Actual Cost vs. ACWP

[Nikole]

Shouldn't the ACWP and Actual Cost be the same, especially if you've just
rebaselined? And if they should be the same, why would there be a difference
between the two?

 

[Dave]

Shouldn't the ACWP and Actual Cost be the same, especially if you've just
rebaselined? And if they should be the same, why would there be a difference
between the two?

Is your status date in the past?

 

[Nikole]

No, the status date is correct.
--
Nikole, PMP

Is your status date in the past?

 

[JulieS]

Hello Nikole,

Do you have material resources assigned to the task? Material
resource costs do count with Actual Cost but not with ACWP.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional
information about Microsoft Project

 

[Nikole]

I double-checked, and I do not have any material resources assigned.
However, I do have both fixed costs and resource driven costs (based on
resource assignments) to tasks. What I'm noticing is that the differences
between AC and ACWP are occuring on the tasks with resource assignments.
When I go to the Task Usage view and look at the resources assigned to the
task where there is a differece between the AC and ACWP, I find, for example,
that the Baseline and Actual Cost is $82.43 yet the ACWP is $164.85 for a
given resource. And sometimes the ACWP is less than the AC as well.

I'm just stumped as to why this is occuring- especially after a rebaseline.

 

[JulieS]

Nikole,

If I recall correctly, fixed costs do not play into the ACWP
figures -- only work performed by Work Resources. The tasks you are
seeing with a double rate aren't summary tasks are they? You don't
have resource assigned to the summary task?

Julie

 

[Nikole]

Actually, per the MS Project Help feature fixed costs are calculated into the
ACWP.
I do not have any resources on Summary Tasks. I did some futher analysis
and so far on the tasks I've reviewed, I'm finding that differences between
AC and ACWP are just on resource assigned tasks. And to make it even odder,
in the detail section of the Task Usage view the ACWP, AC, and BC are the
same number for the task/resource than when you compare it to the Gantt
Chart. (I figured out the increased dollar amount of the ACWP was cumulative
cost - sorry - obviously needed more caffiene this morning when I started
writing my last post).

Any other suggestions on why the different numbers. I'm sure what else to
check.

 

[JulieS]

Thanks for reminding me about the Fixed costs.

You stated earlier that the status date is correct. I assume
therefore you have no actual work recorded after the status date?

You note that when you compare figures in the detail section of the
Task Usage view, they match the values you see in the Gantt chart
view. Precisely what values (what views, fields) are different?

What version (including Service Pack) do you have installed?

I assume the option "Actual Costs are always calculated by Project"
on the calculate tab is enabled? I assume the calculation mode is
automatic?

Instead of me continuing to guess, if you'd care to zip the file and
send to me by email I'll see if I can discover what the issue is.
You can email me at prjng[at]maine[dot]rr[dot]com. Replace the [at]
and [dot] with the correct punctuation marks.

Julie