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A differential evolution algorithm to solve multi-skilled project portfolio scheduling problems

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Abstract

A multiskilled project portfolio scheduling problem (MSPPSP) is an extension of a multiobjective multimode resource-constrained project portfolio scheduling problem that is generally propounded to schedule a set of projects performed by human skills in an organization. The main idea of the MSPPSP is to consider resources that are called staff members to perform projects’ activities in different required skills. Since the required staff members have various skills, different combinations of skills are applied to accomplish the project. These definitions cause to encounter a huge number of modes while performing activities of a project. In this paper, a novel goal programming model for the multiobjective MSPPSP with precedence constraints that aim at finding a minimum deviation from the expected time to complete each project and assignment of resources is presented. To solve such a hard problem, an efficient metaheuristic algorithm based on differential evolution (DE) is developed. To evaluate the efficiency of the proposed DE algorithm, the results are compared to the results of the tabu search algorithm and the optimal results. The comparison confirms the effectiveness of the DE algorithm. Finally, regarding the size of organizations in terms of staff members, the maximum number of the determined structure projects, which is performable with minimum delay from aspiration times, is examined.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Industrial Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    H. Kazemipoor

  2. Department of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    R. Tavakkoli-Moghaddam

  3. Department of Industrial Engineering, Firoozkooh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Firoozkooh, Iran

    P. Shahnazari-Shahrezaei

  4. Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    A. Azaron

  5. Department of Financial Engineering and Engineering Management, School of Science and Engineering, Reykjavik University, Reykjavik, Iceland

    A. Azaron

Authors
  1. H. Kazemipoor
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  2. R. Tavakkoli-Moghaddam
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  3. P. Shahnazari-Shahrezaei
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  4. A. Azaron
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to H. Kazemipoor or A. Azaron.

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Kazemipoor, H., Tavakkoli-Moghaddam, R., Shahnazari-Shahrezaei, P. et al. A differential evolution algorithm to solve multi-skilled project portfolio scheduling problems. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 64, 1099–1111 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-012-4045-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-012-4045-z

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