Patent ID: 8065178

Claim:
A method in a computer system, comprising: defining a forecast snapshot, wherein the defining comprises: receiving an interval, wherein the interval specifies a frequency at which forecast snapshots are generated, receiving a specified day within the interval, wherein the forecast snapshot is generated on the specified day, and receiving specified roles of participants in a reporting hierarchy of the participants, wherein the forecast snapshot comprises information regarding a member of an organization, and the information indicates the member is assigned one of the specified roles in the reporting hierarchy; causing a processor of the computer system to determine if a valid reporting hierarchy has been defined; causing the processor to generate an indication of validity, in response to a determination that the valid reporting hierarchy has been defined; in response to the indication of validity, causing the processor to automatically generate the forecast snapshot, wherein the forecast snapshot is based on opportunity information of the participants, and the forecast snapshot comprises the opportunity information; and causing the processor to automatically send an alert notifying the participants of the generation of the forecast snapshot.