Algorithm for fairly assigning tasks to workers based on skills

Question

(Before anyone asks, this is not homework.)

I have a set of workers with interests, i.e.:

• Bob: Java, XML, Ruby

• Susan: Java, HTML, Python

Answer 1

Try mapping your task to the stable marriage problem. Tasks become prospective wives `, and your staff become suitors.

You might want to add some extra algorithm for assigning preferences of each task to the staff, and vice-versa - you could assign some ideal proficiency neccessary for the components of each task, and then allow your staff to rank each task. You could assign a proficiency for each component that each staff member posses and use that to get each tasks preference in staff members.

Once you have the preferences then run the algorithm, post the results, then allow people to apply in pairs to you to swap assignments - after all this is a people problem and people work better when they have a degree of control.