Automated allocation of resources to functional areas of an enterprise activity environment

Abstract

A computer implemented method, system and/or computer program product automatically allocates resources to functional areas of an enterprise activity environment. A skill level of a resource is determined for multiple functional areas. An affinity index is created and associated with each of the multiple functional areas, wherein the affinity index is based on a level of productivity drop of other resources in a specific functional area if the resource is assigned to another functional area. Expected resource and skill level requirements of a project are identified. The resource is automatically allocated to one or more functional areas based on the affinity index associated with a particular functional area in view of the expected resource and skill level requirements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for automated allocation of resources to functional areas of an enterprise activity environment, the method comprising:
 determining, by one or more processors, a skill level of a resource in multiple functional areas, wherein the resource has a specific skill level in each of the multiple functional areas;   creating and associating, by one or more processors, an affinity index with each of the multiple functional areas, wherein the affinity index is based on a level of productivity drop of other resources in a specific functional area if the resource is assigned to another functional area;   identifying, by one or more processors, expected resource and skill level requirements of a project; and   automatically allocating, by one or more processors, the resource to one or more functional areas based on the affinity index associated with a particular functional area in view of the expected resource and skill level requirements.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enterprise activity environment is a software factory, and wherein said each functional area is a work station within the software factory. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, by one or more processors, a predicted breakpoint for reassigning an existing resource, wherein the predicted breakpoint defines a point in time at which lost productivity caused by removing the existing resource from a first functional area is equally offset by increased productivity in a second functional area to which the existing resource is now assigned;   determining, by one or more processors, an acceptable breakpoint based on a length of the project; and   reassigning, by one or more processors, the existing resource from the first functional area to the second functional area only if the predicted breakpoint does not exceed the acceptable breakpoint.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 assigning, by one or more processors, a short term priority weight to short term needs of a particular functional area and a long term priority weight to long term needs of the particular functional area, wherein the short term priority weight describes a first priority level for short term activities in the particular functional area, and wherein the long term priority weight describes a second priority level for long term activities in the particular functional area;   determining, by one or more processors, a higher priority weight by comparing the short term priority weight to the long term priority weight; and   reallocating, by one or more processors, resources based on the higher priority weight.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the higher priority weight is based on a cohesion index and the affinity index, wherein the cohesion index describes how sensitive a productivity of a team is to worker reassignments. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the skill level of the resource is based on past performance by the resource on previous projects. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the skill level of the resource is based on test results of tests administered to the resource. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the resource is a person. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the skill level of the resource is based on a self-assessed skill level of the person. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the skill level of the resource is based on a peer-assessed skill level of the person. 
     
     
         11 . A computer program product for automated allocation of resources to functional areas of an enterprise activity environment, the computer program product comprising:
 a computer readable storage media;   first program instructions to determine a skill level of a resource in multiple functional areas, wherein the resource has a specific skill level in each of the multiple functional areas;   second program instructions to associate an affinity index with each of the multiple functional areas, wherein the affinity index is based on a level of productivity drop of other resources in a specific functional area if the resource is assigned to another functional area;   third program instructions to identify expected resource and skill level requirements of a project; and   fourth program instructions to automatically allocate the resource to one or more functional areas based on the affinity index associated with a particular functional area in view of the expected resource and skill level requirements; and wherein   
       the first, second, third, and fourth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media. 
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the enterprise activity environment is a software factory, and wherein said each functional area is a work station within the software factory. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 fifth program instructions to determine a predicted breakpoint for reassigning an existing resource, wherein the predicted breakpoint defines a point in time at which lost productivity caused by removing the existing resource from a first functional area is equally offset by increased productivity in a second functional area to which the existing resource is now assigned;   sixth program instructions to determine an acceptable breakpoint based on a length of the project; and   seventh program instructions to reassign the existing resource from the first functional area to the second functional area only if the predicted breakpoint does not exceed the acceptable breakpoint; and wherein the fifth, sixth, and seventh program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media.   
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 fifth program instructions to assign a short term priority weight to short term needs of a particular functional area and a long term priority weight to long term needs of the particular functional area, wherein the short term priority weight describes a first priority level for short term activities in the particular functional area, and wherein the long term priority weight describes a second priority level for long term activities in the particular functional area;   sixth program instructions to determine a higher priority weight by comparing the short term priority weight to the long term priority weight; and   seventh program instructions to reallocate resources based on the higher priority weight; and wherein the fifth, sixth, and seventh program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media.   
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 14 , wherein the higher priority weight is based on a cohesion index and the affinity index, wherein the cohesion index describes how sensitive a productivity of a team is to worker reassignments. 
     
     
         16 . A computer system comprising:
 a central processing unit (CPU), a computer readable memory, and a computer readable storage media;   first program instructions to determine a skill level of a resource in multiple functional areas, wherein the resource has a specific skill level in each of the multiple functional areas;   second program instructions to associate an affinity index with each of the multiple functional areas, wherein the affinity index is based on a level of productivity drop of other resources in a specific functional area if the resource is assigned to another functional area;   third program instructions to identify expected resource and skill level requirements of a project; and   fourth program instructions to automatically allocate the resource to one or more functional areas based on the affinity index associated with a particular functional area in view of the expected resource and skill level requirements; and wherein   
       the first, second, third, and fourth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by the CPU via the computer readable memory. 
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 16 , wherein the enterprise activity environment is a software factory, and wherein said each functional area is a work station within the software factory. 
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 fifth program instructions to determine a predicted breakpoint for reassigning an existing resource, wherein the predicted breakpoint defines a point in time at which lost productivity caused by removing the existing resource from a first functional area is equally offset by increased productivity in a second functional area to which the existing resource is now assigned;   sixth program instructions to determine an acceptable breakpoint based on a length of the project; and   seventh program instructions to reassign the existing resource from the first functional area to the second functional area only if the predicted breakpoint does not exceed the acceptable breakpoint; and wherein   
       the fifth, sixth, and seventh program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by the CPU via the computer readable memory. 
     
     
         19 . The computer system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 fifth program instructions to assign a short term priority weight to short term needs of a particular functional area and a long term priority weight to long term needs of the particular functional area, wherein the short term priority weight describes a first priority level for short term activities in the particular functional area, and wherein the long term priority weight describes a second priority level for long term activities in the particular functional area;   sixth program instructions to determine a higher priority weight by comparing the short term priority weight to the long term priority weight; and   seventh program instructions to reallocate resources based on the higher priority weight; and wherein the fifth, sixth, and seventh program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by the CPU via the computer readable memory.   
     
     
         20 . The computer system of  claim 16 , wherein the higher priority weight is based on a cohesion index and the affinity index, wherein the cohesion index describes how sensitive a productivity of a team is to worker reassignments.