Most Earned Value Management (EVM) environments (particularly for ANSI-748 compliance) use scheduling software like Microsoft Project as the input. But you can Microsoft Project EVM to perform some rudimentary earned value management. You probably wouldn’t want to try for a DCMA (Defense Contract Management Agency) EVM certification with just a scheduling tool, but it has […]
Microsoft Project % Complete and % Work Complete
The Microsoft Project % complete considers task completed duration while % work complete considers how much work was actually performed during this duration. In many situations the Microsoft Project % complete equals % work complete. However, when the task’s assigned resource has a non-uniform work effort the % work complete provides a more accurate picture […]
General Scheduling Guidelines
What are the minimum recommended general scheduling guidelines for efficient schedule management? A lot of thought and effort goes into the creation of a project schedule. The project manager must consider many things, and it is not always easy to keep the most important items in focus. Therefore a short list of bare minimum schedule […]
Watch What You (Don’t) Say – Building Credibility
Good Communications Your senior management team and your Project Management Office (PMO) team are constantly sending out messages about what is valued and what’s not. This is the space where integrity, credibility and good communications mix and it’s important to get right if you are doing anything that relates to changing working practices, such as […]
Microsoft Project Leveling Projects within Total Float
It is preferable to level project schedules within total float. When you do this and get Microsoft Project to level resources, the leveling process does not extend the project duration. Most projects are time constrained. It makes sense, therefore, that you would want to level resources in a way that does not delay the project […]
Performance Is An Execution Problem
Performance is an execution problem. Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality will be the next disruptive game changers in the creation of intelligent applications that fundamentally change the way we work, collaborate and trade with partners and customers. These disruptive technologies will provide opportunities to all professional services business, not just the high-end knowledge […]
Microsoft Project and Graphical Indicators
Is there a way to use graphical indicators when activities are missing their baseline work hours? Yes, there is. Schedulers want a quick way to analyze the schedule and to focus in on those activities that are in trouble. It is possible to define a custom field in Microsoft Project with graphical indicators to help […]
How To Avoid (Bad) Surprises on Projects
Don’t like bad surprises? Does this sound familiar? It looks like the projects you lead are going well. The project team is moving forward, the reports are showing everything is Green and you’re happy that the business case still holds up to deliver the benefits. Then at the next project board meeting, your project manager […]
How To Boost Executive Support for Projects
It’s a fact: Projects go better with executive support. Study after study shows that active sponsorship is a factor in project success. The more the buy in comes from senior levels in the enterprise, the more likely it is that your projects will deliver against your business case forecasts and achieve the benefits they set […]
Why You Need Project Risk Management Software
Project risk management software is a tool for business that helps you identify, track, manage and close out risks to your projects, programs and portfolio. Normally installed and managed from the PMO, it’s used by project managers and their teams, plus other project delivery professionals in your organization and executives who want to see the […]