# US 2018/0025374 A1 · Unified incentive framework for task-oriented services

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- Number: US 2018/0025374 A1
- Document ID: US20180025374A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/215,634
- Filed: 2016-07-21
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-21
- Assignees: Xerox Corporation
- Applicants: Xerox Corporation
- Inventors: Rahul Ghosh; Soumi Chattopadhyay; Ansuman Banerjee; Koustuv Dasgupta; Preethy Varma
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180025374A1

## CPC

- G06Q 30/0208: Trade or exchange of goods or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
- G06Q 10/063114: {Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group}
- G06Q 10/06393: {Score-carding, benchmarking or key performance indicator [KPI] analysis}
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

Embodiments of a system and a method for design and implementation of an employee incentive scheme for one or more tasks are disclosed. The system includes a data input module and a unified incentive module. The data input module on a computer with a processor and a memory being configured to: receive a task for a plurality of employees from the user device; and identify whether or not a task is associated with a predetermined baseline. The task is identified as a routine task if associated with the predetermined baseline, else the task is identified as a special task. The unified incentive module on the computer is configured to compute a task incentive for at least one of the routine task and the special task associated with an employee among multiple employees.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer implemented method for design and implementation of an employee incentive scheme for one or more tasks, the method comprising:
receiving, using a data input module on a computer with a processor and a memory, a task for a plurality of employees from a user device;
identifying, using the data input module, whether or not the task is associated with a predetermined baseline being related to an estimated time required to complete the task, wherein the task being identified as a routine task if associated with the predetermined baseline, else the task being identified as a special task; and
computing, using a unified incentive module on the computer, a task incentive for at least one of the routine task and the special task associated with an employee among the plurality of employees.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The computer implemented method according to claim 1, further comprising:
if the task is identified as the routine task by the data input module:
successively combining, using a routine task incentive computation (RTIC) module on the computer in communication with the unified incentive module, a predefined set of disparate key performance indicators (KPIs) associated with the routine task into a plurality of predefined categories to provide a unique set of KPIs, wherein a combined set of KPIs in at least one category has a causal relationship with another combined set of KPIs in another category in the plurality of predefined categories; and
computing, using the RTIC module, the task incentive for the employee based on the unique set of KPIs.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The computer implemented method according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of predefined categories includes combinable KPI, outcome-influencing KPI, and unrelated KPI.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The computer implemented method according to claim 3, wherein a disparate KPI in the predefined set being categorized as the outcome-influencing KPI has an absolute value capable of reducing the effect of another disparate KPI on the computed task incentive.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The computer implemented method according to claim 2, further comprising computing, using the RTIC module, an additional task incentive for high performance based on a value of each KPI in the unique set of KPIs being above a corresponding predefined KPI threshold value.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The computer implemented method according to claim 5, wherein the additional incentive is computed based on an employee score and a predefined organizational budget for the high performance, wherein the employee score is based on a performance parameter and a predefined priority of each KPI in the unique set of KPIs.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The computer implemented method according to claim 6, wherein the task incentive is computed based on the performance parameter and a sub-target incentive of the employee, wherein the sub-target incentive is related to each KPI in the unique set of KPIs.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The computer implemented method according to claim 7, wherein the performance parameter is a function of one or more KPIs categorized as an outcome-influencing KPI in the predefined set of disparate KPIs and an average deviation of the outcome-influencing KPIs.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The computer implemented method according to claim 1, further comprising:
if the task is identified as the special task by the data input module:
receiving, using the data input module, a bid of baseline for the special task from the employee based on a trust value of the employee being above a predefined trust threshold value;
selecting, using a task allocator on the computer, the employee for being assigned the special task among the plurality of employees provided the bid is a lowest bid corresponding to a minimum baseline among a plurality of bids received from the plurality of employees, wherein the employee has a predefined first target incentive;
determining, using a special task incentive computation (STIC) module on the computer in communication with the unified incentive module, a second lowest bid corresponding to a second minimum baseline among the plurality of bids, wherein the second minimum baseline is associated with another employee having a predefined second target incentive from the plurality of employees; and
computing, using the STIC module, the task incentive based on the trust value, the first target incentive, the second target incentive, the minimum baseline, the second minimum baseline, and an actual time taken by the selected employee to complete the special task.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The computer implemented method according to claim 9, wherein the trust value is computed by a trust analyzer on the computer based on a performance history of the employee, wherein the performance history is based on a ratio of baseline violations and a central tendency of baseline violation associated with the employee, wherein the central tendency is a function of an average percentage baseline violation and a standard deviation of a percentage baseline violation.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The computer implemented method according to claim 10, further comprising:
receiving, using the data input module, at least one bid equivalent to the minimum baseline among the plurality of bids, wherein the at least one bid is associated with a new employee among the plurality of employees; and
selecting, using the task allocator, one of the employees and the new employee based on a respective trust value being the highest.

### Claim 12

A system for design and implementation of an employee incentive scheme for one or more tasks, the system being in communication with a user device, the system comprising:
a data input module on a computer with a processor and a memory being configured to:
receive a task for a plurality of employees from the user device; and
identify whether or not the task is associated with a predetermined baseline being related to an estimated time required to complete the task, wherein the task being identified as a routine task if associated with the predetermined baseline, else the task being identified as a special task; and
a unified incentive module on the computer configured to compute a task incentive for at least one of the routine task and the special task associated with an employee among the plurality of employees.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system according to claim 12, wherein if the task is identified as the routine task by the data input module, the system further comprises:
a routine task incentive computation (RTIC) module on the computer in communication with the unified incentive module, wherein the RTIC module is configured to:
successively combine a predefined set of disparate key performance indicators (KPIs) associated with the routine task into a plurality of predefined categories to provide a unique set of KPIs, wherein a combined set of KPIs in at least one category has a causal relationship with another combined set of KPIs in another category in the plurality of predefined categories; and
compute the task incentive for the employee based on the unique set of KPIs.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of predefined categories includes combinable KPI, outcome-influencing KPI, and unrelated KPI.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system according to claim 14, wherein a disparate KPI in the predefined set being categorized as the outcome-influencing KPI has an absolute value capable of reducing the effect of another disparate KPI on the computed task incentive.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The system according to claim 13, wherein an additional task incentive is being computed by the RTIC module for high performance based on a value of each KPI in the unique set of KPIs being above a corresponding predefined KPI threshold value.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system according to claim 16, wherein the additional incentive is computed based on an employee score and a predefined organizational budget for the high performance, wherein the employee score is based on a performance parameter and a predefined priority of each KPI in the unique set of KPIs.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system according to claim 17, wherein the task incentive is computed based on the performance parameter and a sub-target incentive of the employee, wherein the sub-target incentive is related to each KPI in the unique set of KPIs.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system according to claim 18, wherein the performance parameter is a function of one or more KPIs categorized as an outcome-influencing KPI in the predefined set of disparate KPIs and an average deviation of the outcome-influencing KPIs.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The system according to claim 12, wherein if the task is identified as the special task, the data input module is further configured to receive a bid of baseline for the special task from the employee based on a trust value of the employee being above a predefined trust threshold value, wherein the system further comprises:
a task allocator on the computer configured to select the employee for the special task among the plurality of employees provided the bid is a lowest bid corresponding to a minimum baseline among a plurality of bids received from the plurality of employees, wherein the employee has a predefined first target incentive; and
a special task incentive computation (STIC) module on the computer in communication with the unified incentive module, wherein the STIC module is configured to:
determine a second lowest bid corresponding to a second minimum baseline among the plurality of bids, wherein the second minimum baseline is associated with another employee having a predefined second target incentive from the plurality of employees; and
compute the task incentive based on the trust value, the first target incentive, the second target incentive, the minimum baseline, the second minimum baseline, and an actual time taken by the selected employee to complete the special task.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The system according to claim 20, wherein the system further comprises:
a trust analyzer on the computer configured to compute the trust value based on a performance history of the employee, wherein the performance history is based on a ratio of baseline violations and a central tendency of baseline violation associated with the employee, wherein the central tendency is a function of an average percentage baseline violation and a standard deviation of a percentage baseline violation.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The system according to claim 20, wherein the data input module is further configured to receive at least one bid equivalent to the minimum baseline among the plurality of bids, wherein the at least one bid is associated with a new employee among the plurality of employees; and
the task allocator is further configured to select one of the employee and the new employee based on a respective trust value being the highest.

### Claim 23

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for design and implementation of an employee incentive scheme for one or more tasks, the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions for:
receiving a task for a plurality of employees from a user device;
identifying whether or not the task is associated with a predetermined baseline being related to an estimated time required to complete the task, wherein the task being identified as a routine task if associated with the predetermined baseline, else the task being identified as a special task; and
computing a task incentive for at least one of the routine task and the special task associated with an employee among the plurality of employees.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The claim according to claim 23, further comprising:
if the task is identified as the routine task:
successively combining a predefined set of disparate key performance indicators (KPIs) associated with the routine task into a plurality of predefined categories to provide a unique set of KPIs, wherein a combined set of KPIs in at least one category has a causal relationship with another combined set of KPIs in another category in the plurality of predefined categories; and
computing the task incentive for the employee based on the unique set of KPIs.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The claim according to claim 24, wherein the plurality of predefined categories includes combinable KPI, outcome-influencing KPI, and unrelated KPI.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The claim according to claim 25, wherein a disparate KPI in the predefined set being categorized as the outcome-influencing KPI has an absolute value capable of reducing the effect of another disparate KPI on the computed task incentive.

### Claim 27 (depends on 24)

The claim according to claim 24, further comprising computing an additional task incentive for high performance based on a value of each KPI in the unique set of KPIs being above a corresponding predefined KPI threshold value.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The claim according to claim 27, wherein the additional incentive is computed based on an employee score and a predefined organizational budget for the high performance, wherein the employee score is based on a performance parameter and a predefined priority of each KPI in the unique set of KPIs.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The claim according to claim 28, wherein the task incentive is computed based on the performance parameter and a sub-target incentive of the employee, wherein the sub-target incentive is related to each KPI in the unique set of KPIs.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The claim according to claim 29, wherein the performance parameter is a function of one or more KPIs categorized as an outcome-influencing KPI in the predefined set of disparate KPIs and an average deviation of the outcome-influencing KPIs.

### Claim 31 (depends on 23)

The claim according to claim 23, further comprising:
if the task is identified as the special task:
receiving a bid of baseline for the special task from the employee based on a trust value of the employee being above a predefined trust threshold value;
selecting the employee for the special task among the plurality of employees provided the bid is a lowest bid corresponding to a minimum baseline among a plurality of bids received from the plurality of employees, wherein the employee has a predefined first target incentive;
determining a second lowest bid corresponding to a second minimum baseline among the plurality of bids, wherein the second minimum baseline is associated with another employee having a predefined second target incentive from the plurality of employees; and
computing the task incentive based on the trust value, the first target incentive, the second target incentive, the minimum baseline, the second minimum baseline, and an actual time taken by the selected employee to complete the special task.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The claim according to claim 31, wherein the trust value is computed by a trust analyzer on the computer based on a performance history of the employee, wherein the performance history is based on a ratio of baseline violations and a central tendency of baseline violation associated with the employee, wherein the central tendency is a function of an average percentage baseline violation and a standard deviation of a percentage baseline violation.

### Claim 33 (depends on 31)

The claim according to claim 31, further comprising:
receiving at least one bid equivalent to the minimum baseline among the plurality of bids, wherein the at least one bid is associated with a new employee among the plurality of employees; and
selecting one of the employee and the new employee based on a respective trust value being the highest.