Understanding Simulation Solutions to Resource Constrained Project Scheduling Problems with Stochastic Task Durations

Department

Civil Engineering

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Engineering Management Journal

ISSN

2377-0643

Volume

10

Issue

4

DOI

10.1080/10429247.1998.11415002

First Page

5

Last Page

13

Publication Date

12-1-1998

Abstract

The project scheduling problem domain is an important research and applications area of engineering management. Recently introduced project scheduling software such as Risk+, @Risk for Project, SCRAM and Risk Master have facilitated the use of simulation to solve project scheduling problems with stochastic task durations. Practitioners, however, should be made aware that the solution algorithm used in these software systems is based on the implicit assumption of perfect information, an assumption that jeopardizes the feasibility of solution results. This paper discusses the impact of assuming perfect information, introduces a multi-period stochastic programming based model of the project scheduling problem with stochastic task durations, and presents an alternative simulation algorithm that does not assume the availability of perfect information. A simple case study is used to illustrate the practical implications of applying simulation to address project scheduling problems with stochastic task durations.

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