Estimating business targets

Abstract

A method for generating business targets includes accessing data ( 300 ) corresponding to a number of customers. The data includes variables ( 310 - 330 ) associated with each of the customers and an observed value for each of the customers. The observed value for a customer may represent revenue associated with that particular customer. The method also includes identifying a neighborhood that includes a first customer and a number of the other customers. The method further includes calculating a target for each of the customers in the neighborhood, where the target may represent the potential revenue from each of the customers.

1 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A computerized method for setting a maximal customer-spending potential-target, said method comprising:
 establishing a database of customers;   establishing criteria for judging similarity amongst said customers;   establishing, for each one of said customers, a threshold of said similarity wherein each customer in a subset of said customers meets a common threshold of similarity;   computing, for said each said customer in said subset, an exponential parameter (λ) from said subset of said customers to provide an accurate measure of spending potential for said each said customer in said subset; and   visually displaying, or storing, said accurate measure of said spending potential for a user of said accurate measure of said spending potential.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said accurate measure of spending potential is used to set incentives for sales commissions. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36  wherein an unbiased estimator of said exponential parameter is calculated from a particular equation. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein said particular equation is specification equation (4) or Eq. (4). 
     
     
         40 . A computer readable medium, excluding carrier waves, containing instructions for controlling at least one processor to perform a method for setting a maximal customer-spending potential-target, said method comprising:
 establishing a database of customers;   establishing criteria for judging similarity amongst said customers;   establishing, for each one of said customers, a threshold of said similarity wherein each customer in a subset of said customers meets a common threshold of similarity;   computing, for said each said customer in said subset, an exponential parameter (λ) from said subset of said customers to provide an accurate measure of spending potential for said each said customer in said subset; and   visually displaying, or storing, said accurate measure of said spending potential for a user of said accurate measure of said spending potential.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein said accurate measure of spending potential is used to set incentives for sales commissions. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40  wherein an unbiased estimator of said exponential parameter is calculated from a particular equation. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein said particular equation is specification equation (4) or Eq. (4).