A stochastic multi-criteria acceptability analysis and Choquet integral based approach for multi-criteria project portfolio selection and scheduling problem with interactive criteria

An organization's resources are finite, precluding the concurrent launch of every project. Consequently, for those who make organizational choices, pinpointing the best project portfolio from a vast array of potential projects and timing their commencement effectively are two pivotal challenges. Extant research has spawned a multitude of project portfolio selection and scheduling techniques, from simple scoring to intricate mathematical frameworks. Nevertheless, most of these methods frequently fall short in presenting a unified and useful approach that can account for various interconnected criteria and the uncertain criterion weights. This study endeavors to bridge this gap by introducing a multi-criteria decision-making model which combines stochastic multi-criteria acceptability analysis and Choquet integral. We have developed three distinct algorithms: a backtracking algorithm based on stochastic multi-criterion acceptability analysis and Choquet Integral (SMAACI), an artificial immune algorithm derived from SMAACI, and a simulated annealing algorithm also based on SMAACI, to tackle the proposed mathematical problem. The backtracking algorithm is efficient at discovering the global optimal solution for smaller-scale issues, whereas the artificial immune and simulated annealing algorithms can deliver satisfactory solutions swiftly for larger-scale problems. These algorithms are demonstrated through experimental cases and an examination of a middle school construction project in a southern Chinese metropolis.