Apparatus and method for forecasting qualitative assessments

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium to direct a computer to function in a specified manner, comprising executable instructions to:

generate a set of qualitative assessments for different variables within a data set recorded over a specified number of periods among a plurality of business records;

convert the set of qualitative assessments to a corresponding set of quantitative assessments using a pre-defined mapping between qualitative assessment values in the set of qualitative assessments and numeric values;

identify, using a statistical test, at least two patterns present in the set of quantitative assessments, each pattern being a relationship between a plurality of data values, the statistical test being selected from a group consisting of: a Runs Test, a Mean Successive Squared Difference Test, an Autocorrelation Test, a Tukey Test, a Variance Test, and a Regression Analysis, the patterns being selected from a group consisting of: a linear pattern, a non-linear pattern, an outlier pattern, a cyclical pattern, and a random pattern;

produce a quantitative forecast predicting future business performance from the set of quantitative assessments using the identified patterns;

translate the quantitative forecast, using the pre-defined mapping, to a qualitative forecast predicting future business performance that provides a textual or graphical characterization of a record; and

initiate display of the qualitative forecast.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the qualitative assessments are based on business records selected from a group consisting of: strategic initiatives records, strategic projects records, and action plans.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the pre-defined mapping is a user defined mapping.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the executable instructions to translate include executable instructions to round the quantitative forecast.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the executable instructions include executable instructions to display the qualitative forecast.

6. A method for implementation by one or more data processors comprising:

generating, by at least one data processor, a set of qualitative assessments for different variables within a data set recorded over a specified number of periods among a plurality of business records;

converting, by at least one data processor, the set of qualitative assessments to a corresponding set of quantitative assessments using a pre-defined mapping between qualitative assessment values in the set of qualitative assessments and numeric values;

identifying, by at least one data processor using a statistical test, at least two patterns present in the set of quantitative assessments, each pattern being a relationship between a plurality of data values, the statistical test being selected from a group consisting of: a Runs Test, a Mean Successive Squared Difference Test, an Autocorrelation Test, a Tukey Test, a Variance Test, and a Regression Analysis, the patterns being selected from a group consisting of: a linear pattern, a non-linear pattern, an outlier pattern, a cyclical pattern, and a random pattern;

producing, by at least one data processor, a quantitative forecast predicting future business performance from the set of quantitative assessments using the identified patterns;

translating, by at least one data processor, the quantitative forecast, using the pre-defined mapping, to a qualitative forecast predicting future business performance that provides a textual or graphical characterization of a record; and

initiating, by at least one data processor, display of the qualitative forecast.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the qualitative assessments are based on business records selected from a group consisting of: strategic initiatives records, strategic projects records, and action plans.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the pre-defined mapping is a user defined mapping.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the translating comprises rounding the quantitative forecast.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising: displaying, by at least one data processor, the qualitative forecast.

11. A system comprising:

one or more data processors; and

memory storing instructions, which when executed, result in operations comprising:

generating, by at least one data processor, a set of qualitative assessments for different variables within a data set recorded over a specified number of periods among a plurality of business records;

converting, by at least one data processor, the set of qualitative assessments to a corresponding set of quantitative assessments using a pre-defined mapping between qualitative assessment values in the set of qualitative assessments and numeric values;

identifying, by at least one data processor using a statistical test, at least two patterns present in the set of quantitative assessments, each pattern being a relationship between a plurality of data values, the statistical test being selected from a group consisting of: a Runs Test, a Mean Successive Squared Difference Test, an Autocorrelation Test, a Turkey Test, a Variance Test, and a Regression Analysis, the patterns being selected from a group consisting of: a linear pattern, a non-linear pattern, an outlier pattern, a cyclical pattern, and a random pattern;

producing, by at least one data processor, a quantitative forecast predicting future business performance from the set of quantitative assessments using the identified patterns;

translating, by at least one data processor, the quantitative forecast, using the pre-defined mapping, to a qualitative forecast predicting future business performance that provides a textual or graphical characterization of a record; and

initiating, by at least one data processor, display of the qualitative forecast.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the qualitative assessments are based on business records selected from a group consisting of: strategic initiatives records, strategic projects records, and action plans.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the pre-defined mapping is a user defined mapping.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the translating comprises rounding the quantitative forecast.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise: displaying, by at least one data processor, the qualitative forecast.