Workload scheduling method and system with improved planned job duration updating scheme

A computer-usable program product comprising a computer-usable storage device including computer-usable code for scheduling execution of a work unit in a data processing system, the computer-usable code comprising:

• computer-usable code for assigning to the work unit an expected execution duration;
• computer-usable code for executing the work unit;
• computer-usable code for determining an actual execution duration of the work unit;
• computer-usable code for determining a difference between the actual execution duration and the expected execution duration;
• and
• computer-usable code for conditionally adjusting the expected execution duration associated with the work unit based on the measured actual execution duration, wherein the conditionally adjusting includes preventing the adjustment of the expected execution duration in case the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold, associating to the work unit a parameter having a prescribed value adapted to provide an indication of unconditional adjustment of the expected execution duration, and the conditionally adjusting further including, when the parameter takes the prescribed value, adjusting the expected execution duration assigned to the work unit based on the measured actual execution duration even if the difference exceeds the predetermined threshold, said adjusting including smoothing the difference between the actual execution duration and the expected duration, said smoothing depending on a smoothing factor, wherein said conditionally adjusting includes unconditionally preventing the adjustment of the expected execution duration in case said smoothing factor takes a prescribed value.

A data processing system for scheduling execution of a work unit, the data processing system comprising:

• a storage device including a storage medium, wherein the storage device stores computer-usable program code;
• and
• a processor, wherein the processor executes the computer-usable program code, and wherein the computer-usable program code comprises:
• computer-usable code for assigning to the work unit an expected execution duration;
• computer-usable code for executing the work unit;
• computer-usable code for determining an actual execution duration of the work unit;
• computer-usable code for determining a difference between the actual execution duration and the expected execution duration;
• and
• computer-usable code for conditionally adjusting the expected execution duration associated with the work unit based on the measured actual execution duration, wherein the conditionally adjusting includes preventing the adjustment of the expected execution duration in case the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold, associating to the work unit a parameter having a prescribed value adapted to provide an indication of unconditional adjustment of the expected execution duration, and the conditionally adjusting further including, when the parameter takes the prescribed value, adjusting the expected execution duration assigned to the work unit based on the measured actual execution duration even if the difference exceeds the predetermined threshold, said adjusting including smoothing the difference between the actual execution duration and the expected duration, said smoothing depending on a smoothing factor, wherein said conditionally adjusting includes unconditionally preventing the adjustment of the expected execution duration in case said smoothing factor takes a prescribed value.