Challenge Summary
Welcome to the Hermes - Cash Data Idea Generation Challenge! The client for this project analyzes employee compensation to help provide their customer with benchmarks and advice on competitive salary and benefits packages to prospective employees. One of their main tasks is to collect compensation data around “cash” (salary, bonuses, and other cash related compensations such as stock/shares, long-term performance payments, car allowances, and other cash-based allowances from their client companies for analysis and benchmarking. They are looking to simplify the current data collection process to make it easier for their customers to submit data.
For this challenge we are looking for you to help us come up with ideas to help simplify the data collection process for “cash” data. Your ideas should focus on data transformation / collection tools (not direct integration with a customer’s system). Full details on the type of ideas we’re looking for are included below.
We look forward to seeing your creative ideas!
Round 1
For Round 1, you are expected to submit your completed idea, including:
1) Summary Paragraph
2) Idea Description (describe how data will be collected / transformed)
3) User Stories
4) Any Supplemental Material (i.e. Screenshots or Mockups - optional)
NOTE: If anything is unclear please ask us on the forum and we will be happy to help!
Round 2
In Round 2, you are expected to submit your completed idea including any changes made based on any feedback from the client (if applicable):
1) Summary Paragraph
2) Idea Description (describe how data will be collected / transformed)
3) User Stories
4) Any Supplemental Material (i.e. Screenshots or Mockups - optional)
NOTE: If anything is unclear please ask us on the forum and we will be happy to help!
Challenge Overview:
The client for this project collects “cash” data from companies for analysis and benchmarking. Cash data includes things like salary, bonuses, and other cash related compensations such as stock/shares, long-term performance payments, car allowances, and other cash-based allowances, as well as various job coding information that enables benchmarking capabilities. It does NOT include information around benefits like health care, disability, insurance, etc.
The current process for collecting cash data involves consuming an Excel file (“Hermes - International Data Submission Kit - Total Package Countries - Feb 2014.xls”) and loading it into a database. A team is responsible for manually processing Excel files completed by customers and making sure the data is entered correctly in the database. The current Excel spreadsheet, including sample data format, is attached for you to understand this current process.
The client has conducted extensive research into the current data collection process and come up with the following good points, areas for improvement, and the “ideal” process:
Good:
- Client is seen as better (or at least no worse) than our competitors, when it comes to making data submission easy.
- Their customers generally see value in submitting their data – although we need to make sure that the payoff remains worth the effort.
- A good portion of their customers have HRIS systems (Human Resources Information System - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_resource_management_system) or something similar, it is fairly simple to get an initial data download, and reformat for cash submissions.
Areas for Improvement:
- Job coding (i.e. assigning the appropriate job category codes from a specific codes catalogue of Hermes to each entry in the data submission ) is too time consuming and currently a manual process.
- For many of their customers, timings put them under pressure (although some of this is because we deliver results too late in the year for them, rather than anything to do with submission). Besides, salary data becomes stale and not usable after it’s a year old. We are open to ideas that help with collecting data as quickly and efficiently as possible.
“Ideal” Process:
- Their customers want to be able to submit data online, rather than by emailing spreadsheets. The main driver for this is data security, rather than speed or convenience.
- Their customers want more clarity on data submission deadlines – and generally, as much warning as possible of what they need to do and by when.
- Their customers want better tracking of the data after it is submitted – often feeling that their submission goes into a black hole.
- Their customers want (quick) feedback on their submissions and to give them useful insights.
The goal for this project is to come up with ideas to help simplify the data collection process.
Idea Requirements:
The client would like ideas that explore and make recommendations that meet the following requirements:
1) We are looking for ideas that focus on tools to solve issues collecting “cash” data from customers and ingesting it into the database.
2) The goal of the client is to be the easiest company to work with in the “cash” data benchmark space, without compromising on the quality of results produced. We are looking for ideas to help simplify the process of collecting this data from companies.
3) We want ideas around data transformation / collection tools (in lieu of integration - see number 4 below).
4) We do NOT want ideas about integrating directly with a given company (Oracle, Peoplesoft, SAP, etc.). The cost to integrate would be greater than the ROI so this is not something Hermes customers are interested in.
5) It is acceptable to have some manual work as part of your idea. Hermes has a team that cleanses the “cash data export” from customer. In other words, it’s okay if some manual steps are required as long as they are done as efficiently as possible (i.e. an idea that needs some work to get it processed such as creating a map that can be used to process data quickly into the correct format).
6) Would like to hear about the partners that may have solutions available.
We’re looking for your creative ideas on how “cash” data can be collected in a simple, intuitive way!
IMPORTANT: For this challenge we do NOT want ideas around collecting information around benefits like health care, disability, insurance, etc. Only “cash” data is in scope for this challenge!
Input Documents:
The following input documents have been attached to help you understand the goals for this challenge and to help you with your ideas:
1. "Hermes - International Data Submission Kit - Total Package Countries - Feb 2014.xls": The current Excel spreadsheet, including sample data format, that is used in the current process for collecting cash data.
2. "Hermes Data Collection - Combined Input Doc.docx": Includes some useful background info on data collection, as well as customer feedback on the current data collection process.
Organizing Your Submission:
Your submission should contain a detailed description of your idea. Preferably one document, with three (3) or four (4) sections:
1. Summary Paragraph – Describe your approach in this paragraph!
2. Idea Description – Describe your idea and explain how it will be beneficial.
3. User Stories – Write 1 or more user stories / use cases for this new application.
4. Screenshots or Mockups (optional) - You may include any supplemental material that helps explain your idea. This could include screenshots or mockups you create.
Target Audience
- Companies that provide cash data.
Judging Criteria
In order of importance, you will be judged on:
- How beneficial is the idea?
- How unique is your idea? Does it exist already or is it brand new?
- How much have you developed the idea. Did you research the feasibility of your idea and explain how it can be achieved?
- How well you follow the guidelines explained above in the challenge spec.
Additional Prizes
- In addition to the prizes listed, the client may purchase any additional ideas for $100 each.
What to Submit
Preview JPG/PNG Image File
Please create your preview image as one (1) 1024x1024px JPG or PNG file in RGB color mode at 72dpi and place a screenshot of your submission within it.
Submission ZIP File
Your submission should be primarily or entirely textual (Word Document, PDF, HTML, RTF), containing a detailed description of your ideas. You may also include any supplemental graphics or photos if it helps explain your idea. Please see the full list of submission formats stated in the requirements above.
Source ZIP File
All fully editable original source files of any submitted design (for example, any optional screen mockups you create). Since this is an Idea Generation challenge, source files can also simply be the same file as your submission file.
Final Fixes
As part of the final fixes phase you may be asked to complete one round of minor changes to ensure your submission meets the stated requirements of this contest. See more information about Final Fixes here: http://community.topcoder.com/studio/the-process/final-fixes/
Please read the challenge specification carefully and watch the forums for any questions or feedback concerning this challenge. It is important that you monitor any updates provided by the client or Studio Admins in the forums. Please post any questions you might have for the client in the forums.