Higher Education CRM Probability and Desirability Scoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Educational institutions face difficulty in determining which individuals to contact more frequently during various stages of the student life cycle due to the lack of a systematic method to rate students based on their interaction history and appeal.

Innovation Solution

A higher education CRM system that calculates a probability value representing the likelihood of a student moving to a subsequent stage and a desirability value representing their appeal to the institution, using a history of interactions and customizable weights and rules, and graphically displays these values for representatives to aid in decision-making.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If representatives manually track and contact individuals throughout educational stages, then personal attention and relationship building are improved, but the ability to systematically rate and prioritize constituents deteriorates due to the large number of people to manage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverepresentative ability to contact constituentsVSAvoidsystematic rating of constituent value

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an automated rating system that acts as an intermediary between constituent interaction data and representative decision-making. The system automatically calculates probability and desirability scores based on interaction histories, eliminating the need for representatives to manually assess each constituent while providing precise, data-driven ratings that guide contact prioritization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of representative assessment with an automated computational system. The system uses algorithms to process interaction data, calculate probability scores for stage progression, and generate desirability ratings, substituting human judgment with a consistent, scalable automated evaluation mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If educational institutions track detailed interaction histories for all constituents, then the accuracy of constituent evaluation is improved, but the complexity of the tracking and rating system deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconstituent evaluation accuracyVSAvoidtracking system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the most relevant interaction data elements needed for accurate constituent rating, such as communication frequency, engagement type, and stage progression indicators. By selectively extracting and weighting specific interaction components rather than processing all possible data, the system achieves precise evaluation while maintaining manageable complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms detailed interaction history data into simplified probability and desirability parameters. The system converts complex interaction patterns into standardized numerical scores that represent the likelihood of stage progression and overall constituent value, making the data actionable for representatives without requiring them to analyze raw interaction details

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If representatives attempt to contact all constituents frequently, then no potential opportunities are missed, but the efficiency and resource allocation deteriorate due to lack of prioritization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopportunity capture rateVSAvoidrepresentative efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary rating and prioritization of constituents before representatives begin their outreach activities. By pre-calculating probability and desirability scores based on existing interaction histories, the system identifies which constituents are most likely to progress and have highest institutional value, allowing representatives to prioritize their efforts in advance rather than reacting to each situation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by having representatives focus on a subset of high-priority constituents identified by the rating system rather than attempting to contact all constituents equally. The system calculates ratings for all constituents but recommends targeted outreach only to those exceeding certain probability and desirability thresholds, optimizing resource allocation while capturing the most valuable opportunities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS8556631B2Systems and methods for assisting an educational institution in rating a constituent

Publication Date: 2013.10.15 ELLUCIAN COMPANY

AI summary

A higher education constituent relationship (CRM) system may provide an educational institution with a graphical display of a probability and desirability value for a person at a stage of a student life cycle. For example, the higher education CRM system may receive a history of interactions between the person and the institution. The higher education CRM system may use the history of interactions and information about the person to calculate the probability value, or measure of the likelihood that the person moves to another stage in the student life cycle, and the desirability value, or a measure of the appeal of the person to the educational institution at a stage of the student life cycle, for the person. The higher education CRM system may display the calculated values for the probability and desirability to a representative of the institution.