Projekttervezési módszerek kihívásai a XXI. században (Challenges of the project planning methods in the 21st century)

Több mint száz éve született meg Henry Gantt (Gantt, 1910) sávos ütemterve, Kelley (Kelley, 1961) és Walker (Walker, 1959) is több mint hatvan éve publikálta kritikus út módszerét. Az ezekre épülő költség- és erőforrás- tervezési módszerek vajon alkalmasak-e a ma kihívásaira? Az olvasó ebben a tanulmányban többéves kutatómunka gyümölcsét láthatja. A kutatás során az egyik legfontosabb cél annak vizsgálata volt, hogy a meglévő projekttervezési eszközök mennyiben felelnek meg a mai projektek kihívásainak; hol és milyen területen van szükség e módszerek továbbfejlesztésére, esetleg meghaladására. Ebben a tanulmányban a szerző olyan módszereket mutat be, amelyek messze túlvezetnek bennünket a projekttervezés eddig elsősorban operatív feladatokra szorítkozó módszereitől, és olyan kérdések megválaszolására fordítja figyelmünket, mint pl. milyen tevékenységeket, projekteket valósítsunk meg; melyeket hagyjuk el vagy ütemezzük be egy későbbi projektbe; hogyan rangsoroljuk, priorizáljuk a projektek megvalósítását, fontosságát? ______ Gantt chart (Gantt, 1910) was born by Henry Gantt more than a hundred years ago. Kelley and Walker published their critical planning method more than a 60 years ago (see i.e. Kelley-Walker, 1959). Can we use methods based on network planning methods for the challenges of 21st century? In this paper the author can see the results of the recent researches. In this study with their colleagues he investigated which project planning methods can be used in challenges of the 21st century and where and how to improve them. In these researches new matrix-based project planning methods are specified, where they can deal not only operative but strategic questions: which subprojects/tasks should be completed, how to treat priorities of completion in case of defining logic planning, how to support not only traditional but agile project management approaches.In this paper he introduces a new matrix-based method, which can be used for ranking project or multi project scenarios with different kinds of target functions. The author shows methods that are used in an expert module. He shows how to integrate this expert module into the traditional PMS system

A Dynamic Intelligent Decision Approach to Dependency Modeling of Project Tasks in Complex Engineering System Optimization

Complex engineering system optimization usually involves multiple projects or tasks. On the one hand, dependency modeling among projects or tasks highlights structures in systems and their environments which can help to understand the implications of connectivity on different aspects of system performance and also assist in designing, optimizing, and maintaining complex systems. On the other hand, multiple projects or tasks are either happening at the same time or scheduled into a sequence in order to use common resources. In this paper, we propose a dynamic intelligent decision approach to dependency modeling of project tasks in complex engineering system optimization. The approach takes this decision process as a two-stage decision-making problem. In the first stage, a task clustering approach based on modularization is proposed so as to find out a suitable decomposition scheme for a large-scale project. In the second stage, according to the decomposition result, a discrete artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm inspired by the intelligent foraging behavior of honeybees is developed for the resource constrained multiproject scheduling problem. Finally, a certain case from an engineering design of a chemical processing system is utilized to help to understand the proposed approach

Distributed product development approaches and system for achieving optimal design.

The research in this dissertation attempts to provide theoretic approaches and design systems to support engineers who are located in different places and belong to different teams or companies to work collaboratively to perform product development.The second challenge is addressed by developing a collaborative design process modeling technique based on Petri-net. Petri-net is used to describe complex design processes and to construct different design process alternatives. These alternative Petri-net models are then analyzed to evaluate design process alternatives and to select the appropriate process.In this dissertation, three major challenges are identified in realization of a collaborative design paradigm: (i) development of design method that supports multidisciplinary xi design teams to collaboratively solve coupled design problems, (ii) development of process modeling techniques to support representation and improve complex collaborative design process, and (iii) implementation of a testbed system that demonstrates the feasibility of enhancing current design system to satisfy with the needs of organizing collaborative design process for collaborative decision making and associated design activities.New paradigms, along with accompanying approaches and software systems are necessary to support collaborative design work, in a distributed design environment, of multidisciplinary engineering teams who have different knowledge, experience, and skills. Current research generally focuses on the development of online collaborative tools, and software frameworks that integrate and coordinate these tools. However, a gap exists between the needs of a distributed collaborative design paradigm and current collaborative design tools. On one side, design methodologies facilitating engineering teams' decision making is not well developed. In a distributed collaborative design paradigm, each team holds its own perspective towards the product realization problem, and each team seeks design decisions that can maximize the design performance in its own discipline. Design methodologies that coordinate the separate design decisions are essential to achieve successful collaboration. On the other side, design of products is becoming more complex. Organizing a complex design process is a major obstacle in the application of a distributed collaborative design paradigm in practice. Therefore, the principal research goal in this dissertation is to develop a collaborative multidisciplinary decision making methodology and design process modeling technique that bridges the gap between a collaborative design paradigm and current collaborative design systems.To overcome the first challenge, decision templates are constructed to exchange design information among interacting disciplines. Three game protocols from game theory are utilized to categorize the collaboration in decision makings. Design formulations are used to capture the design freedom among coupled design activities.The third challenge, implementation of collaborative design testbed, is addressed by integration of existing Petri-net modeling tools into the design system. The testbed incorporates optimization software, collaborative design tools, and management software for product and process design to support group design activities.Two product realization examples are presented to demonstrate the applicability of the research and collaborative testbed. A simplified manipulator design example is used for explanation of collaborative decision making and design process organization. And a reverse engineering design example is introduced to verify the application of collaborative design paradigm with design support systems in practice

Comparing the performance and satisfaction of face-to-face and virtual teams in a learning enviroment

The main purpose of this study is to find whether virtual teams perform as effectively as face-to-face teams and if not, whether solutions can be derived to improve the levels of performance. To this end, the study compares the performance and satisfaction perception levels of virtual teams with face-to-face teams in a learning environment. In order to develop a sound framework for the research, a detailed literature review of prior research encompassing team satisfaction and performance in face-to-face and CMC (Computer Mediated Communication) supported environments was undertaken. Additionally the researcher performed a meta-analysis of previous research studies and from these was able to build a research framework to fit the particular context of this study. This framework has strong statistical power and a solid theoretical base

Assistance à la prise de decision dans le processus de modification d'un produit en utilisant la technologie "Agent logiciel"

La gestion des changements d'ingénierie représente un défi pour les industriels dans le domaine de la conception mécanique assistée par ordinateur. Le système CAO est généralement entouré par d'autres systèmes tels que les SGDT les PGI ou autres. Pour que la gestion des changements soit entreprise efficacement, le système CAO doit être bien intégré avec les systèmes qui l'entourent. La communication entre les différentes équipes multidisciplinaires travaillant sur un projet a un impact positif sur le processus de gestion des changements dans sa globalité. Actuellement, la communication entre les disciplines se fait à l'aide d'échange de messages. Les experts sentent parfois le besoin de se rencontrer afin de se mettre d'accord sur le changement demandé. L'industrie de la CAO a donc besoin d'un système qui assiste l'humain dans la prise de décisions concernant les demandes de changements d'ingénierie. Un tel système diminuera considérablement le temps de traitement des demandes. Ce projet de doctorat propose de réaliser un outil de collaboration qui assiste les concepteurs dans le processus de gestion des changements. Le système proposé assure une certaine cohérence à travers les différentes disciplines impliquées dans ce processus. C'est également un outil d'aide à la décision dans la mesure où il va proposer des solutions alternatives si jamais la demande de changement n'est pas validée. Nous avons également réalisé la propagation externe des modifications. Cette une étape qui était complètement intégrée à notre projet, car il fallait qu'on importe des données du système CAO pouvoir les traiter dans le système de gestion des changements. La technologie"Agent logiciel" est utilisée pour implémenter le système proposé. L'approche"Agent" présente certains avantages par rapport à l'approche classique Client/Serveur. Elle permet justement de minimiser le nombre de requêtes sur le réseau (avec la propriété de mobilité). Dans le système chaque agent représente une expertise donnée et il y a un Agent gestionnaire qui contrôle la communication entre les différentes disciplines

Risk-based negotiation for collaborative system design in a distributed environment

Risk is a crucial decision factor besides traditional cost and performance during collaborative decision making in a distributed environment. Three main challenges exist: 1) stakeholders' different perspectives and/or diverse cultures can lead to inconsistent risk probability evaluations; 2) risk consequence is hard to be quantified in concrete unit; 3) risk evaluations uncertainties exist during collaborations. In this work, a risk-based global negotiation (RBN) methodology is developed to support integrative risk negotiation among distributed stakeholders. Two main aspects are covered to manage the challenges: risk content preparation and risk negotiation. Three steps are included in risk preparation: 1) a uniform risk structure is constructed to capture and synthesize heterogeneous risk evaluations at both intra- and inter- stakeholders; 2) risk hierarchy is introduced to quantify risk consequence in notional monetary unit; 3) a consistency scheme is proposed to achieve consistent risk probability evaluations across stakeholders. In risk negotiation aspect, two models are proposed: 1) a static model is constructed to evaluate expected risk values and associated risk preferences systematically; 2) a dynamic uncertainty model is built to address risk uncertainty, and assist collaborative decision making problems such as resource allocation. Two engineering examples are chosen to demonstrate the methodology. The first hypothetical example illustrates risk consequence notional quantification and corresponding resource allocation decision making. The second application focuses on local risk analysis and risk probability global consistency. The results show effectiveness and efficiency of the RBN. Innovations can be summarized: 1) risk probability consistency and risk consequence notional quantification are first introduced in distributed collaborative design; 2) varying weights method is first developed to aggregate multiple stakeholders' preference utilities; 3) static and dynamic uncertainty models are constructed to evaluate risk conditions and assist risk negotiation. Contribution of the work exists in both design research and practice domains. For design research, risk is notionally quantified, and then it can directly combine with traditional cost and performance analysis, and provide more effective and comprehensive negotiation support; for design practice, the methodology in a mathematical form is ready to be embedded into existing commercial Product Data Management tools, which can help stakeholders achieve maximum market profits with acceptable cost-effective risk in the global economy