Ranking method and system

• US 7,660,723 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Twitter Inc (X Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Tse, So Ying, Majumdar, Gautam, Cirulli, Susan Bumgardner, Coleman, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss; John G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ofori-Awuah; Maame
• Application Number:
  US11/560,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20080120120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A ranking method and system. The method includes receiving by a computing system from a first user, a selection for a first candidate skill. The first user is presented with a first group of predetermined criteria. The first group is associated with the first candidate skill. The first user assigns ranking percentage data associated with the first group. A list including portions of the assigned ranking percentage data assigned to each predetermined criteria of the first group is transmitted to a second user. The computing system receiving from the second user a list of candidates and responses to each predetermined criteria of the first group. The computing system receives from the first user, evaluation data related to the responses. The computing system ranks the candidates of the list based on the assigned ranking percentage data and the evaluation data.

Claims

1. A ranking method comprising:

presenting, by a computing system, a first list of candidate skills to a first user, said computing system comprising a memory device, said memory device comprising said first list and a second list of predetermined criteria, at least one predetermined criteria of said second list associated with each candidate skill of said first list;

first receiving from said first user, by said computing system, a selection of a first candidate skill from said first list;

presenting to said first user in response to said first receiving, by said computing system, a first group of predetermined criteria from said second list, said first group associated with said first candidate skill;

second receiving from said first user, by said computing system, first assigned ranking percentage data associated with said first group of predetermined criteria;

generating, by said computing system, a third list comprising portions of said first assigned ranking percentage data assigned to each predetermined criteria of said first group of predetermined criteria, wherein said third list further comprises said first group of predetermined criteria;

transmitting, by said computing system, said third list to a second user;

first receiving from said second user, by said computing system, a fourth list of candidates and responses to each said predetermined criteria of said first group, each candidate of said fourth list associated with said first group of predetermined criteria of said third list;

presenting, by said computing system, said fourth list to said first user;

third receiving from said first user, by said computing system, first evaluation data related to said responses to each said predetermined criteria of said first group;

ranking, by said computing system, said candidates of said fourth list, said ranking based on said first assigned ranking percentage data and said first evaluation data, wherein said ranking comprises calculating ranking scores (RS) for said candidates from said fourth list;

generating, by said computing system, an average score comprising an average of said ranking scores (RS); and

presenting, by said computing system to said first user, said average score.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

fourth receiving from said first user, by said computing system, user specified criteria data associated with each said candidate skill of said first list and second assigned ranking percentage data associated with said user specified criteria data, wherein said third list further comprises said user specified criteria data and said second assigned ranking percentage data, and wherein said ranking is further based on said second assigned ranking percentage data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

fourth receiving from said first user, by said computing system, time related data specifying a due date for said computing system to receive said fourth list, wherein said fourth receiving said fourth list comprises fourth receiving said fourth list by said due date.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

first receiving from a third user, by said computing system, second assigned ranking percentage data associated with said first group of predetermined criteria, wherein said ranking is further based on said second assigned ranking percentage data.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

second receiving from said third user, by said computing system, second evaluation data related to said responses, wherein said ranking is further based on said second evaluation data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

fourth receiving from said first user, by said computing system, a completion command indicating that said computing system is ready to proceed with said ranking, wherein said computing system is adapted to transmit a warning message to said first user after said fourth receiving if said user attempts to modify said first assigned ranking percentage data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said first group of predetermined criteria further comprises a pricing criteria associated with said first candidate skill, and wherein said method further comprises:

evaluating, by said computing system, said pricing criteria for each candidate of said fourth list, wherein said ranking is further based on results of said evaluating.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

fourth receiving from said first user, by said computing system, a selection for a first candidate of said candidates of said fourth list, wherein said first candidate is not a highest ranked candidate with respect to each other candidate of said candidates;

fifth receiving from said first user, by said computing system, a justification data justifying said selection for said first candidate; and

receiving from a third user, by said computing system, a command associated with said selection for said first candidate.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said first group of predetermined criteria comprises criteria selected from the group consisting of oral communication skills, project experience, security clearances, teamwork skills, and a willingness to travel.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by said computing system, that a competitive bid process is configured hiring said candidates of said fourth list, wherein said competitive bid process is configured based on a country/commodity code and a hot skill configuration.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating, by said computing system, a standard deviation, wherein said standard deviation equals a square root of a (sum of (x−

M)2/N−

1), wherein x equals a bill rate, wherein M equals a mean of all candidates of said fourth list bill rates, and wherein N equals a number of candidate responses received for a specified skill request;

calculating, by said computing system, scores, wherein each score of said scores equals 10—

an integer of ((x−

minimum of (all x)) divided by said standard deviation);

calculating, by said computing system, price ratings, wherein each price rating of said price ratings equals each said score multiplied by a pricing percentage; and

calculating, by said computing system, average ratings, wherein each average rating of said average ratings equals an average of (a requester rating, a buyer rating, an a technical coordinator rating) plus each said price rating, and wherein said ranking is further based on said average ratings.

12. A computing system comprising a processor coupled to a computer-readable memory unit, said memory unit comprising a first list of candidate skills, a second list of predetermined criteria, and instructions that when executed by the processor implement a ranking method, at least one predetermined criteria of said second list associated with each candidate skill of said first list, said method comprising:

presenting, by said computing system, said first list of candidate skills to a first user;

first receiving from said first user, by said computing system, a selection of a first candidate skill from said first list;

presenting to said first user in response to said first receiving, by said computing system, a first group of predetermined criteria from said second list, said first group associated with said first candidate skill;

second receiving from said first user, by said computing system, first assigned ranking percentage data associated with said first group of predetermined criteria;

generating, by said computing system, a third list comprising portions of said first assigned ranking percentage data assigned to each predetermined criteria of said first group of predetermined criteria, wherein said third list further comprises said first group of predetermined criteria;

transmitting, by said computing system, said third list to a second user;

first receiving from said second user, by said computing system, a fourth list of candidates and responses to each said predetermined criteria of said first group, each candidate of said fourth list associated with said first group of predetermined criteria of said third list;

presenting, by said computing system, said fourth list to said first user;

third receiving from said first user, by said computing system, first evaluation data related to said responses to each said predetermined criteria;

ranking, by said computing system, said candidates of said fourth list, said ranking based on said first assigned ranking percentage data and said first evaluation data, wherein said ranking comprises calculating ranking scores (RS) for said candidates from said fourth list;

generating, by said computing system, an average score comprising an average of said ranking score (RS); and

presenting, by said computing system to said first user, said average score.

13. The computing system of claim 12, wherein said method further comprises:

fourth receiving from said first user, by said computing system, user specified criteria data associated with each said candidate skill of said first list and second assigned ranking percentage data associated with said user specified criteria data, wherein said third list further comprises said user specified criteria data and said second assigned ranking percentage data, and wherein said ranking is further based on said second assigned ranking percentage data.

14. The computing system of claim 12, wherein said method further comprises:

fourth receiving from said first user, by said computing system, time related data specifying a due date for said computing system to receive said fourth list, wherein said fourth receiving said fourth list comprises fourth receiving said fourth list by said due date.

15. The computing system of claim 12, wherein said method further comprises:

first receiving from a third user, by said computing system, second assigned ranking percentage data associated with said first group of predetermined criteria, wherein said ranking is further based on said second assigned ranking percentage data.

16. The computing system of claim 15, wherein said method further comprises:

second receiving from said third user, by said computing system, second evaluation data related to said responses, wherein said ranking is further based on said second evaluation data.

17. The computing system of claim 12, wherein said method further comprises:

fourth receiving from said first user, by said computing system, a completion command indicating that said computing system is ready to proceed with said ranking, wherein said computing system is adapted to transmit a warning message to said first user after said fourth receiving if said user attempts to modify said first assigned ranking percentage data.

18. The computing system of claim 12, wherein said first group of predetermined criteria further comprises a pricing criteria associated with said first candidate skill, and wherein said method further comprises:

evaluating, by said computing system, said pricing criteria for each candidate of said fourth list, wherein said ranking is further based on results of said evaluating.

19. The computing system of claim 12, wherein said method further comprises:

fourth receiving from said first user, by said computing system, a selection for a first candidate of said candidates of said fourth list, wherein said first candidate is not a highest ranked candidate with respect to each other candidate of said candidates;

fifth receiving from said first user, by said computing system, a justification data justifying said selection for said first candidate; and

receiving from a third user, by said computing system, a command associated with said selection for said first candidate.

20. A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium comprising a first list of candidate skills, a second list of predetermined criteria, and a computer readable program code embodied therein, at least one predetermined criteria of said second list associated with each candidate skill of said first list, said computer readable program code adapted to implement a ranking method within a computing system, said method comprising:

presenting, by said computing system, said first list of candidate skills to a first user;

first receiving from said first user, by said computing system, a selection of a first candidate skill from said first list;

presenting to said first user in response to said first receiving, by said computing system, a first group of predetermined criteria from said second list, said first group associated with said first candidate skill;

second receiving from said first user, by said computing system, first assigned ranking percentage data associated with said first group of predetermined criteria;

generating, by said computing system, a third list comprising portions of said first assigned ranking percentage data assigned to each predetermined criteria of said first group of predetermined criteria, wherein said third list further comprises said first group of predetermined criteria;

transmitting, by said computing system, said third list to a second user;

first receiving from said second user, by said computing system, a fourth list of candidates and responses to each said predetermined criteria of said first group, each candidate of said fourth list associated with said first group of predetermined criteria of said third list;

presenting, by said computing system, said fourth list to said first user;

third receiving from said first user, by said computing system, first evaluation data related to said responses to each said predetermined criteria of said first group;

ranking, by said computing system, said candidates of said fourth list, said ranking based on said first assigned ranking percentage data and said first evaluation data, wherein said ranking comprises calculating ranking scores (RS) for said candidates from said fourth list;

generating, by said computing system, an average score comprising an average of said ranking scores (RS); and

presenting, by said computing system to said first user, said average score.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein said method further comprises:

fourth receiving from said first user, by said computing system, user specified criteria data associated with each said candidate skill of said first list and second assigned ranking percentage data associated with said user specified criteria data, wherein said third list further comprises said user specified criteria data and said second assigned ranking percentage data, and wherein said ranking is further based on said second assigned ranking percentage data.

22. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein said method further comprises:

fourth receiving from said first user, by said computing system, time related data specifying a due date for said computing system to receive said fourth list, wherein said computing system receives said fourth list by said due date, wherein said fourth receiving said fourth list comprises fourth receiving said fourth list by said due date.

23. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein said method further comprises:

first receiving from a third user, by said computing system, second assigned ranking percentage data associated with said first group of predetermined criteria, wherein said ranking is further based on said second assigned ranking percentage data.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein said method further comprises:

second receiving from said third user, by said computing system, second evaluation data related to said responses, wherein said ranking is further based on said second evaluation data.

25. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein said method further comprises:

fourth receiving from said first user, by said computing system, a completion command indicating that said computing system is ready to proceed with said ranking, wherein said computing system is adapted to transmit a warning message to said first user after said fourth receiving if said user attempts to modify said first assigned ranking percentage data.

26. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein said first group of predetermined criteria further comprises a pricing criteria associated with said first candidate skill, and wherein said method further comprises:

evaluating, by said computing system, said pricing criteria for each candidate of said fourth list, wherein said ranking is further based on results of said evaluating.

27. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein said method further comprises:

fourth receiving from said first user, by said computing system, a selection for a first candidate of said candidates of said fourth list, wherein said first candidate is not a highest ranked candidate with respect to each other candidate of said candidates;

fifth receiving from said first user, by said computing system, a justification data justifying said selection for said first candidate; and

receiving from a third user, by said computing system, a command associated with said selection for said first candidate.

28. A process for supporting computer infrastructure, said process comprising providing at least one support service for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable code in a computing system comprising a memory unit, said memory unit comprising a first list of candidate skills and a second list of predetermined criteria, at least one predetermined criteria of said second list associated with each candidate skill of said first list, wherein the code in combination with the computing system is capable of performing a ranking method, said method comprising:

presenting, by said computing system, said first list of candidate skills to a first user;

first receiving from said first user, by said computing system, a selection of a first candidate skill from said first list;

presenting to said first user in response to said first receiving, by said computing system, a first group of predetermined criteria from said second list, said first group associated with said first candidate skill;

second receiving from said first user, by said computing system, first assigned ranking percentage data associated with said first group of predetermined criteria;

generating, by said computing system, a third list comprising portions of said first assigned ranking percentage data assigned to each predetermined criteria of said first group of predetermined criteria, wherein said third list further comprises said first group of predetermined criteria;

transmitting, by said computing system, said third list to a second user;

first receiving from said second user, by said computing system, a fourth list of candidates and responses to each said predetermined criteria of said first group, each candidate of said fourth list associated with said first group of predetermined criteria of said third list;

presenting, by said computing system, said fourth list to said first user;

third receiving from said first user, by said computing system, first evaluation data related to said responses to each said predetermined criteria of said first group;

ranking, by said computing system, said candidates of said fourth list, said ranking based on said first assigned ranking percentage data and said first evaluation data, wherein said ranking comprises calculating ranking scores (RS) for said candidates from said fourth list;

generating, by said computing system, an average score comprising an average of said ranking scores (RS); and

presenting, by said computing system to said first user, said average score.

29. The process of claim 28, wherein said method further comprises:

fourth receiving from said first user, by said computing system, user specified criteria data associated with each said candidate skill of said first list and second assigned ranking percentage data associated with said user specified criteria data, wherein said third list further comprises said user specified criteria data and said second assigned ranking percentage data, and wherein said ranking is further based on said second assigned ranking percentage data.

30. The process of claim 28, wherein said method further comprises:

fourth receiving from said first user, by said computing system, time related data specifying a due date for said computing system to receive said fourth list, wherein said fourth receiving said fourth list comprises fourth receiving said fourth list by said due date.

31. The process of claim 28, wherein said method further comprises:

first receiving from a third user, by said computing system, second assigned ranking percentage data associated with said first group of predetermined criteria, wherein said ranking is further based on said second assigned ranking percentage data.

32. The process of claim 31, wherein said method further comprises:

second receiving from said third user, by said computing system, second evaluation data related to said responses, wherein said ranking is further based on said second evaluation data.

33. The process of claim 28, wherein said method further comprises:

fourth receiving from said first user, by said computing system, a completion command indicating that said computing system is ready to proceed with said ranking, wherein said computing system is adapted to transmit a warning message to said first user after said fourth receiving if said user attempts to modify said first assigned ranking percentage data.

34. The process of claim 28, wherein said first group of predetermined criteria further comprises a pricing criteria associated with said first candidate skill, and wherein said method further comprises:

evaluating, by said computing system, said pricing criteria for each candidate of said fourth list, wherein said ranking is further based on results of said evaluating.

35. The process of claim 28, wherein said method further comprises:

fourth receiving from said first user, by said computing system, a selection for a first candidate of said candidates of said fourth list, wherein said first candidate is not a highest ranked candidate with respect to each other candidate of said candidates;

fifth receiving from said first user, by said computing system, a justification data justifying said selection for said first candidate; and

receiving from a third user, by said computing system, a command associated with said selection for said first candidate.