We’re Earned Value Management experts, and we can tell you that a calculator or Excel doesn’t cut it when you’re crunching project performance data. When you need to meet contractual requirements for EVM compliance, Deltek Cobra is the answer.
Naturally, as we’re using it every day, we’ve written a lot on the blog about Deltek Cobra over the years, from beginner’s guides to exploring detailed technical features. We’ve picked out our most popular articles so you can quickly get up to speed on this essential tool for Earned Value Management environments.
1. What is Deltek Cobra?
We’re often asked these questions by folks new to government contracting and Earned Value Management (EVM). Deltek Cobra is used for managing project costs, measuring performance and analyzing budgets, actuals and forecasts. In short, it is a cost engine that complements scheduling tools such as Primavera P6, Microsoft Project and Deltek Open Plan.
Find out more about what Deltek Cobra can do.
2. Getting started with Deltek Cobra
When you need to learn a new software platform like Deltek Cobra 8, where do you start?
Deltek Cobra is an Earned Value Management (EVM) application. You need to have a good grasp of EVM concepts before Cobra’s interface will make much sense to you. Assuming you have a grounding in EVM, you need some context concerning Deltek Cobra 8’s features and functionality.
Watch our video to understand the basic architecture of Deltek Cobra 8.
3. The Value-add of Deltek Cobra in a Primavera P6 environment
Why would you add Deltek Cobra or another Earned Value Management (EVM) tool to your enterprise project management system when Primavera P6 already offers basic earned value management functionality?
You can use Primavera P6 to run rudimentary earned value reporting systems, but when a big contract comes along with integrated Earned Value Management System (EVMS) language buried in the terms and conditions, you’ll need to take a serious look at a specialist tool.
Cobra picks up where your scheduling tool leaves off, optimizing your chances for a successful certification process.
Here are 10 more reasons why you need to consider a specialist EVMS.
4. Single point adjustments
A lot of our Deltek Cobra articles are technical, but even we wouldn’t have guessed that a piece on single point adjustment would have made it into the top 10!
A major replan can be complex, time consuming and often nerve-wracking. The activity must be planned very carefully and thought out in detail, lest some calamity befall the unwitting team. When your baseline is now so far off that you have to do a complete replan, Deltek Cobra has some features to help.
Replanning made easier with Deltek Cobra.
5. Deltek Cobra calendars explained
The fiscal calendar in Cobra is a vital component for the EVM project. It underpins every aspect of the project from defining the end of period dates to controlling what comes out on the reports. Understanding how it all works is critical for any Deltek Cobra user.
This popular article looks at some of the features of the fiscal calendar and shows you what happens when the status date is advanced during periodic updates.
6. Integrated baseline reviews and Deltek Cobra reports
When preparing for an Integrated Baseline Review (IBR), Deltek Cobra has a number of reports that can be very useful. In this article we take a closer look at some of Deltek Cobra’s audit reports that can help you prepare for the rigors of a formal Integrated Baseline Review.
Read more about the reports here.
7. Deltek Cobra Fundamentals training
This is where many of our clients start. If you’re new to Deltek Cobra, our Fundamentals training is your key to understanding how to set the software up for success, integrate it with the project’s master schedule, run an update cycle and manage the system in a compliant way.
8. How to help Control Account Managers with forecasting
A universal problem in the world of project controls is getting good, reliable data back from those otherwise engaged in actually executing the project plan. This challenge can have a devastating impact on the accuracy of the schedule status and EVM metrics when team members fail to provide good feedback. There’s a raft of reasons, excuses, for their prevarications that anyone who has been involved in project controls will have heard many times over.
One of the most common objections is “We don’t have time to provide all this information; we have to actually build this widget”.
Sound familiar? Learn how to help.
9. Statistical forecasting
Another forecasting article has made the top 10, because it’s clearly a topic people need some support with!
Cobra supports a wide range of forecasting options, including some very flexible statistical forecasting in Cobra. However, one question is “At what point during the project lifecycle should I start running statistical forecasts?”.
At first glance this may seem like a strange question. But for anyone who has had to setup their first Earned Value Management System (EVMS), the answer is not immediately clear. In fact, even for more experienced cost analysts, knowing when to pull the trigger on statistical forecasting in Cobra can be tricky.
Learn when to start statistical forecasting in the project cycle.
10. CSV file formats
Deltek Cobra’s integration wizard makes use of a wide variety of CSV file formats, to such an extent that you can easily build, load and status an entire project using just transaction files.
This article contains links to popular files from our training classes – files that will help you load actuals and resource information into Deltek Cobra so you can save time getting started.
Our blog is packed with useful step-by-step guides and feature overviews. Why not bookmark the Cobra archive page and check back regularly to see what’s new?