Request modification method and system

• US 8,165,967 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2007
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gomez, Marco Antonio Marquez, Majumdar, Gautam, May, Michael Randy, Muthusamy, Muthusamy Palanisamy
• Primary Examiner(s): Plucinski, Jami A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ofori-Awuah, Maame
• Application Number:
  US11/758,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20080306748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,785 Days
• Field of Search: 705/320, 705/321
• US Class Current: 705/321
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1053 Employment or hiring

Abstract

A modification method and system. The method includes presenting by a computing system to a requester, templates associated with a candidate request. The computing system receives from the requester, first data associated with the candidate request. The computing system generates a request document comprising the first data. The computing system transmits the request document to at least one supplier. The computing system receives from the at least one supplier, a list of candidates. The computing system receives from the requester, a request for modifying the request document. The computing system generates in response to the request for modifying the request document, a modified request document comprising a modified version of the request document. The computing system receives from the requester, approval data approving a transmission of the modified request document.

Claims

1. A modification method comprising:

presenting, by a computing system to a requester, a request details template associated with a candidate request, said computing system comprising a memory device, said memory device comprising said request details template, a skills details template associated with said candidate request, a first list of candidate skills, and a first list of suppliers, said request details template consisting of a plurality of request details questions and request details headers consisting of;

a project name header, a requesting company header, a requesting organization header, a status header, a tracking number header, a project coordinator header, a reviewer header, and an accounting header, said skills details template comprising a plurality of skills details questions, said first list of candidate skills comprising skill levels for primary skills and secondary skills;

receiving, by said computing system from said requester, first data comprising;

a status of said candidate request, a tracking number of said candidate request, and an accounting number of said candidate request;

receiving, by said computing system from said requester, first request details data associated with said request details template;

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

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

presenting, by said computing system, said skills details template to said requester;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, first skills details data associated with said skills details template, said first skills details data consisting of skill requirements including educational requirements for performing specified skills;

presenting, by said computing system, said first list of suppliers to said requester;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, a first selection of at least a first supplier from said first list of suppliers;

generating, by a computer processor of said computing system, a request document consisting of said first data, said first selection of said first candidate skill, said first selection of said at least said first supplier, said first skills details data, said first request details data, a response due date, and a request status;

presenting, by said computing system to said requestor, said request document;

transmitting, by said computing system, said request document to said at least said first supplier;

receiving from said at least said first supplier, by said computing system, a first list of candidates, each candidate of said first list of candidates associated with said request document;

presenting, by said computing system, a first computer screen interface comprising said first list of candidates to said requester;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system based on said first computer screen interface, a request for modifying said request document;

presenting, by said computing system in response to said request for modifying said request document, a modify request screen interface, wherein said modify request screen interface consists of a primary job rate header, a work location header, a position details header, an estimate of time header, a core and secondary skills selection portion, and an add or remove suppliers portion;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, first selections within said modify request screen interface, wherein said first selections comprise;

a primary job category selection, a secondary job category selection, a skill level selection, a years of experience selection, an educational requirement selection, a selection for a first, second, third, or fourth work shift, a weekend coverage selection, an on-call coverage selection, a travel requirement selection, a client asset loan selection, a planned start date selection, a planned end date selection, a time related unit of measure selection, a selection for straight time, a selection for overtime, and a response due date selection;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, second selections within said core and secondary skills portion, wherein said second selections comprise;

an advise on a language for a supply chain selection, a programming languages selection, a language for financials selection, and an application for testing activities selection;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, third selections within said add or remove suppliers portion, wherein said third selections comprise vendor selections, test supplier selections, and flowdown term selections;

generating, by said computing system in response to said request for modifying said request document, a modified request document comprising a modified version of said request document, wherein said modified request document comprises said first selections, said second selections, and said third selections;

presenting, by said computing system to said requester, said modified request document; and

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, approval data approving a transmission of said modified request document.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, by said computing system, said modified request document to said at least said first supplier; and

receiving from said at least said first supplier in response to said modified request document, by said computing system, a second list of candidates, each candidate of said second list of candidates associated with said modified request document.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting after said receiving said request for modifying said request document, by said computing system, said first list of suppliers to said requester;

receiving, from said requester, by said computing system, a selection of at least a second supplier from said first list, wherein said modified request document comprises said selection of said at least said second supplier;

transmitting, by said computing system, said modified request document to said at least said second supplier; and

receiving from said at least said second supplier in response to said modified request document, by said computing system, a second list of candidates, each candidate of said second list of candidates associated with said modified request document.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting after said receiving said request for modifying said request document, by said computing system, said first list of candidate skills to said requester; and

receiving, from said requester, by said computing system, a selection of a second candidate skill from said first list, wherein said modified request document comprises said selection of said second candidate skill.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, second request details data; and

replacing, by computing system, a portion of said first request details data with said second request details data, wherein said modified request document comprises said second request details data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said second request details data comprises data selected from the group consisting of project name data, geographical location data, project coordinator data, requesting company data, and accounting data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, second skills details data; and

replacing, by computing system, a portion of said first skills details data with said second skills details data, wherein said modified request document comprises said second skills details data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said second skills details data comprises data selected from the group consisting of time related data, skill level data, and status data.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating, by said computing system, project coordinators associated with said request document.

10. A computing system comprising a computer processor coupled to a computer-readable memory unit, said memory unit comprising a request details template, a skills details template, a first list of candidate skills, a first list of suppliers, and instructions that when executed by the processor implement a modification method, said request details template consisting of a plurality of request details questions and request details headers consisting of:

a project name header, a requesting company header, a requesting organization header, a status header, a tracking number header, a project coordinator header, a reviewer header, and an accounting header, said skills details template comprising a plurality of skills details questions, said first list of candidate skills comprising skill levels for primary skills and secondary skills, said method comprising;

presenting, by said computing system to a requester, said request details template;

receiving, by said computing system from said requester, first data comprising;

a status of said candidate request, a tracking number of said candidate request, and an accounting number of said candidate request;

receiving, by said computing system from said requester, first request details data associated with said request details template;

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

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

presenting, by said computing system, said skills details template to said requester;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, first skills details data associated with said skills details template, said first skills details data consisting of skill requirements including educational requirements for performing specified skills;

presenting, by said computing system, said first list of suppliers to said requester;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, a first selection of at least a first supplier from said first list of suppliers;

generating, by said computer processor of said computing system, a request document consisting of said first data, said first selection of said first candidate skill, said first selection of said at least said first supplier, said first skills details data, said first request details data, a response due date, and a request status;

presenting, by said computing system to said requestor, said request document;

transmitting, by said computing system, said request document to said at least said first supplier;

receiving from said at least said first supplier, by said computing system, a first list of candidates, each candidate of said first list of candidates associated with said request document;

presenting, by said computing system, a first computer screen interface comprising said first list of candidates to said requester;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system based on said first computer screen interface, a request for modifying said request document;

presenting, by said computing system in response to said request for modifying said request document, a modify request screen interface, wherein said modify request screen interface consists of a primary job rate header, a work location header, a position details header, an estimate of time header, a core and secondary skills selection portion, and an add or remove suppliers portion;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, first selections within said modify request screen interface, wherein said first selections comprise;

a primary job category selection, a secondary job category selection, a skill level selection, a years of experience selection, an educational requirement selection, a selection for a first, second, third, or fourth work shift, a weekend coverage selection, an on-call coverage selection, a travel requirement selection, a client asset loan selection, a planned start date selection, a planned end date selection, a time related unit of measure selection, a selection for straight time, a selection for overtime, and a response due date selection;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, second selections within said core and secondary skills portion, wherein said second selections comprise;

an advise on a language for a supply chain selection, a programming languages selection, a language for financials selection, and an application for testing activities selection;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, third selections within said add or remove suppliers portion, wherein said third selections comprise vendor selections, test supplier selections, and flowdown term selections;

generating, by said computing system in response to said request for modifying said request document, a modified request document comprising a modified version of said request document, wherein said modified request document comprises said first selections, said second selections, and said third selections;

presenting, by said computing system to said requester, said modified request document; and

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, approval data approving a transmission of said modified request document.

11. The computing system of claim 10, wherein said method further comprises:

transmitting, by said computing system, said modified request document to said at least said first supplier; and

receiving from said at least said first supplier in response to said modified request document, by said computing system, a second list of candidates, each candidate of said second list of candidates associated with said modified request document.

12. The computing system of claim 10, wherein said method further comprises:

presenting after said receiving said request for modifying said request document, by said computing system, said first list of suppliers to said requester;

receiving, from said requester, by said computing system, a selection of at least a second supplier from said first list, wherein said modified request document comprises said selection of said at least said second supplier;

transmitting, by said computing system, said modified request document to said at least said second supplier; and

receiving from said at least said second supplier in response to said modified request document, by said computing system, a second list of candidates, each candidate of said second list of candidates associated with said modified request document.

13. The computing system of claim 10, wherein said method further comprises:

presenting after said receiving said request for modifying said request document, by said computing system, said first list of candidate skills to said requester; and

receiving, from said requester, by said computing system, a selection of a second candidate skill from said first list, wherein said modified request document comprises said selection of said second candidate skill.

14. The computing system of claim 10, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, second request details data; and

replacing, by computing system, a portion of said first request details data with said second request details data, wherein said modified request document comprises said second request details data.

15. The computing system of claim 14, wherein said second request details data comprises data selected from the group consisting of project name data, geographical location data, project coordinator data, requesting company data, and accounting data.

16. The computing system of claim 10, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, second skills details data; and

replacing, by computing system, a portion of said first skills details data with said second skills details data, wherein said modified request document comprises said second skills details data.

17. The computing system of claim 16, wherein said second skills details data comprises data selected from the group consisting of time related data, skill level data, and status data.

18. A computer program product, comprising a computer readable storage medium comprising a request details template, a skills details template, a first list of candidate skills, a first list of suppliers, and a computer readable program code embodied therein, said request details template consisting of a plurality of request details questions and request details headers consisting of:

a project name header, a requesting company header, a requesting organization header, a status header, a tracking number header, a project coordinator header, a reviewer header, and an accounting header, said skills details template comprising a plurality of skills details questions, said first list of candidate skills comprising skill levels for primary skills and secondary skills, said computer readable program code comprising an algorithm that when executed by a computer processor of an a computing system implements a method comprising;

receiving, by said computing system from said requester, first data comprising;

a status of said candidate request, a tracking number of said candidate request, and an accounting number of said candidate request;

receiving, by said computing system from said requester, first request details data associated with said request details template;

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

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

presenting, by said computing system, said skills details template to said requester;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, first skills details data associated with said skills details template, said first skills details data consisting of skill requirements including educational requirements for performing specified skills;

presenting, by said computing system, said first list of suppliers to said requester;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, a first selection of at least a first supplier from said first list of suppliers;

generating, by said computer processor of said computing system, a request document consisting of said first data, said first selection of said first candidate skill, said first selection of said at least said first supplier, said first skills details data, said first request details data, a response due date, and a request status;

presenting, by said computing system to said requestor, said request document;

transmitting, by said computing system, said request document to said at least said first supplier;

receiving from said at least said first supplier, by said computing system, a first list of candidates, each candidate of said first list of candidates associated with said request document;

presenting, by said computing system, a first computer screen interface comprising said first list of candidates to said requester;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system based on said first computer screen interface, a request for modifying said request document;

presenting, by said computing system in response to said request for modifying said request document, a modify request screen interface, wherein said modify request screen interface consists of a primary job rate header, a work location header, a position details header, an estimate of time header, a core and secondary skills selection portion, and an add or remove suppliers portion;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, first selections within said modify request screen interface, wherein said first selections comprise;

a primary job category selection, a secondary job category selection, a skill level selection, a years of experience selection, an educational requirement selection, a selection for a first, second, third, or fourth work shift, a weekend coverage selection, an on-call coverage selection, a travel requirement selection, a client asset loan selection, a planned start date selection, a planned end date selection, a time related unit of measure selection, a selection for straight time, a selection for overtime, and a response due date selection;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, second selections within said core and secondary skills portion, wherein said second selections comprise;

an advise on a language for a supply chain selection, a programming languages selection, a language for financials selection, and an application for testing activities selection;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, third selections within said add or remove suppliers portion, wherein said third selections comprise vendor selections, test supplier selections, and flowdown term selections;

generating, by said computing system in response to said request for modifying said request document, a modified request document comprising a modified version of said request document, wherein said modified request document comprises said first selections, said second selections, and said third selections;

presenting, by said computing system to said requester, said modified request document; and

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, approval data approving a transmission of said modified request document.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said method further comprises:

transmitting, by said computing system, said modified request document to said at least said first supplier; and

receiving from said at least said first supplier in response to said modified request document, by said computing system, a second list of candidates, each candidate of said second list of candidates associated with said modified request document.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said method further comprises:

presenting after said receiving said request for modifying said request document, by said computing system, said first list of suppliers to said requester;

receiving, from said requester, by said computing system, a selection of at least a second supplier from said first list, wherein said modified request document comprises said selection of said at least said second supplier;

transmitting, by said computing system, said modified request document to said at least said second supplier; and

receiving from said at least said second supplier in response to said modified request document, by said computing system, a second list of candidates, each candidate of said second list of candidates associated with said modified request document.

21. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said method further comprises:

presenting after said receiving said request for modifying said request document, by said computing system, said first list of candidate skills to said requester; and

receiving, from said requester, by said computing system, a selection of a second candidate skill from said first list, wherein said modified request document comprises said selection of said second candidate skill.

22. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, second request details data; and

replacing, by computing system, a portion of said first request details data with said second request details data, wherein said modified request document comprises said second request details data.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein said second request details data comprises data selected from the group consisting of project name data, geographical location data, project coordinator data, requesting company data, and accounting data.

24. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, second skills details data; and

replacing, by computing system, a portion of said first skills details data with said second skills details data, wherein said modified request document comprises said second skills details data.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein said second skills details data comprises data selected from the group consisting of time related data, skill level data, and status data.

26. 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 request details template, a skills details template, a first list of candidate skills, and a first list of suppliers, said request details template consisting of a plurality of request details questions and request details headers consisting of:

a project name header, a requesting company header, a requesting organization header, a status header, a tracking number header, a project coordinator header, a reviewer header, and an accounting header, said skills details template comprising a plurality of skills details questions, said first list of candidate skills comprising skill levels for primary skills and secondary skills, said method comprising;

presenting, by said computing system to a requester, said request details template;

receiving, by said computing system from said requester, first data comprising;

a status of said candidate request, a tracking number of said candidate request, and an accounting number of said candidate request;

receiving, by said computing system from said requester, first request details data associated with said request details template;

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

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

presenting, by said computing system, said skills details template to said requester;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, first skills details data associated with said skills details template, said first skills details data consisting of skill requirements including educational requirements for performing specified skills;

presenting, by said computing system, said first list of suppliers to said requester;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, a first selection of at least a first supplier from said first list of suppliers;

generating, by a computer processor of said computing system, a request document consisting of said first data, said first selection of said first candidate skill, said first selection of said at least said first supplier, said first skills details data, said first request details data, a response due date, and a request status;

presenting, by said computing system to said requestor, said request document;

transmitting, by said computing system, said request document to said at least said first supplier;

receiving from said at least said first supplier, by said computing system, a first list of candidates, each candidate of said first list of candidates associated with said request document;

presenting, by said computing system, a first computer screen interface comprising said first list of candidates to said requester;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system based on said first computer screen interface, a request for modifying said request document;

presenting, by said computing system in response to said request for modifying said request document, a modify request screen interface, wherein said modify request screen interface consists of a primary job rate header, a work location header, a position details header, an estimate of time header, a core and secondary skills selection portion, and an add or remove suppliers portion;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, first selections within said modify request screen interface, wherein said first selections comprise;

a primary job category selection, a secondary job category selection, a skill level selection, a years of experience selection, an educational requirement selection, a selection for a first, second, third, or fourth work shift, a weekend coverage selection, an on-call coverage selection, a travel requirement selection, a client asset loan selection, a planned start date selection, a planned end date selection, a time related unit of measure selection, a selection for straight time, a selection for overtime, and a response due date selection;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, second selections within said core and secondary skills portion, wherein said second selections comprise;

an advise on a language for a supply chain selection, a programming languages selection, a language for financials selection, and an application for testing activities selection;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, third selections within said add or remove suppliers portion, wherein said third selections comprise vendor selections, test supplier selections, and flowdown term selections;

generating, by said computing system in response to said request for modifying said request document, a modified request document comprising a modified version of said request document, wherein said modified request document comprises said first selections, said second selections, and said third selections;

presenting, by said computing system to said requester, said modified request document; and

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, approval data approving a transmission of said modified request document.

27. The process of claim 26, wherein said method further comprises:

transmitting, by said computing system, said modified request document to said at least said first supplier; and

receiving from said at least said first supplier in response to said modified request document, by said computing system, a second list of candidates, each candidate of said second list of candidates associated with said modified request document.

28. The process of claim 26, wherein said method further comprises:

presenting after said receiving said request for modifying said request document, by said computing system, said first list of suppliers to said requester;

receiving, from said requester, by said computing system, a selection of at least a second supplier from said first list, wherein said modified request document comprises said selection of said at least said second supplier;

transmitting, by said computing system, said modified request document to said at least said second supplier; and

receiving from said at least said second supplier in response to said modified request document, by said computing system, a second list of candidates, each candidate of said second list of candidates associated with said modified request document.

29. The process of claim 26, wherein said method further comprises:

presenting after said receiving said request for modifying said request document, by said computing system, said first list of candidate skills to said requester; and

receiving, from said requester, by said computing system, a selection of a second candidate skill from said first list, wherein said modified request document comprises said selection of said second candidate skill.

30. The process of claim 26, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, second request details data; and

replacing, by computing system, a portion of said first request details data with said second request details data, wherein said modified request document comprises said second request details data.

31. The process of claim 26, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, second skills details data; and

replacing, by computing system, a portion of said first skills details data with said second skills details data, wherein said modified request document comprises said second skills details data.