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(57) ABSTRACT A plurality of resources, typically Service operatives, are allocated to a plurality of tasks by a method in which initial information relating to the tasks to be allocated and the resources available to perform the tasks is provided. An initial Series of Schedules is first generated allocating resources to the tasks, and then modifying the individual Schedule of at least one resource in response to updated information. Changes to individual Schedules may be made in response to Such updated information independently of the Schedule generation. The initial, Series of Schedules may be generated in a two-stage process in which a rule-based System allocates tasks Selected as being difficult to allocate (eg, because they are linked to other tasks). then a stochas tic (non-Systematic) Search System compiles the rest of the Schedule. Periodically, the Stochastic System may be inter rupted to allow a further rule …