Multi-objective human resources allocation in R&D projects planning

Abstract

In a R&D department, several projects may have to be implemented simultaneously within a certain period of time by a limited number of human resources with diverse skills. This paper proposes an optimisation model for the allocation of multi-skilled human resources to R&D projects, considering individual workers as entities having different knowledge, experience and ability. The model focuses on three fundamental aspects of human resources: the different skill levels, the learning process and the social relationships existing in working teams. The resolution approach for the multi-objective problem consists of two steps: firstly, a set of non-dominated solutions is obtained by exploring the optimal Pareto frontier and secondly, based on further information, the ELECTRE III method is utilised to select the best compromise with regards to the considered objectives. The uncertainty associated to each solution is modelled by fuzzy numbers and used in establishing the threshold values of ELECTRE III, while the weights of the objectives are determined taking into account the influence that each objective has on the others

ELECTRE: A comprehensive literature review on methodologies and applications

“…A two-step model was presented by Certa et al (2009), in order to allocate human resources to research and development (R&D) projects taking into account skill levels and the importance of each skill with regard to the project. The second step uses ELECTRE III on a set of selected solutions, with the output from the previous step as criteria.…”

Optimal System Design under Multi-Objective Decision making using De-Novo Concept: A New Approach

“…In this perspective the present treatise attempts to find out a new approach of solving multi-objective De-Novo programming problem. It is believed that the solution procedure presented here could be implemented in the solution of other derivatives and extension [1,2] of De-Novo programming. The advantage of the proposed approach is that it requires less number of variables (only slack variables) to be introduced in the solution procedure and thus reducing the processing time in comparison with the existing method.…”

Resource allocation embedded line balancing problem and ant colony optimization method

“…The related studies include the plant allocation problem [15] for allocating a fixed number of products across plants to minimize the total cost; resource allocation in a presidential campaign, which consists of instrumental resource (advertising funds and candidate appearances) and ornamental resources (state-level organizational funds and personnel); processor allocation or job shop scheduling [9] for allocating time for work orders on different types of production equipment to minimize the delivery time; application of test resources [8] for optimizing in the process of missile test to improve test speed; personnel allocation problem [1] for allocating personnel among branches of a large-scale commercial bank; health care problem [5] for scheduling tasks and balancing nurses' workload in a home health care; and project management problems [7,16] for optimizing the manpower deployment and usage.…”