Duc Hoc Tran and Luong Duc Long
As often in project scheduling, when the project duration is shortened to reduce total cost, the total float is lost resulting in more critical or nearly critical activities…
Abstract
Purpose
As often in project scheduling, when the project duration is shortened to reduce total cost, the total float is lost resulting in more critical or nearly critical activities. This, in turn, results in reducing the probability of completing the project on time and increases the risk of schedule delays. The objective of project management is to complete the scope of work on time, within budget in a safe fashion of risk to maximize overall project success. The purpose of this paper is to present an effective algorithm, named as adaptive multiple objective differential evolution (DE) for project scheduling with time, cost and risk trade-off (AMODE-TCR).
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, a multi-objective optimization model for project scheduling is developed using DE algorithm. The AMODE modifies a population-based search procedure by using adaptive mutation strategy to prevent the optimization process from becoming a purely random or a purely greedy search. An elite archiving scheme is adopted to store elite solutions and by aptly using members of the archive to direct further search.
Findings
A numerical construction project case study demonstrates the ability of AMODE in generating non-dominated solutions to assist project managers to select an appropriate plan to optimize TCR problem, which is an operation that is typically difficult and time-consuming. Comparisons between the AMODE and currently widely used multiple objective algorithms verify the efficiency and effectiveness of the developed algorithm. The proposed model is expected to help project managers and decision makers in successfully completing the project on time and reduced risk by utilizing the available information and resources.
Originality/value
The paper presented a novel model that has three main contributions: First, this paper presents an effective and efficient adaptive multiple objective algorithms named as AMODE for producing optimized schedules considering time, cost and risk simultaneously. Second, the study introduces the effect of total float loss and resource control in order to enhance the schedule flexibility and reduce the risk of project delays. Third, the proposed model is capable of operating automatically without any human intervention.
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Project managers work to ensure successful project completion within the shortest period and at the lowest cost. One of the main tasks of a project manager in the planning phase…
Abstract
Purpose
Project managers work to ensure successful project completion within the shortest period and at the lowest cost. One of the main tasks of a project manager in the planning phase is to generate the project time–cost curve, and furthermore, to determine the most appropriate schedule for the construction process. Numerous existing time–cost tradeoff analysis models have focused on solving a simple project representation without regarding for typical activity and project characteristics. This study aims to present a novel approach called “multiple-objective social group optimization” (MOSGO) for optimizing time–cost decisions in generalized construction projects.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, a novel MOGSO to mimic the time–cost tradeoff problem in generalized construction projects is proposed. The MOSGO has slightly modified the mechanism operation from the original algorithm to be a free-parameter algorithm and to enhance the exploring and exploiting balance in an optimization algorithm. The evidential reasoning technique is used to rank the global optimal obtained non-dominated solutions to help decision makers reach a single compromise solution.
Findings
Two case studies of real construction projects were investigated and the performance of MOSGO was compared to those of widely considered multiple-objective evolutionary algorithms. The comparison results indicated that the MOSGO approach is a powerful, efficient and effective tool in finding the time–cost curve. In addition, the multi-criteria decision-making approaches were applied to identify the best schedule for project implementation.
Research limitations/implications
Accordingly, the first major practical contribution of the present research is that it provides a tool for handling real-world construction projects by considering all types of construction project. The second important implication of this study derives from research finding on the hybridization multiple-objective and multi-criteria techniques to help project managers in facilitating the time–cost tradeoff (TCT) problems easily. The third implication stems from the wide-range application of the proposed model TCT.
Practical implications
The model can be used in early stages of the construction process to help project managers in selecting an appropriate plan for whole project lifecycle.
Social implications
The proposal model can be applied to multi-objective contexts in diversified fields. Moreover, the model is also a useful reference for future research.
Originality/value
This paper makes contributions to extant literature by: introducing a method for making TCT models applicable to actual projects by considering general activity precedence relations; developing a novel MOSGO algorithm to solving TCT problems in multi-objective context by a single simulation; and facilitating the TCT problems to project managers by using multi-criteria decision-making approaches.
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Duc-Hoc Tran and Putri Basenda Tarigan
The concept of sustainability is about the relationships among people, the planet, and profit. Nowadays, it has been spread to many areas, including construction projects…
Abstract
The concept of sustainability is about the relationships among people, the planet, and profit. Nowadays, it has been spread to many areas, including construction projects. Sustainability in construction projects has been so important in the present time. It is commonly pointed to the environment and construction materials. Nevertheless, it is also important in construction management which addresses sustainable project scheduling. Sustainable project scheduling will help to deliver the project under the deadlines, within the available budget, and also ensuring about the quality of the works. This study presents the trade-off among time, cost, and quality in the construction project to provide the decision-maker some alternative solutions in the planning phase to conduct a sustainable construction project. Multi-objective optimisation using Symbiotic Organism Search (SOS) algorithm is done to find the best solutions to the problem under investigation. Then, fuzzy logic approach is utilised to model the diverse environment and uncertainty in the construction project. A case study in repetitive construction project is analysed to see the capability of the model to work in time cost quality trade-off to reach into a sustainable construction project.
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Yaw A. Debrah and Ian G. Smith
Presents over sixty abstracts summarising the 1999 Employment Research Unit annual conference held at the University of Cardiff. Explores the multiple impacts of globalization on…
Abstract
Presents over sixty abstracts summarising the 1999 Employment Research Unit annual conference held at the University of Cardiff. Explores the multiple impacts of globalization on work and employment in contemporary organizations. Covers the human resource management implications of organizational responses to globalization. Examines the theoretical, methodological, empirical and comparative issues pertaining to competitiveness and the management of human resources, the impact of organisational strategies and international production on the workplace, the organization of labour markets, human resource development, cultural change in organisations, trade union responses, and trans‐national corporations. Cites many case studies showing how globalization has brought a lot of opportunities together with much change both to the employee and the employer. Considers the threats to existing cultures, structures and systems.
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This chapter provides information on the development of Vietnamese education under the influence of global forces based on the analysis of relevant education research and policies…
Abstract
This chapter provides information on the development of Vietnamese education under the influence of global forces based on the analysis of relevant education research and policies using Wolhuter’s frameworks. In the process of coming up with ways to develop education in the face of different influences of globalization, besides having reactions with patterns commonly found in countries around the world, Vietnam also has responses that reflect its own political, sociocultural and economic characteristics. The state still plays a controlling role in education at all levels and many culture-related features that have existed throughout the country’s history have hardly changed, namely aspects related to teachers, learners and teaching and learning methods. To sustain its education in the globalized era, Vietnam must make more efforts in various aspects such as the link between education and employment, the logic of education objectives, the feasibility and appropriateness of curricula, quality of education, especially of higher education and equality in education for underprivileged groups.
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Gives an in depth view of the strategies pursued by the world’s leading chief executive officers in an attempt to provide guidance to new chief executives of today. Considers the…
Abstract
Gives an in depth view of the strategies pursued by the world’s leading chief executive officers in an attempt to provide guidance to new chief executives of today. Considers the marketing strategies employed, together with the organizational structures used and looks at the universal concepts that can be applied to any product. Uses anecdotal evidence to formulate a number of theories which can be used to compare your company with the best in the world. Presents initial survival strategies and then looks at ways companies can broaden their boundaries through manipulation and choice. Covers a huge variety of case studies and examples together with a substantial question and answer section.
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Le-Nguyen Duc Chinh and Martin Hayden
Vietnam is firmly committed to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals articulated in the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. Goal 4 concerns quality…
Abstract
Vietnam is firmly committed to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals articulated in the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. Goal 4 concerns quality education, and target 4.3 refers to ensuring access by all men and women to quality and affordable technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university education. In 2017, the Prime Minister issued a directive that included five actions to be taken by Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training to achieve target 4.3 in the context of the higher education sector. This chapter provides an opportunity to review some challenges the Ministry faces in implementing the five actions specified.
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The purpose of this study is to enable the planning of construction projects with simultaneous consideration of time, cost and safety risks. It also aims to improve the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to enable the planning of construction projects with simultaneous consideration of time, cost and safety risks. It also aims to improve the decision-making process by evaluating the effectiveness of the Rao-2 algorithm in solving multi-objective time-cost-safety risk problems. In the end, this model is designed to support project managers in enhancing management approaches by addressing project challenges and constraints more efficiently.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, the Rao-2 algorithm, along with Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO) and Whale Optimization algorithm (WOA), were improved using the crowding distance-based non-dominated sorting method. Rao-2 was first compared to GWO and WOA. Subsequently, it was compared with well-established algorithms in the literature, including genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO) and differential evolution (DE). The C-metric, hypervolume and spread metrics were employed for performance measurement. The performance of the algorithms was evaluated on four case studies consisting of 11, 13, 18 and 25 activities.
Findings
The results revealed that Rao-2 performs better than other algorithms as the number of activities increases, when compared using the Hypervolume, Spread and C-metric measures. In terms of performance measures, the GWO algorithm outperformed Rao-2 in some evaluation metrics for the instance involving 11 activities. However, as the number of activities grew, the Rao-2 method consistently generated higher-quality Pareto fronts and outperformed GWO and WOA in all evaluation metrics. The solutions generated by Rao-2 were also superior to those obtained from GA, PSO and DE in all case studies, further demonstrating the capability of our framework to produce a wide range of optimal solutions with high diversity across different case studies.
Originality/value
This research demonstrates that Rao-2 not only improves solution quality when generating Pareto fronts but also achieves better results with fewer function evaluations compared to GA, PSO and DE. The algorithm's efficiency makes it particularly well-suited for optimizing time, cost and safety risks in large-scale construction projects, which in turn positions Rao-2 as a better choice for such projects by producing superior results compared to other algorithms. By providing high-quality solutions with reduced computational demands, Rao-2 offers a faster and more resource-efficient tool for decision-making, contributing to advancements in both the theory and practice of construction project management.