Interval grey number based project scheduling model and algorithm
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to combine the interval grey number algorithm with a project scheduling model, so as to solve the interval grey number based project scheduling problem.
Design/methodology/approach
According to the grey system theory, if we could not clearly collect the right value of an activity while obtaining the upper and lower boundaries of the activity duration time, we can find activity duration time as interval grey number. This paper tries to combine interval grey number with project scheduling problem. The general definition of interval grey number was given. And then the linear operations of independent interval grey number and non-independent interval grey number were further defined. Interval grey number based project scheduling model and its algorithm were further proposed. Finally, a numerical case was adopted to test the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Findings
The results show that grey project scheduling and grey critical path method could be established under interval grey number measured activities.
Practical implications
Scheduling problem was widely used in project planning and control. This manuscript attempted to combine interval grey number with project scheduling so as to explain the flexible deadline in a special project. It is truly in accordance with the requirements for real applications.
Originality/value
This paper proposed linear operations of independent and non-independent interval grey numbers, and proposed a interval grey number based project scheduling model. Valuable contribution is to combine interval grey numbers with project scheduling and it is meaningful to make a useful strategy in a flexible condition of project scheduling.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 71671090, Aeronautical Science Foundation of China under Grant 2016ZG52068, MOE (Ministry of Education in China) Liberal arts and Social Sciences Foundation under Grant 15YJCZH189 and Qinglan Project for excellent youth or middle-aged academic leaders in Jiangsu Province (China).
Citation
Xie, N. (2018), "Interval grey number based project scheduling model and algorithm", Grey Systems: Theory and Application, Vol. 8 No. 1, pp. 100-109. https://doi.org/10.1108/GS-11-2017-0035
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited