A Hybrid Approach to Quantitative Software Project Scheduling within Agile Frameworks

Abstract

In this article we focus on the quantitative project scheduling problem in IT companies that apply the agile management philosophy and Scrum, in particular. We combine mathematical programming with an agile project flow using a modified multi-mode resource constrained project scheduling model for software projects (MRCPSSP). The proposed approach can be used to generate schedules as benchmarks for agile development iterations. Computational experiments based on real project data indicate that this approach significantly reduces the project cycle time. The approach can be a useful addition to agile project management, especially for software projects with predefined deadlines and budgets.