Search-Based Techniques for Optimizing Software Project Resource Allocation

Abstract

In software development, testing and maintenance, as in other large scale engineering activities, effective project planning is essential. Failure to plan and/or poor planning can cause delays and costs that, given timing and budget constraints, are often unacceptable, leading to business–critical failures. Traditional tools such as the Project Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT), the Critical Path Method (CPM), Gantt diagrams and Earned Value Analysis help to plan and track project milestones. While these tools and techniques are important, they cannot assist with the identification of optimal scheduling assignment in the presence of configurable resource allocation. However, most large scale software projects involve several teams of programmers and many individual project work packages. As such, the optimal allocation of teams of programmers (the primary resource cost drivers) to Work Packages (WPs) is an important problem which cannot be overlooked.