Resource Allocation Tutorial - Entering Your Data

Entering Your Resource Allocation Data

Because the Resource Allocation model requires a specific data format, users with their own data should review the pre-formatted template to learn about the appropriate structure.

The template will consist of the following data blocks depending on the template options selected.

Base scenario

Data consists of current efforts and outcomes, cost, and margin for each category. 

Effort data

Data consists of the levels of efforts that will be used to calibrate the response functions. “Inf” can be used to represent an infinite level of effort.

Impact data

Data consists of the consensus estimates of how outcomes might be affected by changes in the effort variables for each category. For instance, how much additional sales would be generated by an increase of 50% in the sales force allocated to a specific customer segment or product category?

Obtaining accurate and consistent consensus estimates from a group of managers and experts is as much an art as it is a science. It requires free information exchange, constructive feedback, and a constructive discussion of the “what-if?” scenarios

Category-specific constraints data (optional)

Data consists of the minimum and maximum level of effort for each category. The minimum should be set for each category. The maximum may be left empty.