A reasoning process in support of integrated project control

This paper presents a reasoning process that assists members of project teams in performing integrated time and cost control. The process utilizes an object-based model to represent the data structure of a project. A set of resource performance indicators and a factor indicator serves as a group of sensors designed to detect problem-source factors behind unacceptable performance. Problem-source factors and possible corrective actions were identified, making use of the literature and an Internet-based questionnaire. Casual links between earned-value-based variances, performance indicators, problem-source factors, and corrective actions are established. The degree of linkage strength is expressed using fuzzy set theory. Reasons behind unacceptable performance are determined using fuzzy binary relation operations. Possible corrective actions are suggested based on the identified reasons. Three levels of reasoning reports can be generated at individual resource, control-object, and project levels. The reasoning process has been implemented in a prototype system, developed in the World Wide Web. The prototype has an open architecture that allows users to add reasons and actions to those referred to previously. An example project is analyzed to demonstrate the use of the proposed process and illustrate its capabilities.