System and methods for process analysis, simulation, and optimization based on activity-based cost information
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorWayne Malkin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computer-implemented method of analyzing a workflow is provided. The method can include generating a multi-stage workflow representation corresponding to a physical process, the representation defining for each stage of the workflow at least one activity performed during the process. The method also can include associating at least one activity-based cost with each activity performed during the process, and estimating a distribution of costs over the stages of the workflow based on cost data generated by repeated execution of the process. The method can further include determining, based upon the estimated distribution of costs, whether a cost imbalance is associated with at least one stage of the workflow.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method of analyzing a workflow, comprising:
- generating a multi-stage workflow corresponding to a physical process, the workflow defining for each stage at least one activity performed during the process;
- associating at least one activity-based cost with each activity performed during the process;
- and
- estimating a distribution of costs over the stages of the workflow based on cost data generated by repeated execution of the process.
A computer-based system for analyzing a workflow, comprising:
- a workflow-generating module for generating a multi-stage workflow corresponding to a physical process, the workflow defining at each stage at least one activity performed during the process;
- a cost-activity-associating module for associating at least one activity-based cost with each activity performed during the process;
- and
- a cost-distribution-estimating module for estimating a distribution of costs over the stages of the workflow based on cost data generated by repeated execution of the process.
A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable code embedded therein, such that when loaded to and executed by a computer, the computer-readable code causes the computer to:
- generate a multi-stage workflow corresponding to a physical process, the workflow defining for each stage at least one activity performed during the process;
- associate at least one activity-based cost with each activity performed during the process;
- and
- estimate a distribution of costs over the stages of the workflow based on cost data generated by repeated execution of the process.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.