System and method for optimizing sourcing opportunity utilization policies
First Claim
1. A system for optimizing sourcing opportunity utilization policies comprising:
- a sourcing opportunity utilization policies engine configured for providing sourcing opportunity utilization polices;
a cost/risk generator configured for computing sourcing performance by utilizing the sourcing opportunity utilization policies from the sourcing opportunity utilization policies engine; and
an optimization engine configured for comparing the sourcing performance from the cost/risk generator to at least one objective for business performance over time and across potential future circumstances to determine an optimal sourcing opportunity utilization policy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method is provided for optimizing sourcing opportunity utilization policies. A user provides at least one of a business objective and a business constraint. Next, an available set of sourcing opportunity utilization policies is determined. From this set, an “optimal” sourcing opportunity utilization policy is selected based on its ability to best meet the at least one business objective or constraint. Based on evaluation of the optimal sourcing opportunity utilization policy and/or associated business performance, the at least one business objective or constraint and/or available set of sourcing opportunity utilization policies may be revised, and the process repeated to determine the optimal sourcing utilization policy for this revised specification.
47 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for optimizing sourcing opportunity utilization policies comprising:
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a sourcing opportunity utilization policies engine configured for providing sourcing opportunity utilization polices;
a cost/risk generator configured for computing sourcing performance by utilizing the sourcing opportunity utilization policies from the sourcing opportunity utilization policies engine; and
an optimization engine configured for comparing the sourcing performance from the cost/risk generator to at least one objective for business performance over time and across potential future circumstances to determine an optimal sourcing opportunity utilization policy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for optimizing sourcing opportunity utilization policies comprising:
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receiving at least one objective for business performance over time and across potential future circumstances;
defining a set of feasible sourcing opportunity utilization policies;
utilizing the set of feasible sourcing opportunity utilization policies to perform sourcing performance analysis; and
evaluating sourcing performance analysis results to determine the optimal sourcing opportunity utilization policy. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A machine readable medium having embodied thereon a program being executable by a machine to perform a method for optimizing sourcing opportunity utilization policies, the method comprising:
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receiving at least one objective for business performance over time and across potential future circumstances;
defining a set of feasible sourcing opportunity utilization policies;
utilizing the set of feasible sourcing opportunity utilization policies to perform sourcing performance analysis; and
evaluating sourcing performance analysis results to determine the optimal sourcing opportunity utilization policy.
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16. A system for optimizing sourcing opportunity utilization policies comprising:
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means for receiving at least one objective for business performance over time and across potential future circumstances;
means for defining a set of feasible sourcing opportunity utilization policies;
means for utilizing the set of feasible sourcing opportunity utilization policies to perform sourcing performance analysis; and
means for evaluating sourcing performance analysis results to determine the optimal sourcing opportunity utilization policy.
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17. A method for analytically representing sourcing opportunity utilization policies comprising:
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representing specific individual sourcing opportunities for which specific values of all key terms are known;
representing estimated terms of indefinite individual sourcing opportunities for which specific values of one or more key terms are not known; and
representing sourcing opportunity utilization policies as a combination of the specific individual sourcing opportunities and indefinite individual sourcing opportunities. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A machine readable medium having embodied thereon a program being executable by a machine to perform a method for analytically representing sourcing opportunity utilization policies comprising:
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representing specific individual sourcing opportunities for which specific values of all key terms are known;
representing estimated terms of indefinite individual sourcing opportunities for which specific values of one or more key terms are not known; and
representing sourcing opportunity utilization policies as a combination of the specific individual sourcing opportunities and indefinite individual sourcing opportunities.
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Specification