Exploring the Impact of Early Project Task Completion: A Stochastic Modeling Journey
Published: 2023-11-15 21:53:34

## Part 1: Unveiling the Stochastic Simulation

**Introduction**
Welcome to the first part of our exploration into the impact of early task completion on project success. In this installment, we unveil the foundational stochastic simulation model that will serve as the canvas for our mathematical journey. Prepare to immerse yourself in the realm of differential equations and Python scripting.

The Hypothesis
At the heart of our investigation lies a hypothesis: initiating a project with a high task completion rate can positively influence overall project success. To test this, we turn to the world of stochastic processes and differential equations.

The Stochastic Differential Equation
Our primary tool is a stochastic differential equation, a mathematical framework that elegantly combines deterministic and stochastic components. The equation takes the form:

dP(t)=(μ(t)P(t)(1−P(t)))dt+(σ(t)P(t)(1−P(t)))dW(t)

Let's break it down:

P(t): Probability of task completion at time 

μ(t): Deterministic part of the growth rate.
σ(t): Volatility term, representing uncertainty.
dW(t): Wiener process, introducing randomness.

## Implementing the Simulation

**Coding the Model**
Our journey commences with translating the math to Python. I use  NumPy and Matplotlib to create the simulation of the time series for completion rates.

python

```
import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
from matplotlib.widgets import Slider

# Function to simulate task completion rates
def simulate_completion_rate(num_steps, dt, a, b, c, noise_type):
    # Initialize arrays to store time and completion rate
    time = np.zeros(num_steps)
    completion_rate = np.zeros(num_steps)

    # Initial values
    time[0] = 0
    completion_rate[0] = 0.2  # Initial completion rate (adjust as needed)

    # Generate Wiener process (Brownian motion)
    
    
    if noise_type == 'normal':
        dW = np.random.normal(0, np.sqrt(dt), 1)
    elif noise_type == 'brownian':
       
        dW = np.random.normal(0,np.random.standard_normal(1) * np.sqrt(dt), num_steps - 1)
    else:
        raise ValueError("Invalid noise type. Choose 'normal' or 'brownian'.")


    # Simulation loop
    for i in range(1, num_steps):
        # Deterministic part of the growth rate
        mu = a + b * time[i - 1]

        # Volatility term
        sigma = c * completion_rate[i - 1]

        # Stochastic differential equation
        dP = mu * completion_rate[i - 1] * (1 - completion_rate[i - 1]) * dt + sigma * completion_rate[i - 1] * (1 - completion_rate[i - 1]) * dW[i - 1]

        # Update time and completion rate
        time[i] = time[i - 1] + dt
        completion_rate[i] = completion_rate[i - 1] + dP

    return time, completion_rate

# Simulation parameters
num_steps = 1000
dt = 0.1
a = 0.1
b = 0.02
c = 0.1

# Create figure and axes
fig, ax = plt.subplots()
plt.subplots_adjust(bottom=0.25)  # Adjust the bottom to make room for sliders

# Plot the initial results
time, completion_rate = simulate_completion_rate(num_steps, dt, a, b, c, noise_type="brownian")
line, = ax.plot(time, completion_rate)
ax.set_title('Task Completion Rate Over Time')
ax.set_xlabel('Time')
ax.set_ylabel('Completion Rate')

# Add sliders for adjusting parameters
axcolor = 'lightgoldenrodyellow'
ax_a = plt.axes([0.25, 0.1, 0.65, 0.03], facecolor=axcolor)
ax_b = plt.axes([0.25, 0.05, 0.65, 0.03], facecolor=axcolor)
ax_c = plt.axes([0.25, 0.00, 0.65, 0.03], facecolor=axcolor)

s_a = Slider(ax_a, 'a', 0.01, 1.0, valinit=a)
s_b = Slider(ax_b, 'b', 0.01, 0.1, valinit=b)
s_c = Slider(ax_c, 'c', 0.01, 1.0, valinit=c)

def update(val):
    a = s_a.val
    b = s_b.val
    c = s_c.val
    time, completion_rate = simulate_completion_rate(num_steps, dt, a, b, c, noise_type="brownian")
    line.set_ydata(completion_rate)
    fig.canvas.draw_idle()

s_a.on_changed(update)
s_b.on_changed(update)
s_c.on_changed(update)

plt.show()
```
**Tuning Parameters**
To ensure the accuracy and relevance of our simulation, selecting appropriate parameters is crucial. The baseline completion rate (a), rate of change (b), and volatility (c) need data to find . This may involve data analysis, historical project insights, or expert input.

**Running the Simulation**
Executing the Python script sets the simulation in motion. The output, a dynamic plot depicting completion rates over time, serves as the visual foundation for our exploration.


![Simulation](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/yqpkkplim2deesc8fjhx.png)



**Next Steps**
As we embark on this mathematical journey, part two will delve into scenario exploration, statistical analysis, and the interpretation of our simulation results. Brace yourself for a deeper dive into the intricacies of project dynamics and mathematical modeling.

Stay tuned for the next installment, where we dissect the simulation results and unravel the mathematical nuances of early project task completion.

Continue to Part 2: Analyzing Scenarios and Statistical Metrics