Media.Player

Decision support tool for project management (Technion)

總結

Project management software tools are used to coordinate the efforts of human and other resources with various constraints. The user sets up a project plan, or layout, comprised of different processes, and receives feedback. 'Planning-oriented' software allows the user to modify any process in the project layout, and calculates the total required resources. This method makes it easier to find the most efficient configurations.
'Simulation-oriented' software takes into consideration the unexpected nature of real-world processes. The software simulates stochastic events and their implications on the project. This method helps the user identify critical points which can lead to project failure. Yet, since processes are co-dependent and the simulation run simulates the entire project in one step, it is impossible to modify the project layout during the simulation. We combine the advantages of both approaches by introducing real-time interactivity into the 'Simulation-oriented' software environment. The project simulation stops running at user defined times, giving the user the option to make managerial decisions in response to unexpected events during the simulation run. After the project simulation has finished running, the user can go back and experiment with alternative options. After running a few simulations, the manager and his team are expected to be more aware of the project's critical processes or resources, leading to better judgment in real-world situations. Our technology allows a group of decision makers to use imported 'real-world' data for the simulations, enabling smooth transition from an educational platform to a true managerial tool.

技術優勢

Truly interactive project simulation, allowing restructuring of the project plan during the simulation
• History function allows revisiting decisions and simulating what-if scenarios
• Support for group learning and distributed project teams
• Smooth transition from an educational to a professional tool by utilizing real-world project data
• Ability to periodically update and run simulations on ongoing real-world projects
• Managerial decisions are saved in a repository to support organizational learning

技術應用

Project management education, organizational management and planning divisions.

ID號碼

COM-1035

國家/地區

以色列