The evaluation of the ‘net present value’ in the planning of complex projects

The planning and the subsequent programming of a complex project allow us, by using suitable methodologies, to identify the duration of the project itself in relation to the assignment of costs among the various activities, so as to achieve an acceptable situation of balance between times and costs. When dealing with situations which are complex both from a financial and an economical point of view, it is particularly important to be able to estimate the ‘net present value’ of the system-project, thereby attaining its maximization. Through a concise analysis of the various methodological proposals which have been advanced, a proposal can be obtained which is acceptable from an operational point of view and which can give reliable results. The proposal operates on a step by step basis, by intervening on the problem's network by means of an examination of its different ‘trees’ and their nodes. The result is the creation of a network relative to the project, for which the variables times/costs lead to the NPV's maximization.