The Project Scheduling Problem with Non-Deterministic Activities Duration: A Literature Review

Purpose: The goal of this article is to provide an extensive literature review of the models and solution procedures proposed by many researchers interested on the Project Scheduling Problem with nondeterministic activities duration. Design/methodology/approach: This paper presents an exhaustive literature review, identifying the existing models where the activities duration were taken as uncertain or random parameters. In order to get published articles since 1996, was employed the Scopus database. The articles were selected on the basis of reviews of abstracts, methodologies, and conclusions. The results were classified according to following characteristics: year of publication, mathematical representation of the activities duration, solution techniques applied, and type of problem solved. Findings: Genetic Algorithms (GA) was pointed out as the main solution technique employed by researchers, and the Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling Problem (RCPSP) as the most studied type of problem. On the other hand, the application of new solution techniques, and the possibility of incorporating traditional methods into new PSP variants was presented as research trends. Originality/value: This literature review contents not only a descriptive analysis of the published articles but also a statistical information section in order to examine the state of the research activity carried out in relation to the Project Scheduling Problem with non-deterministic activities duration.Peer Reviewe

Hybrid Genetic Algorithms and Simulated Annealing for Multi-trip Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows

Vehicle routing problem with time windows (VRPTW) is one of NP-hard problem. Multi-trip is approach to solve the VRPTW that looking trip scheduling for gets best result. Even though there are various algorithms for the problem, there is opportunity to improve the existing algorithms in order gaining a better result. In this research, genetic algoritm is hybridized with simulated annealing algoritm to solve the problem. Genetic algoritm is employed to explore global search area and simulated annealing is employed to exploit local search area. Four combination types of genetic algorithm and simulated annealing (GA-SA) are tested to get the best solution. The computational experiment shows that GA-SA1 and GA-SA4 can produced the most optimal fitness average values with each value was 1.0888 and 1.0887. However GA-SA4 can found the best fitness chromosome faster than GA-SA1

Common Causes of IT Project Failure in Public Universities in Oklahoma

Information technology (IT) project management is a dynamic field. It requires a project manager who knows how to manage a project and possesses a knowledge of technology. The purpose of this research is to find the common factors that contribute to IT project failure in public universities in Oklahoma and know what role facilitated the failed IT project. For the purposes of this study, the roles leading the projects are a certified project manager, a non-certified project manager, or a non-project manager. Also, IT projects for this study are ones that require hardware changes, software changes or integrate new technology. The goal of this study is to help public universities successfully implement IT projects. Successfully implementing an IT project in a public university might help the university be a better steward of both taxpayer funds and private donations

Exploring A Project Management Dilemma: A Case Study Examining the Shortage of Qualified Project Personnel in a Four-Year Research University

Qualified individuals are an essential resource of project teams. A primary goal of the project manager is to ensure appropriate team members are hired to meet project objectives and stakeholder expectations. However, this is not always the case since a shortage of qualified project personnel seldom occurs, and prevents the project from being completed successfully. The project personnel shortage problem is prevalent in a four-year research university as inaccessibility to qualified individuals threatens the project deadline and delivery to sponsors. Research suggested these qualified individuals are recruited to provide scientific and technical expertise to academic projects. They possess knowledge and capabilities utilized in three dimensions of research, fundamental, applied and experimental scientific. Some results of their effort in these dimensions have produced theories, methods, algorithms, technology, equipment, instrument, mechanism, and systems. This study explored the reasons for the shortage of qualified project personnel and the actions of project managers relating to the shortage. The study utilized a qualitative methodology, along with a case study design to explore the problem, as experienced by project managers in a four-year research university in the Southeast. Findings revealed problems in the areas of compensation, leadership involvement, pipeline issues, project funding, and the need for adequate project planning. The implications of the findings were also examined, followed by recommendations to project stakeholders. As Christ cautioned his followers that before building a tower one must first consider the cost; likewise, project managers must carefully plan before execution of project resources, specifically qualified project personnel which are needed to achieve successful project completion