BCWP on Future Efforts / Tasks Always Zero

[Jeff Hackett]

BCWS appears to be updating correctly as STATUS date is updated but BCWP is
never greater than BCWS and therefore SPI is never greater than 1.0 (i.e.
Project is taking no credit for work completed ahead of schedule). This is
true for a single task (e.g. current date is exactly halfway through $100
task, BCWS = $50, if % Complete is set to 25%, I get BCWP = $25, if I set %
Complete to 50%, I get BCWP = $50, if I set % Complete to 100%, BCWP stays at
$50.). It's also true if I take % Complete credit on a Task that starts on a
date after the Project Status date.

 

[Jim Aksel]

We use Physical%Complete and this works fine and gets you the expected SPI
you are seeking.

1. Assign costed resources to all tasks.
2. EV Method for all tasks is Physical%Complete
3. Strike a baseline
4. Set a status date

If you claim a physical%complete ahead of schedule, you will earn BCWP on
that line and the rollups. Remember to enter [Actual Start] and [Actual
Finish] in those columns as needed.

You will need to go back and memorialize your progress, back it out, then
change your EV method. Reinsert your progress as Physical%Complete.

Note: %Complete is based on duration, Physical%Complete is based on BCWS and
% of BAC claimed.

I have a white paper on it if needed.

There is an alternative -- I don't use it, and therefore have not tested it
completely. Now that I have given myself an out (hee hee), if you want to
continue to use ordinary %Complete.... focus on Remaining Work and Remaining
duration when you claim progress. That is, never mind %Complete, let the
program calculate that for you. Keep in mind, if you do it that way, your
%Complete may regress .... if you are on a Department of Defense contract,
this violates all the rules and you get to watch some entertainment provided
courtesty of your governement counterparts.

Let us know if you need more help, there are lots of good folks online to
help you.

--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim Aksel, MVP

Check out my blog for more information:
http://www.msprojectblog.com

 

[Jeff Hackett]

THANK YOU so much for your response; your insights helped me get around a
major aggrivation that's had me stalled for a very long time.

 

[paul]

BCWS appears to be updating correctly as STATUS date is updated but BCWP is
never greater than BCWS and therefore SPI is never greater than 1.0 (i.e.
Project is taking no credit for work completed ahead of schedule).  This is
true for a single task (e.g. current date is exactly halfway through $100
task, BCWS = $50, if % Complete is set to 25%, I get BCWP = $25, if Iset %
Complete to 50%, I get BCWP = $50, if I set % Complete to 100%, BCWP stays at
$50.).  It's also true if I take % Complete credit on a Task that starts on a
date after the Project Status date.

If you're simply changing the %Complete field directly, you will
likely get progress in the future. MSP only considers work performed
through the Status Date. Since progress in the future is nonsensical,
you should enable the calculation options that deal with this: Tools|
Options|Calculation and check "Move end of completed parts..." and
"Move start of remaining...". Your BCWP will act as you expect.

To be honest, however, changing the %Complete has ramifications in
terms of cost that are often not true. If you are 20% done and
"should" have been 10%, you have to consider how that happened.
1) If you used more resources to do the "future" work, then all is
well with the costs.
2) If your worker was more efficient than planned, then you did not
incur those costs. Setting %Complete to 20% will "book" another 10%
of costs. (and we'll soon see a message wondering why your CPI is
incorrect ;-) )

In my experience, #2 is the normal case since the work estimates are
simply that -- estimates. They will almost NEVER be 100% accurate.
Entering information about the actual and remaining work rather than
%complete works much better, IMHO. (Not to mention getting around the
common problem of being perpetually 95% complete.)

Paul