Fini, A A F; Akbarnezhad, A; Rashidi, T H and Waller, S T (2018) Dynamic programming approach toward optimization of workforce planning decisions. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 144(2): 04017113, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Workforce planning plays a pivotal role in smooth execution of construction projects. The growing challenges faced by the construction industry related to skill shortage, aging problem, and workforce attraction, retention, and buy-in have added to technical complexities of workforce planning. Nevertheless, the available workforce planning techniques are either qualitative or lack a strategic perspective that accounts for the above challenges in hiring workforce, leading to suboptimal decisions with regards to hiring and unplanned firing. This paper proposes a novel framework for optimization of hiring and firing decisions by accounting simultaneously for organizational human resource (HR) strategies, labor rights, and technical and managerial constraints of a construction project. The framework starts by setting the model parameters and the decision-making criteria using the information made available by building information modeling (BIM), project performance database, and contractual and legislative documents. It then identifies the optimal mode and duration of the employment for the workers with different skills, skill levels, and multiskilling capabilities using a dynamic programming algorithm. The application and advantages of the proposed framework are demonstrated using a case study.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | building information modeling; dynamic programming; hiring and firing; labor and personnel issues; labor resources; labor right |
| Index terms: | labour resource, construction industry, duration, workforce planning, project performance, dynamic programming, database, employment, retention, case study, building information modelling, complexity, accounting, documents, construction project, human resource, decision-making, strategy, labour right, personnel, skill shortage |
| Subjects: | management, algorithms, production management, employment law, professional development, project management theory and practice, business economics, data management, project controls, decision analysis, industry analysis, information systems, systems engineering, data collection methods, economic analysis |
| Topics: | Time Control, Human Resources, Legal Issues, Digital Applications, Risk Management, Research Practice, Project Management, Information Management, Engineering Principles, Business Strategy |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here