Abstract: A system and method for measuring a performance of an entity and for predicting its future performance is disclosed. Raw information about the entity is collected from internal and external sources. The information is cleaned to exclude false positives. Using performance categories, the information is organized and transformed into meaningful data for the performance analysis engine. The information is normalized by scaling the meaningful data by industry type. A performance score is calculated by the performance analysis engine based on the normalized data. Further, a competitive relationship score is calculated based on the performance score and the normalized data. These scores are reported in a user interface displaying the performance of the entity and are used as inputs, among other factors, to a predictive analysis engine that assesses the future performance of the entities.

Abstract: A success guidance software program is configured to provide one or more indications to a user regarding compliance of a particular campaign of a class of campaigns with a plurality of actions and action attributes associated with a successful outcome for campaigns of the class. The success guidance software may be geared toward scalable sales-like efforts, and particularly toward sales-like efforts having independently verifiable actions and action attributes.

Abstract: A method for incorporating industry-wide data into financial reports. One embodiment of the method comprises: building an internal financial database, wherein the internal financial database having a first data category and a first value populating the first data category; storing the internal financial database in a server, wherein the server has a processor, a display, and a network interface; receiving an external financial database, having an external financial data through the network interface; filtering external financial database using the processor; generating a financial report using the processor, wherein the steps further include: combining the first value with the plurality of third values to generate a plurality of fourth values; and sorting the plurality of fourth values; and displaying the plurality of financial reports on the display.

Abstract: A method and system for mining a database for product migration analysis includes querying product usage data for a legacy product and a new product from the database as time series data. The product usage data is representative for a large number of consumers of the legacy and new products. A mathematical model may be used to determine a relationship between the two time series data. Product migration values and other features related to product migration, such as a transition period of product usage, may be estimated, determined or predicted.

Abstract: Commercial size of spending wallet (“CSoSW”) is the total business spend of a business including cash but excluding bartered items. Commercial share of wallet (“CSoW”) is the portion of the spending wallet that is captured by a particular financial company. A modeling approach utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a company's spend capacity. Marketing companies that sell lists compile those lists by searching one or more databases for names and/or businesses that match certain criteria. Those marketing companies can use the CSoW/CSoSW modeling approach to show predicted spend and/or revenues for each company on a list. This makes the list more valuable to list buyers.

Abstract: An electronically generated locate request ticket identifying a dig area includes first image data associated with the dig area. The first image data includes one or both of: i) a marked-up image of a geographic area including the dig area, wherein the marked-up image includes at least one dig area indicator to provide an indication of the dig area; and ii) geographic information relating to the at least one dig area indicator. The locate request ticket is electronically transmitted to at least one entity associated with the locate operation. A completed locate request ticket is electronically received including second image data and/or non-image data relating to the locate operation as performed. The completed locate request ticket is electronically processed so as to provide a quality assessment of the locate operation.

Abstract: Systems and methods of a job distribution platform for aggregating performance data in a worker profile for workers in performing crowd sourced tasks are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of generating and storing performance data when a worker performs one or more tasks distributed online to their respective computing devices by a job distribution platform which crowd sources tasks over a network to remote workers. The tasks can span current jobs and a history of previous jobs distributed to the worker and the job performance data for the worker is collected for current and previous jobs. New jobs can be assigned to a worker selected based on performance data of the worker.

Abstract: Performance prediction techniques are provided that utilize business-process information such as transaction history and log information. For example, in one aspect of the invention, a computer-based technique for providing a performance prediction service comprises the following steps/operations. First, business-process information associated with a business is obtained. Then, a performance estimation function is generated based at least in part on the business-process information, the performance estimation function being usable in responding to a query obtained from a potential customer of the business.

Abstract: A plurality of actual outcome data points, including actual outcomes for a plurality of episodes of a process, are obtained for the process. A practitioner-independent baseline outcome is also obtained for the process. For each given one of the actual outcome data points, the given one of the actual outcome data points is equated to the practitioner entity-independent baseline outcome multiplied by a plurality of unknown participating practitioner entity outcome indices for each of a plurality of participating practitioner entities. Each of the participating practitioner entity outcome indices is raised to an exponent including a corresponding one of a plurality of unknown participating practitioner entity type indices, to obtain a plurality of equations. The plurality of equations are solved to obtain estimated values of the unknown participating practitioner entity outcome indices and estimated values of the unknown participating practitioner entity type indices.

Abstract: A system for displaying manufacturing productivity information, including a controller connected to a display device, a momentary actuator and a display. The controller records a plurality of cycle times between sequential actuations of the actuator and stores the cycle times in a library. The controller maintains a count of actuations that have occurred since reset of the timer and records time passed since the reset. The controller determines a median value of the cycle times and multiplies the median value of cycle times by the count of actuations to obtain a resulting value and subtracts the resulting value from the total time since the last reset to determine a value for total downtime. The controller activates the display to show the value for total downtime.

Abstract: A method and system for prioritizing accounts is provided. The method includes receiving operational metrics and data values associated with the operational metrics. The data values are aggregated and noisy data is removed from the operational metrics. Statistical averages associated with a performance of accounts are calculated and each account is modeled as a collection of operational performance variables and key performance indicators A ranking list is generated and a minimum number of independent operational parameters necessary are calculated. Pairwise ranks {r} of the accounts are calculated and values associated with a tolerance limit epsilon and selected.

Abstract: The embodiments provide a cloud server including a communication manager configured to receive information identifying a set of key performance indicators, over a network, from a benchmarking application associated with an enterprise having a plurality of business processes for which performance is to be benchmarked against a peer group, a peer group controller configured to receive peer group information, a data collector configured to collect first business data corresponding to the enterprise and second business data corresponding to at least one other enterprise according to the peer group information, and a root cause analyzer configured to analyze the first business data against the second business data and generate performance results based on the set of key performance indicators. The communication manager is configured to provide the performance results, over the network, to the benchmarking application for display.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for a computer-implemented method which receives user input that specifies values for predetermined questions provided in an environmental questionnaire, identifies environmentally friendly businesses or individuals by analyzing the user input values and determining those businesses or individuals that meet predetermined minimum requirements, and stores a list of the identified businesses or individuals within a database.

Abstract: In a computing system, key figures are made available for selection in an electronic data repository. The key figures are selectable by any of a plurality of distributed systems. A request for a key figure value calculation is received from one of the distributed systems, and request is made for an identifier of one of the key figures. Data is accessed for the key figure from at least one electronic data source, and the data is used to compute a value for the key figure. The value for the key figure is stored in an electronic storage location.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for generating a customized output deck, wherein the customized output deck includes organization metrics and normalization indices. The customized output deck may be used to benchmark an organization's performance within a given industry. The data utilized to create the normalization indices is gathered from a plurality of organizations however normalization of the data prohibits a connection to be determined between a specific organization and a specific piece of data. The system and method utilizes a set of parameters to populate and format a portion of the slides within the customized output deck.

Abstract: A method to facilitate a Product Quality Planning and Management (PQPM) project associated with a product development cycle is provided. The method includes displaying on a user interface one or more activities to be executed for the PQPM project. The method further includes receiving, with an aid of the user interface, textual inputs indicative of a measurement criterion associated with an execution status the one or more activities. The method further includes developing a report to monitor a risk associated with the PQPM project, the report is based on the measurement criterion associated with the execution status of the one or more activities.

Abstract: A project management server automatically monitors the progress of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) project represented by developing business configuration content for the ERP system. The project management server maintains a set of data representing a previous status of the development of business configuration content for the ERP system. The project management server requests a new set of data from the ERP system. The new set of data represents the current status of the development of business configuration content for the ERP system. The project management server automatically compares the two sets of data to determine the progress of the ERP project, generates a report showing the progress and updates the old set of data with the new set of data.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for systematically collecting metrics implementation data for use by an enterprise. A metrics capability self assessment (MCSA) system determines a set of information sections important in evaluating implementation of metrics for an organization within the enterprise. The MCSA system also determines a set of questions to measure the degree of implementation of metrics within each information section. The MCSA system then presents the questions to each organization and project site within the organization on a periodic basis to ensure a systematic collection of information. Based on the answers, a scale is assigned to each group site or project site within the organization, wherein the scale provides a simple means of determining the level of metrics implementation of a group. Responses from the various project sites and organization sites may then be grouped into statistical information for presentation to a user.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of governance dimension attributes of a service-oriented architecture governance model are calibrated and mapped to each of a plurality of governance evolution element attributes. A maturity and capability assessment is performed for the service-oriented architecture as a function of the mapping, and a maturity-based and capability-based governance model is generated for the service-oriented architecture as a function of the maturity and capability assessment.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, mechanisms and methods are provided for gamifying personal development. The mechanisms and methods for gamifying personal development may enable embodiments to provide a technique for encouraging behaviors or skills in the work place through competitions and game theory often associated with games. The mechanisms and methods for gamifying personal development can include employees/players taking challenges and creating challenges. The mechanisms and methods for gamifying personal development can include a point economy in which the employee/player accumulates player and/or creator points, and obtains privileges may be assigned based on the number of points awarded in a particular topic area.

Abstract: Computer automated system for selected, tracking and rating workers. One embodiment of the present invention provides, to a first user, a plurality of outputs representing a plurality of questions relating to the first user's technical skill. A plurality of inputs representing a plurality of answers to the plurality of questions is received from the first user. A technical comfort score representing the first user's comfort with technology is identified based on the plurality of answers. A determination is then made whether the technical comfort score satisfies a first criterion.

Abstract: An information handling system comprises a connection via a network interface for receiving business process data from an integrated business process running at a location, the business process data comprises at least data indicating data volume for the integrated business process. The information handling system further comprises a storage device for storing data representing an aggregate of business process data for an integrated business process and account data for the enterprise user of the integrated business process, and a processor adapted to determine a qualitative integrated business process performance designation from the aggregate business process data and account data. If the processor determines that there is no data volume from the business process data and no saved changes to the integrated business process within a specified time period, then the processor allocates an at-risk integrated business process performance designation and prepares a case file for this integrated business process.

Abstract: A health meter for evaluating the status of process safety of at least one facility as an executive dashboard on client devices can be presented to a plurality of users simultaneously and continuously updated by operators, contractors and other safety personnel in real-time. The health meter can include a plurality of computer instructions for presenting information to users, allowing the users to monitor compliance.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing projected investment returns for a product to a user of a client device coupled to a server via a network. One exemplary method involves obtaining metadata from a database object associated with the product from a database coupled to the server, generating a graphical user interface element within an application provided to the client device based on the metadata, and receiving an input value responsive to the graphical user interface element from the client device via the application. The method continues by obtaining a formula for a valuation metric from the database, calculating a projected value for the valuation metric based at least in part on the input value using the formula, and generating a graphical representation of the projected value within the application.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for measuring how well interactive components of a service facility that are accessible to users through a communication network perform in serving users, the interactive components being a proper subset of all of the interactive components of the service facility, and using the results of the measuring to evaluate the performance of the service facility with respect to a target performance.

Abstract: Healthcare providers are faced with an extremely fast paced environment where patient care is closely coupled with quality and safety standards. To promote a safe and optimal environment for patients and healthcare workers, numerous standards must be met. The number of standards continues to grow as healthcare continues to become more complex. The present invention, and the various embodiments thereof, describes a computer based system and method for strengthening a healthcare provider's quality program through the use of quality assurance, quality improvement and performance improvement modules that help to structure, monitor and manage quality tasks. A pixel mapped calendar provides a compelling graphical representation of the current status of the various quality tasks associated with a specific date or dates to provide a visual representation of the overall health of an organization as it relates to meeting quality and safety standards.

Abstract: A method of benchmarking a sustainability for service providers using a program having executable computer-readable instructions first includes selecting a plurality of service providers to evaluate for sustainability. A report is received from each of the selected service providers which includes at least one reported value characteristic having a value metric and at least one reported cost characteristic having a cost metric. The reported cost and value characteristics are compared to select at least one common value characteristic and at least one common cost characteristic each of which is common among the selected service providers. A service sustainability relationship is then computed as a function of the at least one common value characteristic and the at least one common cost characteristic to benchmark the sustainability of each of the selected service providers relative to one another.

Abstract: Certain examples relate to computer implemented methods and systems including at least three modules whose combined functionality provides for interpretation and optimization of usual and unusual patterns in energy consumption; the identification, quantification, and monetization of hidden operating and financial waste and the accurate measurement of the results of implemented energy management solutions. The first, “Expert Module”, provides information that assists with the accurate interpretation of the information provided in the Operations module. The second, “Costs Module”, allows users to modify consumption and price components and derive the resulting operating costs based on the facility's applied or available rate structures. The third, “Operations Module”, charts and evaluates the current operating performance of a facility down to 15-minute intervals in comparison to the operating performance of a pre-selected “base year”.

Abstract: A capability progress modeling component for determining the progress of adoption of an on-demand capabilities model by an organization, the deployment progress component comprising: a completion state descriptor component for receiving inputs from an entity describing a current state, a target state and a modeled state for the organization; and a state comparator component for comparing the current state and modeled state with the target status to derive a set of parameters, the state comparator component analyzing the set of parameters to determine deviation points indicating capability areas requiring attention in order for the organization to progress to an on-demand capabilities model.

Abstract: Computer-based systems and methods for computing a score (a “target score”) for the contacts of a research department. The target score may be computed for each contact for each analyst team of the research department. The target score indicates how resources should be deployed by the research department to maximize revenue for the research department. The target score is computed based on a number of metrics. These metrics can include both analyst-team-specific contact metrics that relate to the contact-analyst team combination, as well as account metrics that pertain to the investment accounts associated with each of the contacts. Weights for the metrics may be determined using an optimization algorithm.

Abstract: A performance-efficient activity-modeling system generates a group-activity model for a population group using information from an optimal subset of users of the population group. During operation, the system computes utility scores for a set of users based on a utility-scoring function, such that a respective utility score indicates a usefulness or penalty of collecting a corresponding user's contextual information. The system then selects, from the set of users, a subset of users with highest utility scores, and receives user information from each of the selected users. The system generates the group-activity model based on the user information received from the selected users.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for providing reviewer feedback identifying a correlation between a reviewer's past voting record and successful results. Based on a reviewer's past record, the reviewer may be assigned a power rating identifying the statistical accuracy of the reviewer's voting history. That power rating may be used to weight future votes, thereby increasing the likelihood that accurate decisions will be made.

Abstract: A benchmarking tool accesses a database comprising a plurality of transaction records, each of the records comprising transaction data on a purchase transaction. A first subset of the transaction records is determined that occur within a predetermined time period and are associated with a first merchant. A second subset of the transaction records is determined that occur within the predetermined time period and are associated with a merchant peer group. The first subset of transaction records are processed to determine a first metric for the first merchant. The second subset of transaction records are processed to determine a second metric for the merchant peer group. The first metric is compared to the second metric to indicate performance of the first merchant relative to performance of the merchant peer group.

Abstract: A system and method of providing comprehensive document review, production and reporting is described. The system and method provide a total quality management approach to a document review matter that not only controls costs but increases defensibility of the overall process, thereby reducing risk. The system utilizes unique review and performance metrics, increases quality control, and enhances physical and data security mechanisms. The system of the present invention can be implemented with any document review software or hosted platform desired for use by a customer.

Abstract: A method for a rating system identifies user-selected performance indicators associated with one or more properties. A rating is computed for each of the user-selected performance indicators and for each entity in an entity class by applying at least the user-selected performance indicators to a rating algorithm. The entity class is divided into at least three approximately equal numbers of entity. For each of the performance indicator rating, the method sorts the performance indicator relative to a respective performance indicator of the other entity in the entity class, maps the sorted results to one of the at least three divisions of the entity class, and identifies and presents a portion of the user-selected performance indicators that represent indicators that outperform or underperform the entity class.

Abstract: An implementation for estimating the costs attributable to software failures brought on by defects, i.e. estimating that portion of the cost of owning software products that is attributable to potential damage to the software owner resulting from potential defects in the software provided by particular software suppliers. Calculating the cost of ownership of a software product obtained from a proposed supplier, including a cost of software failure factor that is estimated as follows: predetermining the quality level of an ideal supplier of the software product and then determining the deviation in quality level of the proposed software supplier from the ideal supplier level. Then, estimating the difference in product defect rate at the quality level of the proposed supplier from the defect rate of the ideal supplier, after which the cost to compensate for the damage resulting from each defect based upon the intended use of the software product is estimated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for benchmarking collected or computed environmental data for one or more entities. The systems and methods involve determining a distribution for historical environmental data for the entity, collecting current environmental data for the entity, and generating, using the processor, a graphical representation benchmarking the current environmental data against the historical environmental data, wherein the graphical representation comprises the data segments and represents the current environmental data at a position within one of the segments, where the data segments are calculated using the distribution.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are computer-implemented methods, computing systems, and related technologies that may be used for determining the optimal number of Full Time Equivalents (FTEs) that should be engaged by a service provider in order to provide a service to an insurance company. Multiple service level agreements (SLAs) exists between the service provider and the insurance company, each of which indicates that the service provider must complete a given percentage of assigned tasks for the service within a given time period. A resource optimization application (ROA) determines how many FTEs the service provider should employ, in order to complete assigned tasks as required by the SLAs. The ROA determines the number of FTEs based on factors such as an average handling time (AHT) for the tasks, the capacity of the service provider, historical data that describes tasks previously assigned to the service provider, and other factors.

Abstract: The illustrative embodiments relate generally to monitoring engagement, and more particularly, the illustrative embodiments relate to systems and methods for measuring and scoring engagement in organizations. Key performance indicators are selected and normalized. A composite engagement score is then determined.

Abstract: A system and method efficiently solve the expected utility maximization problem in large-scale financial asset portfolio optimization. The system and method solve the expected utility maximization problem employing a factor representation of asset returns. Additionally, the system and method calibrate the optimization model to a benchmark to obtain unconditional mean returns and enable active management based on conditional expected return predictions. The system and method also enable options to be considered as part of the portfolio.

Abstract: A method for ranking the performance data of a plurality of employees. The method may include using a receiver to receive information relating to the performance, by each of the employees, of a plurality of tasks. Each of the plurality of tasks may be tasks completed during a predetermined time period. The method may also include using a processor to compute for each of the plurality of employees, based at least in part on the received data, a median cycle time score, an accuracy score, an escalation percentage score, a volume score and a client target date score. The method may further include using the processor to rank, using percentile ranking, the of the median cycle time scores, accuracy scores, escalation percentage scores, volume scores and client target date scores.

Abstract: A method and system is provided to manage and track changes in enterprise architectures. The invention provides a hierarchical visual management tool to manage and update relational information within an enterprise in a controlled fashion. The relationship may be maintained in a database and displayed via graphical user interface. Enterprise assets are categorized into such categories as goals, customer values or requirements, capabilities, resources, and the like. A hierarchy is constructed so that relationships between these various categories are identified and captured using the invention. Weights may be assigned to each element of the categories so that any proposed change to an enterprise architecture may be viewed so that a value can be ascertained and compared between other values of other proposed changes. In this manner, tracking and management of evolutionary changes to an architecture may be accomplished using relational information.

Abstract: A method for comparing a hospital's existing supply expenses to another hospital's existing supply expenses is described. The method includes determining a number of patient cases (Ci) associated with each diagnosis related classification (DRCi) from a plurality of DRCis, receiving a supply mix index weight (SMIi) value for each DRCi from the plurality of DRCis, and determining, with a processor, a weighted supply mix index value for each of the plurality of DRCis based on the SMIi value for each DRCi and the Ci for the corresponding DRCi. The method also includes determining an overall HCP supply mix index (HCPSMI) for the hospital based on the sum of the weighted supply mix index value for each of the plurality of DRCis and the sum of Ci for each of the plurality of DRCis, and outputting the HCPSMI for the hospital. Other methods, systems, and machine-readable media are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that assesses the importance of projects in a portfolio of projects and allocates labor resources to multiple concurrent projects is provided. The method includes specifying clear project schedules that are readily testable for various projects and using labor categories for project schedule tasks requiring labor resources. The present design determines each project team member's productivity for each supported labor category and allocates project team members to the project tasks on a periodic basis such that the most important project tasks receive the most productive available project team members for each project's specified labor categories.

Abstract: Whilst partaking in a traditional electronic questionnaire survey, responses given by any one respondent are almost always influenced by that person's emotional state due to the survey format. This emotional content skews the results thus obtained making them inaccurate, so that statistical methods become necessary to interpret the results. Such a statistical analyses requires not only a minimum sample size but also to be interpreted, which can also lead to false, non repeatable results. However, by structuring the system and method of the electronic questionnaire survey in accordance with a strict set of guidelines, it is possible to measure a respondent's views on any subject matter both emotionally and rationally, together with the respondent's level of conviction. By comparing the emotional responses with the rational responses, a truly quantifiable and repeatable measure of respondent satisfaction towards the subject matter can be achieved, which also allows benchmarking as an added benefit.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to displaying on a graph data describing events and data describing key performance indicators (KPIs). The event data describes an occurrence that may influence the performance objectives of a business, such as the appearance of an advertisement for the business in a magazine. The KPI data describes a quantifiable measure of the business's performance, such as the number of sales of a product. The event data and KPI data are received and displayed on a graph so that the business owner can understand the relationship between the events and the KPIs.

Abstract: Embodiments of personnel management systems are presented herein. Other examples, and related methods, are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for management of sales activity information. In an embodiment, a system comprises a client system; and a server system, communicatively coupled to the client system, wherein the server system comprises: a client interface to receive sales activity data from the client system, wherein the sales activity is associated with a sales process and arranged using a multi-dimensional matrix; and a data storage system to store the sales activity data using a coordinate system that corresponds with the multi-dimensional matrix. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A device, method, and program product are disclosed which are configured to receive, at a risk analysis engine, one or more business service models from a configuration management database, wherein the one or more business service models each comprises a set of configuration items, and wherein the one or more business service models each indicate a type of configuration item and a connectivity of the configuration item; send the set of configuration items to a vulnerability assessment tool; receive, from the vulnerability assessment tool, one or more vulnerability assessment scores for each configuration item within the set of configuration items; determine an overall business service vulnerability score for each of one or more business services based on the one or more business service models and the vulnerability assessment scores received from the vulnerability assessment tool; and output electronically the overall business service vulnerability score.

Abstract: A user interface and processes are provided to monitor contracts for the delivery of products and/or services to different customers. The user interface provides a comprehensive visual display such that a user can view multiple contracts and a variety of performance information for each contract. The user interface also enables a user to update performance indicators for a contract and to identify contracts that require heightened scrutiny or action to mitigate current problems or potential issues.