A new approach to determine the weights of project activities using data envelopment analysis: a case of Mobarakeh steel company

Abstract

PurposeThe main purpose of this paper is to propose a new approach to determine the project activities weight factors using data envelopment analysis. Afterward, the model is applied in Mobarkeh Steel Company as a case study. Accordingly, the project schedule and plans can be written on the basis of the gained weight factors.Design/methodology/approachThis study proposed an approach to determine the weights of activities using Data Envelopment Analysis. This approach consists of four phases. In the first phase, project activities are extracted based on the work breakdown structure. In the second phase, the parameters affecting the importance of activities are determined through a review of the related literature and based on the experts' opinions. In the third phase, the proper data envelopment analysis model is chosen and the inputs and outputs are signified. Then, the activities' weights are determined based on the efficiency numbers. Finally, the model is solved for the case of Isfahan Mobarakeh Steel Company.FindingsThe proposed method aimed to calculate the project activities weight factor. Thus, influential parameters on project activities importance include activity duration, activity cost, activity importance which includes successors and predecessors, activity difficulty which includes skill related (education and experience), safety, communication rate, intellectual effort, physical effort, unfavorable work conditions and work related hazards, have been recognized. Then, Projects' data were extracted from the organizational expert's opinions and recorded data in documents. Thereupon, applying DEA, the activities weight factor were calculated based on the efficiency numbers. The results show that the model is applicable and has promising benefits in real-world problems.Originality/valuePlanning is one the most fundamental steps of project management. The ever-growing business environment demands for more complex projects with larger number of activities wants more efficient project managers. Organizational resources are limited; therefore, activities planning is a critical from the perspectives of both managers and researchers. Knowing the importance of the activities can help to manage activities more efficient and to allocate time, budget, cost and other resources more accurate. Different elements such as cost, time, complexity, and difficulty can affect the activity weight factor. In this study, the proposed approach aims to determine the weights of activities using Data Envelopment Analysis.

Data Envelopment Analysis Algorithm of Enterprise Economic Benefits Based on Leapfrog Algorithm

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A Combinatorial Optimization Solution for Activity Prioritizing Problem

“…Instead, several factors likely influence the priorities, such as project' owner view, program and project manager' ideas, risk factors [4], etc. In this regard, the role of project manager and project experts have been addressed as fundamental dimensions for the project success [5], although this fact has been ignores by the literature [6,7]. On the other hand, Greek and Pullin [8] argue that many project managers do not focus on the criticality and urgency of project activities.…”

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