Managing software projects by structured project planning

This study is based on the Structured Process Model formalism previously proposed by the same authors, and describes some techniques for scheduling an execution plan which conforms to the chosen process but adapts to all the potential changes in the value of specific variables of the project. The executive plan is generated by means of Incremental Refinements. Each increment is the consequence of one or more decisions taken by the manager. All the contingencies which can occur during the execution of the project are classified in a finite number of types of events which form the basis for the definition of all the transition laws between the possible states of the process. Naturally, the managers decisions, and therefore the composition of the increment, take into account the changes in the value of the variables of the process and of the process model itself. In addition, the study proposes the handling of fuzzy activities, by means of which the problems of recycles and reprocessing are solved. These activities also provide a better management of the execution times of the project.