Exact algorithm for matrix-based project planning problems

• Published in: Expert systems with applications Vol. 42; no. 9; pp. 4460 - 4473
• Main Author: Kosztyan, Zsolt T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2015
• Subjects: Algorithms; Decision making; Decision-making tools; Exact algorithms; Expert systems; Project management; Project planning; Project planning methods; Supporting traditional and agile project managements; Tasks; Project planning methods; Decision-making tools; Supporting traditional and agile project managements; Exact algorithms
• ISSN: 0957-4174; 1873-6793
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eswa.2015.01.066

•A novel PDM matrix is proposed to model agile software development projects.•A novel EPR algorithm proposed to specify the best n probable project scenarios.•The proposed EPR algorithm specifies the best n feasible project structures.•The EPR determines how to restructure a project plan if management claims change. This paper proposes a new matrix-based project planning method that takes into consideration task importance or probability of completions thus determines and ranks the importance or probability of possible project scenarios and project structures. The proposed algorithm is fast, aims to select the most important project scenarios or the least cost/time demanding project structures. The algorithm is generic, can host several types of goals dictated by the characteristics of project management and as such can be the fundamental element of a project expert- and decision-making system.