-concentrates its employees that work on a particular process in a small number of geographic locations, then, depending on the importance of the particular process, the organization assumes the risk that its operational continuity may be disrupted if one of those geographic locations experiences a disruption. Embodiments of the present invention assess the redundancy and criticality of each identified process within the organization, where redundancy refers to the organization's capacity to move work on a particular process from one center to another center in the event a disruption occurs at one of the centers and where criticality refers to the importance of a particular process to the organization. Based the redundancy and criticality assessments, embodiments of the present invention calculate a concentration-risk score for each of the identified processes.

Abstract: A method and system for managing route resources. After receiving a request for a route from a user, user-specified constraints, route supplier-specified constraints, and weights assigned to the constraints, a dynamic model of available routes is queried to generate proposed routes based on the constraints and weights. The model is updated according to the proposed routes. Current bids on related routes are retrieved. Prices of the proposed routes are determined and presented to the user. The prices are based on the updated model and the current bids on related routes. If no price is acceptable, the user modifies the constraints and a new set of proposed routes is generated. A bid from the user to purchase a selected proposed route is received.

Abstract: A radio station market analysis program displays a grid having radio station entries and associated attributes. A subset of the stations can be selected based on the attributes, and a map displays location markers corresponding to physical locations of stations in the subset. Attributes include multiple station ratings criteria such as Cume and AQHP. Entries may be sorted according to the attributes. A filter may be used to identify the subset based on a selected value for an attribute. Entries in the grid can be highlighted responsive to user selection of corresponding station location markers shown in the map. The user interface may further include a chart window which compares media stations according to a selected attribute, a trend window which shows attribute values for media stations over time, and a station information window for a selected media station.

Abstract: A computer-implemented hierarchical revenue model to manage revenue allocations among derived product developers in a networked system is disclosed. The model includes providing a first revenue value associated with a first digital component, providing a second revenue value associated with a second digital component, and combining the first revenue value with a second revenue value to produce a third revenue value associated with the second digital component, the second digital component including at least a portion of the first digital component.

Abstract: A business process master data vector for a business process of an organization can include master data coordinates corresponding to a plurality of business object node fields of a plurality of business objects involved in the business process. Values of the master data coordinates can indicate whether a corresponding business object node field is mandatory for successful execution of the business process. Master data instance vectors corresponding to the plurality of business objects can be evaluated such that a master data instance vector includes instance coordinates indicating whether a corresponding business object node field contains a master data value. The business process can be analyzed using the business process master data vector and/or the master data instance vectors. Related systems, processes, and articles of manufacture are also described.

Abstract: Pursuant to some embodiments, insurance systems, methods and devices are provided which include a data storage device for storing, updating and providing access to loss risk score data, a computer processor for executing program instructions and for retrieving the loss risk score data from the data storage device, a memory, coupled to the computer processor, for storing program instructions for execution by the computer processor, a geocoding engine comprising program instructions stored in the memory for geocoding historical loss data and a plurality of loss risk factors, a scoring engine comprising program instructions stored in the memory for calculating a loss risk score for each of a plurality of geographical locations based on said historical loss data and said plurality of loss risk factors, and a communication device, coupled to the computer processor, to output loss risk score data based on geographical location.

Abstract: A system and method for extracting process sequences from application data is provided. The method includes extracting process sequences from one or more applications' historical data in a non-intrusive manner. Firstly, data events in application data sources are read and then mapped to business activities. While reading the data events, a correlation identifier is identified which is later used to correlate business activities to create the process instance sequences. The system and method may be used to extract process sequences of multiple processes simultaneously. Process sequences may further be used for the purpose of mining processes from legacy systems for compliance checking solutions and for identifying how individual process instances are executed.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and system configured to analyze a plurality of parts, each of the parts having at least one part characteristic. The method includes the steps of establishing at least one repository of the part characteristics, establishing a relationship between at least a portion of the parts and a cost characteristic; and, analyzing the portion of the parts in response to the relationship.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining, from a system including a plurality of data center resources, at least one configuration of data center resources for an implementation of an application. The method includes receiving application information and receiving information regarding known internal features up the data center resources. The method also includes provisioning the system of data center resources and creating possible configurations of data center resources for implementing application. The method also includes correlating models and data center resources to create an interrelated representation of the models and the data center resources. The models predict a relationship of parameters for the possible configurations.

Abstract: A User Interactive Insurance Risk Analysis Application that is web-based which combines user imported insurance portfolios and geospatial technology with output from user defined actions and simulations providing an analysis tool for dynamic management of catastrophic exposures. The user may configure every aspect of the risk analysis application and use a variety of tools and features to create actions and receive risk information of all layers used for analysis. Precise risk information is given to the user due to the many services and modules which make up the risk analysis application, including a loss calculation service and dynamic, multi-dimensional configurable risk data display. The user receives estimated loss values and may configure which pieces of data analysis the user would like to see and how that data is presented without having to drilldown through all the data in the insurance portfolio.

Abstract: Pursuant to some embodiments, a computer system for pricing a paycheck term policy is provided which includes a processor, a communication device in communication with the processor and receiving an input data set, the input data set including at least an issue age of an insured associated with the policy, a desired death benefit payment amount, an underwriting class associated with the insured, and an interest rate factor.

Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with the invention may include executing a business task by receiving an instruction to execute a business task; generating an event-condition-action (ECA) rule during execution of the business task; generating a graphical representation corresponding to the ECA rule; and executing, using a processor of the computer system, the business task based on an evaluation of the graphical representation.

Abstract: A method and system for the distributed elicitation and aggregation of risk information is provided. The method comprises selecting a risk network, the risk network comprising one or more risk nodes having associated risk information; assigning a role to each risk node, said role indicating a type of user to evaluate the risk node; generating a customized survey to elicit risk information for a risk node based upon the role and the user, wherein an order of questions in the customized survey presented to the user is determined by an ordering criteria; publishing the customized survey to the user; collecting risk information for the risk node from the user's answers to the customized survey; and populating the risk nodes based on the collected risk information.

Abstract: A computer system selects prospects for insurance policy marketing activities. The computer system stores at least one equation that defines a predictive model responsive to a plurality of independent variables and a plurality of parameters and having an associated error component. The error component includes a spatio-temporal error component. The computer system also evaluates the parameters in order to parameterize the predictive model in such a way as to reduce the error component. Further, the computer system applies the parameterized predictive model to a data set that represents a universe of potential prospects for insurance marketing activities. Still further, the computer system generates a list of selected prospects, based on results of applying the parameterized predictive model to the data set. The list of selected prospects represents a subset of the universe of potential prospects. The computer system also outputs the list of prospective prospects.

Abstract: An improved method and system for forecasting product demand using a causal methodology, based on multiple regression techniques. The improved causal method revises product group seasonal factors used by conventional forecasting applications to best fit the sales pattern of an individual product in the product group through the calculation of an exponential coefficient which measures the deviation of the historical sales pattern of an individual product from the product group seasonal factors. The value of exponential coefficient is calculated using a causal framework through multivariable regression analysis.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for predicting work force requirements. Work order information is retrieved describing work orders, and weather information is retrieved describing a weather event. The work order information and the weather information are combined to determine an impact on the work orders due to the weather event. The work force requirements are then predicted to resolve the work orders.

Abstract: Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses for policy development and management are presented. One or more policy needs may be identified, and a criticality rating and a complexity rating may be determined for each policy need. The criticality rating and the complexity rating may be based on one or more weighted criticality and complexity factors. The criticality rating may affect prioritization of policy development, and the complexity rating may affect an estimate of time required for policy development. Subsequently, a report may be generated.