Patent ID: 8407073
Filing Date: 2013-03-26
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer implemented method for automated allocation of human resources to functional areas of an enterprise activity environment and scheduling of work items to the functional areas, wherein the enterprise activity environment is a software factory that utilizes pooled human resources to produce software application development and maintenance, and wherein the computer implemented method comprises: a processor categorizing each work item from a group of work items as either complex or intense, wherein completion time for executing a complex work item is based on skill sets of available human resources matching required skill sets for the complex work item, and wherein completion time for executing an intense work item is based on a quantity of available human resources regardless of their skill levels; the processor deriving a unique work requirement statement for said each work item based on whether each work item is complex or intense, wherein the unique work requirement statement for a complex work item is skill-set dependent, and wherein the unique work requirement statement for an intense work item is skill-set neutral; the processor assigning a unique resource value statement to each human resource from multiple human resources, wherein the unique resource value statement describes all skills held by each human resource based on a knowledge set and a proficiency level set of each human resource; the processor analyzing past performances of the human resources against completed work items in order to adjust the unique resource value statement, thereby creating updated human resource value statements for the human resources; the processor creating an optimized work requirement statement by recalculating the unique work requirement statement for each work item based on the updated human resource value statements for the human resources and on a current availability of the skill sets of available human resources that match the required skill sets for the complex work item; the processor formulating a schedule for automated allocation of human resources to functional areas of an enterprise activity environment and scheduling of work items to the functional areas based on the optimized work requirement statement for each work item in the group of work items; and utilizing said schedule for automated allocation of human resources and said scheduling of work items when creating a customized deliverable unit of software in the software factory, wherein the customized deliverable unit of software is created by assembling work packets in an assembly line in the software factory, wherein each work packet constitutes a contractual agreement that governs a relationship among a design center, a software factory governance board, a software factory operations unit, and the assembly line in the software factory, wherein the design center breaks a software project into major functional areas, wherein the software factory governance board determines whether or not to allow the software factory to accept the software project, wherein the software factory operations unit dispatches the software project to the assembly line, wherein the assembly line receives and executes work packets that are specified by the design center to create the customized deliverable unit of software, wherein said each work packet further comprises exit criteria, and wherein the exit criteria comprises a checklist for returning said each work packet from the assembly line to the software factory operations unit and for returning the customized deliverable unit of software from a customer to the software factory.