You are trying to solve a problem which is much harder than the one you need to solve.

The problem with trying to find automatic groupings is that you have no idea what the business logic is behind the groupings. For instance all 3 people who see a particular report may see another, but after you group them a month later you're asked to make someone see the first but not the second. And your scheme needs modification.

The problem that you need to solve is much easier - how can you make the permission system more sensible. The answer to that is build a system that allows people to create groups, assign people to belong to those groups, and assign reports that those groups can see. Find ways to encourage people to handle things this way, and let the people with the business knowledge wind up creating your grouping for you.

What they come up with may not be theoretically optimal according to some theory, but they'll understand it (huge win), and they are more likely than your algorithm to come up with groupings that will make sense as more reports get added.

In reply to Re: Deducing Ideal Groups by tilly
in thread Deducing Ideal Groups by pboin

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