Adding tasks when using earned value physical % complete

[Peters]

Hello,

I am running a project using earned value to measure performance. From a
posting by Jim Aksel in this forum, I have chosen to use physical % complete
to register the progress. It has been working fine so far. But now I have a
problem that I do not now how to solve in this particular case.

In the project, we have discovered that we need to do an extra prototype
generation of the PCB:s. Since we should have thought about this earlier, I
would not consider it to be a baseline change. I want to add tasks that
relate to doing that work. In theory, the earned value/planned value for the
project as a total decreases, since the scope of work increased. But when
only using physical % complete (as opposed to % complete), the addition of
new tasks does not affect the earned value, does it? It would still be the
same independent of how many tasks I add.

Could anyone shed som light on what I should do with my plan in this
situation?

Thanks,
Peter

 

[Jim Aksel]

Create a new Work Package, enter your work as normal. The funds would come
from Management Reserve. The work is out of scope since you only baselined a
given number of PCB iterations.

Baseline the new work package and select the option to allow the numbers to
roll up into your summaries. Keep in mind, however, that your new WP needs
to be a stand alone at the same level as some of your other WP.... I often
make an error and allow it to roll up to an existing WP.

So, in the end game your total project BAC/EAC does not change but your MR
goes down and your EAC as shown in Project goes up. We usually do not show
MR in Project and keep that type of total reporting in another application.
If you do have a one liner for MR, then your EAC stays put.

HTH
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Jim

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

 

[Peters]

Thanks again Jim for you swift reply.

I see what you mean, but don't understand the part about the WP being "stand
alone"?

Am I right in saying that this is one of the disadvantages of using physical
% complete as opposed to % work complete for the earned value reporting?
Using physical % complete will produce two EAC, one based on the CP so far in
the project, and another if one reads the Cost column? Using physical %
complete would only produce one value, right?

Thanks for all the good advice so far, it has really helped me advance in
using MSP!

Regards,
Peter