System Engineering and Productivity

System Engineering and Productivity

An Integrated Multi-Objective Optimization Model for Risk-Interdependent Project Portfolio Selection and Scheduling under Resource Constraints

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
1 M.Sc. Student, Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran
2 Corresponding author: Assistant Professor, Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran
Abstract
In highly competitive and uncertain environments, organizations are compelled to make simultaneous decisions regarding project selection and scheduling under resource constraints and exposure to complex risks. Many existing models in the literature consider project risks independently and overlook the networked interactions among them. However, in real-world settings, the occurrence of one risk may amplify the likelihood and severity of others. This study aims to develop a novel mathematical framework to support managers in selecting the optimal portfolio of projects and scheduling activities in a way that maximizes financial returns, minimizes overall completion time, and mitigates the adverse effects of interdependent risks. Accordingly, a multi-objective mixed-integer programming model is proposed for the integrated project portfolio selection and scheduling problem, incorporating risk networks and resource constraints. To model the dependencies among risks, a Bayesian network is employed, and the conditional probabilities of risks are embedded within the decision-making structure. Due to the nonlinear nature and computational complexity of the model, nonlinear relationships are first linearized. The model is then solved using a Genetic Algorithm combined with the Enhanced Epsilon-Constraint Method. Performance evaluation through numerical experiments at different scales demonstrates that the proposed approach can generate a diverse and high-quality Pareto frontier and plays an effective role in improving the trade-off among profit, project duration, and risk exposure.

Highlights

  • Simultaneous considering of project selection, project scheduling, and network-based risk effects under resource constraints.
  • Application of the multi-objective genetic algorithm NSGA-II to solve the proposed optimization problem.
  • Modeling interactions among dependent risks using a Bayesian network approach.

Keywords
Subjects

Copyright © Haniyeh Sadat Jebeli, Ali Namazian

 

License

This article is released under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone is free to copy, share, translate, and adapt this article for any purpose, whether commercial or non-commercial, as long as proper citation is given to the authors and original publication.

Abbasi, D., Ashrafi, M., & Ghodsypour, S. H. (2020). A multi-objective BSC model for new product development project portfolio selection. Expert Systems with Applications, 162, 113757. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2020.113757
Aghajani, M., Ruge, G., & Jugdev, K. (2023). An integrative review of project portfolio management literature: Thematic findings on sustainability mindset, assessment, and integration. Project Management Journal, 54(6), 629–650. https://doi.org/10.1177/87569728231172668
Ahmadi-Javid, A., Fateminia, S. H., & Gemünden, H. G. (2020). A method for risk response planning in project portfolio management. Project Management Journal, 51(1), 77–95. https://doi.org/10.1177/8756972819866577
Alvarez-García, B., & Fernández-Castro, A. (2018). A comprehensive approach for the selection of a portfolio of interdependent projects: An application to subsidized projects in Spain. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 118, 153–159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2018.02.025
Namazian, A. (2025). A novel risk-driven bi-objective mathematical model for the problem of project portfolio selection and scheduling. Journal of Applied Research in Industrial Engineering, 12(3), 479–505. https://doi.org/10.22105/jarie.2025.462097.1615
Arratia-Martinez, N. M., Hernandez-Gonzalez, N. M., & Lopez-Irarragorri, F. (2021). Project portfolio selection and scheduling with resource allocation, synergies, and project divisibility. Mathematical Problems in Engineering, 2021(1), 4163287. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/4163287
Askarifard, M., Abbasianjahromi, H., Sepehri, M., & Zeighami, E. (2021). A robust multi-objective optimization model for project scheduling considering risk and sustainable development criteria. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 23, 11494–11524. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-020-01123-z
Bai, L., An, Y., & Sun, Y. (2023a). Measurement of project portfolio benefits with a GA-BP neural network group. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 71, 4737–4749. https://doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2023.3236956
Bai, L., Han, X., Zhang, Y., & Xie, X. (2023b). Optimal project portfolio selection considering cascading failure among projects. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 71, 4750–4760. https://doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2023.3238369
Bai, L., Song, C., Zhou, X., Tian, Y., & Wei, L. (2023c). Assessing project portfolio risk via an enhanced GA-BPNN combined with PCA. Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence, 126, 106779. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engappai.2023.106779
Bai, L., Zhang, K., Shi, H., An, M., & Han, X. (2020). Project portfolio resource risk assessment considering project interdependency by the fuzzy Bayesian network. Complexity, 2020(1), 5410978. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/5410978
Dixit, V., & Tiwari, M. K. (2020). Project portfolio selection and scheduling optimization based on risk measure: A conditional value at risk approach. Annals of Operations Research, 285(1), 9–33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-019-03214-1
Ghasemi, F., Sari, M. H. M., Yousefi, V., Falsafi, R., & TamošaitienÄ—, J. (2018). Project portfolio risk identification and analysis, considering project risk interactions and using Bayesian networks. Sustainability, 10(5), 1609. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10051609
Harrison, K. R., Elsayed, S. M., Weir, T., Garanovich, I. L., Boswell, S. G., & Sarker, R. A. (2022). Solving a novel multi-divisional project portfolio selection and scheduling problem. Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence, 112, 104771. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engappai.2022.104771
Hartmann, S., & Briskorn, D. (2022). An updated survey of variants and extensions of the resource-constrained project scheduling problem. European Journal of Operational Research, 297(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2021.05.004
Karimi, S., Mirzamohammadi, S., & Pishvaee, M. (2022). A scenario-based mathematical approach to a robust project portfolio selection problem under fuzzy uncertainty. Journal of Intelligent & Fuzzy Systems, 42(4), 4191–4204. https://doi.org/10.3233/JIFS-210144
Ma, J., Harstvedt, J. D., Jaradat, R., & Smith, B. (2020). Sustainability driven multi-criteria project portfolio selection under uncertain decision-making environment. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 140, 106236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2019.106236
Mican, C., Fernandes, G., & Araújo, M. (2022). A method for project portfolio risk assessment considering risk interdependencies–a network perspective. Procedia Computer Science, 196, 948–955. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2021.12.096
Nabati, M., & Ashrafi, M. (2021). Modeling projects interdependencies to measure their synergic impacts on a project portfolio. Journal of Project Management, 6(3), 143–156. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.jpm.2021.2.003
Parsaei Motamed, M., & Bamdad, S. (2022). A multi-objective optimization approach for selecting risk response actions: Considering environmental and secondary risks. Opsearch, 59(1), 266–303. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12597-021-00541-5
Senova, A., Tobisova, A., & Rozenberg, R. (2023). New approaches to project risk assessment utilizing the Monte Carlo method. Sustainability, 15, 1006(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021006
Song, S., Yang, F., & Xia, Q. (2019). Multi-criteria project portfolio selection and scheduling problem based on acceptability analysis. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 135, 793–799. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2019.06.056
Vieira, G. B., Oliveira, H. S., de Almeida, J. A., & Belderrain, M. C. N. (2024). Project portfolio selection considering interdependencies: A review of terminology and approaches. Project Leadership and Society, 5, 100115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plas.2023.100115
Zhang, B., Bai, L., Zhang, K., Kang, S., & Zhou, X. (2023a). Dynamic assessment of project portfolio risks from the life cycle perspective. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 176, 108922. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2022.108922
Zhang, Y., Liu, J., Xie, X., Wang, C., & Bai, L. (2023b). Modeling of project portfolio risk evolution and response under the influence of interactions. Mathematics, 11(19), 4091. https://doi.org/10.3390/math11194091
Volume 6, Issue 4 - Serial Number 21
Winter 2027
Pages 281-312

  • Receive Date 27 February 2026
  • Revise Date 20 June 2026
  • Accept Date 10 July 2026
  • First Publish Date 18 July 2026
  • Publish Date 20 February 2027