Managing large scale projects is hardly supported by software today. So-called Project Management Software only supports a small portion of the overall task. A project usually starts with a design. The plan is created to build the design. This plan is then scheduled and finally executed. Project Management software only supports the scheduling-task. It computes a schedule based on project-parameters like allowed resources, project-start and -end, and on estimations about the involved tasks. The tasks of generating a plan are not supported. The same is true for tracing the execution and making the always necessary adjustments to the plan during execution.
These tasks become more difficult the larger the project is. Especially where larger not only means that more workforce and money is involved in the execution. Large projects today can only be handled by multiple contractors working hand in hand. Many contractors have their own designers and planners try to manage their tasks in the overall project. But complex networks of contractor-relationships involved in such a project requires a huge amount of interaction in order to coordinate the efforts of all tasks. Here common Project Management Software fails again. The common paradigm of a single planner sitting in front of his computer and managing a complete project on his own simply doesn't work anymore.
This report will introduce an agent-based framework that supports the complete project-cycle in a way that multiple planners and designers in different locations can collaborately manage the project.