Utilization of Deep Reinforcement Learning for Discrete Resource Allocation Problem in Project Management – a Simulation Experiment Cover Image

Wykorzystanie uczenia ze wzmocnieniem w problemach dyskretnej alokacji zasobów w zarządzaniu projektami – eksperyment symulacyjny
Utilization of Deep Reinforcement Learning for Discrete Resource Allocation Problem in Project Management – a Simulation Experiment

Author(s): Filip Wójcik
Subject(s): ICT Information and Communications Technologies
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we Wrocławiu
Keywords: reinforcement learning (RL); operations research; management; optimisation

Summary/Abstract: This paper tests the applicability of deep reinforcement learning (DRL) algorithms to simulated problems of constrained discrete and online resource allocation in project management. DRL is an extensively researched method in various domains, although no similar case study was found when writing this paper. The hypothesis was that a carefully tuned RL agent could outperform an optimisation-based solution. The RL agents: VPG, AC, and PPO, were compared against a classic constrained optimisation algorithm in trials: “easy”/”moderate”/”hard” (70/50/30% average project success rate). Each trial consisted of 500 independent, stochastic simulations. The significance of the differences was checked using a Welch ANOVA on significance level alpha = 0.01, followed by post hoc comparisons for false-discovery control. The experiment revealed that the PPO agent performed significantly better in moderate and hard simulations than the optimisation approach and other RL methods.

  • Issue Year: 63/2022
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 56-74
  • Page Count: 19
  • Language: English
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