A rule-based expert system for automated staff scheduling

STAFF-IT is a PC-based system able to schedule up to 100 employees into as many as seven departments based on a user-defined rule set. It incorporates a base scheduling strategy determined to be closest to optimal under a battery of simulation tests. Three types of rules are allowed: (1) DON´T rules, which tell the system to disallow a particular combination of schedule entries, (2) DO rules, which require the system to create a particular schedule entry whenever a certain condition arises, and (3) TRY rules, which are like DO rules but are not mandatory. STAFF-IT includes an easy-to-use interface, including pop-up selection boxes and field level help. Test results are reported for scheduling 30 employees into three departments