Sequencing activities in a project network considering resource complementarity

Abstract

Project management is a methodology widely used in organizations that believe in innovation and choose to organize their resources around projects. This paper presents new results and developments of a model that address the issue of optimal resource allocation, and more specifically, the analysis of complementarity of resources (primary resource and supportive resource) in a project. The concept of complementarity, which has been discussed based on an economic view, can be incorporated into the engineering domain as an enhancement of the efficacy of a “primary” resource (P-resource) by adding to it another “supportive” resource (S-resource). No replacement takes place. The gain achieved from such action is manifested in improved performance; e.g., shorter duration or improved quality, because of the enhanced performance of the P-resource. But such gain is usually achieved at an increased cost; namely the cost of the support resource(s). We developed a conceptual system capable of determining the ideal timing, and the ideal mixture of resources allocated to the activities of a project, such that the project is completed on time, if not earlier, with minimal cost. We present new computational results of a Genetic Algorithm, based in a random keys alphabet, with an optimized process that allowed reaching better results. The sequence of activities and the resource combinations for each pair activity/resources were obtained, respecting network constraints, showing the flexibility of the solution considering resources distribution and early resources release.