Dummy-Based Critical Chain Scheduling in Project Management

Abstract

This paper proposes a new critical chain scheduling method in project management. The authors have already proposed a theoretical model, which provides an optimal total size of dummies to be inserted in the initial project schedule. Dummies, which are occasionally referred to as buffer, are useful to absorb schedule delays caused by a variety of uncertainties. Given the total size of dummies, this study explores for some useful rules under which we should allocate the dummies in the initial project schedule to generate buffered schedule. Some computational experiments derives several important properties of buffered schedules with a view to demonstrating the effectiveness of those rules particularly in critical chain scheduling.