forecasting software Bill Dracos 28 Aug 2001 07:37 EST
Ms. Baker-Weber, While I am not aware of any grant management-specific software, I have frequently used a Monte Carlo Simulation software application called "Crystal Ball" (manufactured by a Colorado firm called Decisioneering) that might prove useful to you. The software layers on top of MS-Excel and provides exactly the type of "what if" modeling and forecasting that you mention. It is a very useful and powerful application. Although admittedly, it might not be as automated a tool as you seek. As an aside, our practice group has direct experience in applying Crystal Ball at major universities and academic medical centers to various grant prediction scenarios, such as recruitment, hiring, and financial pro-forma decisions. The software place probabilistic distributions around the likelihood of key variables, including grant renewals, effective indirect rates, and grant salary coverages, and it produces a distribution (curve) of possible outcomes. I hope this helps! If you would like more information about Crystal Ball, sample materials of how we've applied it, or how it might be applied to your needs, please feel free to contact me. Best Regards, Bill Dracos Education Advisory Services PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP 1155 Peachtree Street, Suite 1100 Atlanta, GA 30309 678-419-1591 (office) 770-833-2054 (cell) "Pamela A. Baker-Webber" <xxxxxx@WELLESLEY.EDU>@hrinet.org> on 08/24/2001 10:06:16 AM Please respond to Research Administration Discussion List <xxxxxx@hrinet.org> Sent by: Research Administration List <xxxxxx@hrinet.org> To: xxxxxx@HRINET.ORG cc: Subject: [RESADM-L] forecasting software We're looking for grant management software/program to forecast spending on multiple externally funded projects--multiple end dates, staff working on multiple projects, etc. We want to easily play the "what if" game for decisions such as labor allocation. Right now it's a very manual process for us. We assume that someone out there must be using something (maybe departments at research universities?) and we don't have to reinvent the wheel. What are others using? Thanks! Pam. Pamela Baker-Webber Director of Pre-Award Services Wellesley Centers for Women Wellesley College 106 Central Street Wellesley, MA 02481 phone: 781-283-2508 fax: 781-283-2504 email: xxxxxx@wellesley.edu ====================================================================== Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists") ====================================================================== ---------------------------------------------------------------- The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer. ====================================================================== Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists") ======================================================================