Apr 12, 2009

Earned Value Technique


Earned Value Management is nice technique to gauge the performance of a project



Here is one for Earned Value Technique used to calculate performance of project at any given point of time.



Key Definitions:


  • Planned Value (PV) or Budgeted Cost Of Work Scheduled (BCWS):
    • Authorized budget assigned to the scheduled work to be accomplished for a schedule activity or WBS component.

  • Earned Value (EV) or Budgeted Cost Of Work Performed (BCWP):
    • Approved budget assigned to that work for a schedule activity or WBS component.

  • Actual Cost (AC) or Actual Cost Of Work Performed (ACWP)
    • Total cost incurred or recorded in accomplishing work performed during a given time period for a schedule activity or WBS component.
Sample Data:

Task NameDurationPlanned CostCost Expended% CompletedEarned Value
A23150250100150
B440508032
C32751007052.5
D12100





E14150







  • At the end of 59th day, performance review is required.

  • Only three tasks - A, B, C were planned till 59th day.
    • So PV = 150+40+75 = 265

  • Actual cost by 59th day is
    • AC = 250+50+100 = 400

  • Earned Value will be based on % completed * planned cost.

    • EV = 100%*150 + 80%*40 + 70%*75 = 234.5


  • Schedule Variance (SV) = EV - PV = 234.5 - 265 = -30.5

  • Cost Variance (CV) = EV - AC = 234.5 - 400 = -165.5
    • Negative SV means project behind schedule.
    • Negative CV means cost has been expended more that what was assigned.
  • CPI (Cost Performance Index) = EV/AC = 234.5/400 = 0.5863

  • SPI (Schedule Performance Index) = EV/PV = 234.5/265 = 0.8849
    • SPI less than 1 means behind schedule.
    • SPI more than 1 means ahead of schedule.
    • SPI = 1 means on schedule.
    • CPI less than 1 means cost overrun.
    • CPI more than 1 means cost under run.
    • CPI = 1 means on budget.



  • To Complete Performance Index (TCPI) = (BAC - EV)/(BAC - AC)
    • BAC = Budget At Completion. = 150+40+75+100+150 = 515
    • TCPI is efficiency that must be achieved to complete remaining work with remaining budget.
    • TCPI = (515 - 234.5)/(515 - 400)=2.4391
    • So, 243% of original planned performance required to meet objectives.


  • Estimate at Completion (EAC) = expected total costs of scheduled activity, WBS component or project.

  • Estimate to Complete (ETC) = expected cost needed to complete all the remaining work for a schedule activity, WBS or the project.
    • EAC = AC + ETC
    • ETC = (BAC - EV) for atypical variance.
    • EAC = AC + BAC - EV
    • ETC = (BAC - EV)/CPI for typical variance.
    • EAC = BAC/CPI for typical variance.

    • VAC (Variance At Completion) = EAC - BAC


    • If this project has atypical variance, then
    • ETC = 515 - 234.5 = 280.5
    • EAC = 400 + 280.5 = 680.5

    • VAC = 680.5 - 515 = 165.5


    • If this project has typical variance, then
    • ETC = (515 - 234.5)/0.5863 = 478.424
    • EAC = 515/0.5863 = 878.3899
    • VAC = 878.3899 - 515 = 363.3899

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