Project management: using fuzzy logic and the Dempster-Shafer theory of evidence to select team members for the project duration

Abstract

Fuzzy logic and the Dempster-Shafer theory of evidence is applied to an IS multiattribute decision making problem whereby the project manager must select project team members from candidates, none of whom may exactly satisfy the ideal level of skills needed at any point in time. The decision mechanism is constrained by the uncertainty inherent in the determination of the relative importance of each skill and the classification of potential team members. This latter uncertainty of potential team membership is addressed through expert evaluation of the degree to which each potential ream member possesses each skill. Then the belief and plausibility that a candidate will satisfy the decision maker's ideal skill levels are calculated and combined to rank order the available candidates. The changing skill requirements are addressed through an iterative process for each project phase.