Resource Availability Search & Resource Reservations


Being able to find the right resources for each job is a critical success factor which has become increasingly difficult as more and more specialties emerge. Project Observatory combines skills, availability, and geographic factors to identify the best candidates for each assignment and provides a reservations workflow which allows candidates to be pre-allocated for upcoming projects.

Availability Search

This very important facility locates and ranks staffing candidates for required work. We call this a three dimensional search because it uses Capabilities (required and preferred), Availability (supply-demand) and Location (required/preferred/ and within a radius) information simultaneously to construct a list of candidates. The search can include the entire Observatory community, or be limited to an organizational unit. A search form allows the user to enter criteria and retrieve results.


In order to do these searches, the system collects a variety of information. Capacity is set for each member is defined and can be time variable. Commitments are collected from the project reports. Each is a time-variable curve (weekly histogram) of the demand on the member from that project. Reservations are created by users. They represent blocks of time that are commitment for specific reasons, often as placeholders for upcoming projects. Capabilities, Interests, and Locations are periodically reported by each individual using a Capabilities Interview Questionnaire sent by the system.

Availability Search Form

For each candidate the system returns the available time, distance, and a detailed list of currently scheduled commitments and reservations. These results can be visualized on a map and used to create resource reservations.
Availability Search Results

WHO
This is the name of the candidate (lower two levels only) which is hyperlinked to the Member or Organization report document. Below the candidate name is the location of the candidate (if one is available)
AVAILABILITY
This column contains the starting date of availability, the hours available, and the percent availability for the selected period. Just below is the word RESERVE hyperlinked to create a new reservation for this person.
QUALIFICATIONS
This will show the word "All" if the candidate meets all of the preferred qualifications. (Note that the candidate must meet all the mandatory qualifications before being listed here) If any of the preferred qualifications are not found in this candidate, then they will be listed preceded by a minus sign. E.g. (-Programming\Oracle,-Technical Writing) If any of the preferred qualifications are missing, but you have checked the "Will provide Training" option, then they will be preceded by an asterisk. E.g. (*Programming\Notes) If a preferred location as been selected, then the second line will show the distance from the closest location for which this candidate is coded. e.g. 2505 Mi to LONDON Note that, if you set a distance criterion, then you will exclude candidates who are not within that distance from at least one of the preferred locations.
CONCURRENT PROJECTS
This will either show "[none]" or the phrase "See Details Below". You can scroll down the form to find the current project table for that candidate.

Reservations


Reservation Request Form

MAKING RESERVATIONS

Reservations can be created directly from links on the search form or using the "Reserve" button that appears on Member and Organization Reports. They represent blocks of time that are committed for specific reasons, often as placeholders for upcoming projects. They can also be used to allocate time for ongoing overhead activities such as help desk support.

RESERVATION WORKFLOW

If you do not have the right of approval for this person then the appropriate manager will be notified to request approval.

Once a reservation is created, it will immediately affect future searches so that the same resource's time will not appear available while prior reservations wait for approval. Reservations are for a specific time period. As that period passes, the reservation lapses week by week until it is removed by the system. Alternately, one or more projects can be "attached" to the reservation. In this use, the reservation represents a minimum commitment to the project.