Forecasting and analysis tool

摘要

A software tool for forecasting hours worked per project by each of several individuals per time period is disclosed. The tool comprises several project activity profiles each representing an hour distribution. The tool also comprises a data store containing data specific to projects including a level of effort budgeted for the project, identification of the type of the project, a start date of the project, and a delivery date of the project. The tool also comprises a data store containing data about each of the individuals including identification of the projects on which the individuals are authorized to work. The tool also comprises an allocator component that generates the forecast of hours to be worked by each individual for the projects for each of a series of time periods.

主权项

1. A system comprising a processor, the system for forecasting hours worked per project for a plurality of individuals, the system further comprising:
a computer readable storage medium storing a plurality of project activity profiles, each project activity profile corresponding to a different project type and including a corresponding distribution of hours, wherein a first distribution of hours comprises a characteristic pattern of hours that includes a proportion of total hours to be expended for a first project type for each of a series of time periods established by actual hours consumed during at least one of one or more completed projects of the first project type and a completed portion of an in-progress project of the first project type; a data store, comprising a computer readable storage medium, containing project data for a second project to be completed, the project data including available hours budgeted for the second project, identification of a type of the second project, a start date of the second project, and a delivery date of the second project, wherein the second project is identified as the first project type; a data store, comprising a computer readable storage medium, containing data about a plurality of individuals including identification of projects on which each individual is authorized to work; and an allocator, stored on a computer readable storage medium, which when executed by a processor, generates a forecast of hours to be worked on the second project for each of the plurality of individuals authorized to work on the second project with respect to each of a series of time periods for the second project, wherein the forecast is generated based on the project data, the data about the plurality of individuals authorized to work on the second project, and the one of the plurality of project activity profiles corresponding to the first project type, wherein the allocator selects the first distribution of hours from the one of the plurality of activity profiles corresponding to the first project type to apply to the second project, and wherein the allocator determines hour allocations for each of the series of time periods for the second project by applying the available hours budgeted for the second project to the proportion of total hours to be expended for the project type for each of the series of time periods from the first distribution of hours.