Patent ID: 7373310

Claim:
A computer-based implementation of a method for determining one or more best matching resources, given a resource x and role F, in a hierarchical matrix-based workflow model, said method comprising: a. identifying a need, Y, within an organization that requires a resource x; b. defining a role F as being a resource category that can fulfill identified need Y, where said role F is represented as a node in a hierarchy; c. automatically iteratively searching up an organizational hierarchical tree for roles F, where the searching steps through organizational nodes where subsequent nodes return roles that represent nodes with increasing hierarchical standing; d. identifying at each organizational hierarchical node links to other organizational nodes outside the current hierarchical tree; e. returning at least one role F in said iterative search that ends when the top of the hierarchy is reached; f. comparing each role F in the hierarchy with the specific requirements of need Y to determine which role F best matches said requirements; g. if steps a-e return at least one role F, then proceed to step i, otherwise continue to step h; h. from the linkages identified in step d, returning a role F and comparing the role F with the specific requirements of need Y to determine which role F best matches requirements; i. storing or displaying the best matching resources that have been identified as candidates to fill need Y.