A Quest for Projects with Scarce Resources

Based on the shared journey of two researchers, this book explores enhancing algorithms for the resource-constrained project scheduling problem. It examines the search for and significance of project data from multiple, distinct perspectives. In the first part, the quest for project data is presented as a continuous exploration of the complexity of the resource-constrained project scheduling problem. This quest is pursued by solving this challenging problem with the aid of state-of-the-art algorithms from the literature, each time gaining a deeper understanding of its challenging nature. To provide insights into the problem’s complexity, project data is created, manipulated, and analyzed in depth to make current projects easier or harder to schedule. This challenging quest for project data has resulted in new project databases for academic research, new ways of testing future algorithms, and insights into how to improve future algorithms to solve this project scheduling problem with limited resources. In turn, the second part discusses the relevance of project data, demonstrating to the reader the importance of the academic research presented in the first part for the professional world. It shows how project data can be used to calibrate real project data, leading to improved decision-making, e.g. for project scheduling, forecasting, and risk analysis. The book extends a warm invitation to academics and practitioners alike, as fellow seekers of knowledge, to enhance their project management skills.