EPM Solution and Earned Value Calculations

[Chris]

I’ve been told that the EPM solution is much more flexible in terms of Earned Value Calculations and reporting. I’m looking for more information on what the differences in Earned Value are between the 2003 Standard and the EPM Solution. Any information would be helpful.

(sorry if there was a double post)

 

[William Raymond]

Hi Chris,

Actually, it is not the 'calculations', but rather it is the additional
capability provided by using the Project Server environment. If you want to
do EVA from MSP Client and get, say, an S-Curve, you can export it to Excel
using the "Analyze Timescaled Data" option.

Problem is, whether you just want the EV data or want the graphic in Excel,
you are going to have to share files with people and 'push' the information
out. Further, if you are using the stand-alone version of MSP Client, you
will really don't have the capability to look at EV across multiple projects
(or programs).

With MSP Server, you can create online, graphical reports that people can
see within a web page (by security rights). You can also do portfolio
management within the tool, so people can look at EV across one or many
projects. They can slice-and-dice by things like (you define this)
location, program, initiative, etc.

With the reporting tool in PWA, you can also create customized formulas if
there is a specific way you want to track EV within your organization, which
is much more rigid if you use the product in stand-alone mode.

Hope this helps!

-Bill
--
Bill Raymond
projectnation at hotmail dot com

I've been told that the EPM solution is much more flexible in terms of

Earned Value Calculations and reporting. I'm looking for more information on
what the differences in Earned Value are between the 2003 Standard and the
EPM Solution. Any information would be helpful.

 

[Chris]

Thanks for the input. Unfortunately it doesn't help our problem.

Guess this leads me then down the same trail I'm going on. Writing my own Earned Value macros For Project.
My superiors don't trust the earned value calculations within MS Project... And I don't blame them.

Something as simple as the CV% is supposed to calculate as (Per Microsoft Documentation):
CV% = [ (BCWP - ACWP) / BCWP ] * 100

Those numbers are:
[ ( 128-160 ) / 128 ] * 100 = -25%

But Project Reports the CV% = -24%

Obviously Project is doing something to the value that is not documented. That isn't acceptable... If there is some other value in the calculation then it should be documented so that we can see why.

Chris

 

[William Raymond]

Chris,

Can you post an example of this to the board? I'm not sure if this is a bug
or something else having to do with your plan.

Thanks,

-Bill

--
Bill Raymond
projectnation at hotmail dot com

Thanks for the input. Unfortunately it doesn't help our problem.

Guess this leads me then down the same trail I'm going on. Writing my own

Earned Value macros For Project.

My superiors don't trust the earned value calculations within MS

Project... And I don't blame them.

Something as simple as the CV% is supposed to calculate as (Per Microsoft Documentation):
CV% = [ (BCWP - ACWP) / BCWP ] * 100

Those numbers are:
[ ( 128-160 ) / 128 ] * 100 = -25%

But Project Reports the CV% = -24%

Obviously Project is doing something to the value that is not documented.

That isn't acceptable... If there is some other value in the calculation
then it should be documented so that we can see why.