Patent ID: 7222082
Filing Date: 2007-05-22
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method of forecasting business volume and workforce requirements with the aid of a computer system, comprising: defining a business structure in the computer system; defining a forecast structure in the computer system, wherein certain hierarchical levels of the forecast structure map to corresponding hierarchical levels in the business structure; forecasting business volume in the computer system for a predefined duration, responsive to a first set of historical data, and to the business and forecast structures; forecasting a traffic pattern in the computer system for the predefined duration, responsive to a second set of historical data; and calculating workforce requirements in the computer system for the predefined duration, based on the forecast business volume and on the forecast traffic pattern, wherein the step of calculating workforce requirements includes resource leveling, and wherein the step of resource leveling comprises determining valleys in a preliminary schedule, ranking the valleys based on their depth and width, assigning at least one unassigned task to a highest-ranked valley, and repeating the steps of determining valleys, ranking the valleys, and assigning at least one unassigned task to the highest-ranked valley, wherein each valley's rank is computed as (D/W)*C, wherein D is the valley's depth, W is the valley's width, and C is the valley's rounding cost.