RCA (Root Cause Analysis) is a powerful technique that helps you understand why aspects of your earned value management system are not working as expected. As part of responding to a corrective action request, the project team will carry out an RCA exercise to identify what caused the failure. There are various tools you can […]
How To Create A One-Page Project Report
One-Page Project Report Executives are busy people. And so are project leaders. You don’t have time to write multi-page reports. While there is a time and a place for the detail, project status updates simply need to get the key messages across quickly. The one-page project report was popularized by The One-Page Project Manager, a […]
Schedule Float Explained
You probably have schedule float on your project already, and you might not even know it. However, more than one project has been saved because float provided the flexibility to take a different path if necessary, without having a negative impact on the project overall. If your project is at risk of running behind, it’s […]
What is Cost Variance?
What does cost variance mean? Cost variance is the difference between earned value and actual cost, at the date you wish to measure. It is used to assess the project’s cost performance. Cost variance for a project is represented as a financial amount. This number tells you the variance from your original budget, whether that […]
5 Tools for Root Cause Analysis
Tools for Root Cause Analysis We work with a lot of companies who are going through the process of earned value management certification and who need to evidence that their system is set up to identify issues and act on them. Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is one of the main techniques that contractors need to […]
Behavioral Interview Questions for Project Managers
Behavioral Interview Questions for Project Managers Every detail matters when it comes to successfully completing a project. But what about when it comes to your career? If you’re looking for a new role, you need to be just as prepared and meticulous in your approach – especially when it comes to behavioral interview questions. Interviews […]
Calculating Worst Case EAC from Schedule Realignment in P6
Calculate the Worst Case EAC in P6 Primavera P6 Professional’s Earned Value Management (EVM) features can capture an under-performing projects key data values that are needed to forecast the total project expense, including worst case schedule realignment costs. Let’s take a look at this. Project managers need to keep a close eye on their costs […]
Complex Systems and the Darnall-Preston Complexity Index
The Darnall-Preston Complexity Index Understanding and leading complex systems (such as a project) require a firm understanding of systems that have been developed from other industries and areas that can be adapted to project management to make projects much easier to manage. For this to be possible, project managers and team members must understand what […]
What Does a Schedule Consultant Do?
A schedule consultant, also known as a master scheduling consultant or a scheduler, is someone who designs and implements scheduling systems. They will typically be in charge of setting up and configuring the scheduling tools for one or more projects or programs, and documenting how the set-up has been achieved. In an earned value management […]
9 Items to Include in Variance Reporting
Variance Reporting If you work in an earned value management environment, or are going through the process for system certification, you’ll be familiar with the idea of variance reporting. It’s a requirement of the EIA-748 guidelines which expect project teams to identify variances, put plans in place to address them and then implement the plans. […]