BCWP Not Equal to Baseine when 100% Complete

[Jim Aksel]

I have several tasks in my project that are 100% Work Complete and 100%
Complete. In this scenario, BCWP must equal Baseline Cost. (When you are
done, the max BCWP you can claim is your baseline bid).

However, MS Project is showing a variance between BCWP and Baseline. It
also shows a negative schedule variance even though the actual completion
dates are within the baseline dates and all dates are in the past.

Calculation settings are correct (move boxes checked, spread boxes checked)

Any suggestions on how to elminate this variance? Generally,
SV=BCWP(cum)-BCWS(cum) which means at 100% complete SV=0.

 

[John M.]

Is it possible that during the life of the project somebody removed an
assignment or a task that was included in the baseline?

John M.

 

[Jim Aksel]

No, there were no removed or added tasks. Actually, the problem appears to
be largely related to Material Dollars in 25 separate tasks. We changes the
EV method to Physical % Complete and this has eliminated the variance in all
but a couple of instances.

Now, I guess I need a tutorial on the differences between %Work Complete and
Physical % Complete. ... Off to the help pages. Does anyone else have insight
into this?

 

[Steve House]

% Physical complete is a subjective estimate of the amount of the task
deliverable that has been produced. Imagine I'm painting a room - task
begin 8am Mon and is estimated to complete Fri 5pm. The duration is 40
hours. Work is heavily contoured for some reason and the resource is
scheduled for 1 hour Mon, 1 on Tue, 1 on Wed, 1 on Thur and then there's
a big finish with a lot of detail work and cleanup on Fri so 8 hours is
required that day. Duration = 40 hour, work = 12 hour.

It's now Thur 5pm and we have worked exactly according to plan.
% Complete = 32h/40h = 80%.
% Work Complete= 4h/12h = 33%
We look at the room and see only 2 walls have been painted
% Physical Complete = 2walls/4walls = ~50%

HTH

 

[Rex]

Do you check your Project Status Date in the Project Informations, the date
will decide what value project will put into BCWP, maybe you finished the
task, but you won't get the whole BCWP until the date comes.

 

[Jim Aksel]

Rex -- I agree with the statement, however, I should always be able to claim
"P" as of any status date regardless of baseline dates, etc. Therules state
that I claim it when it is earned. If I claim it when earned, it should show
up on that status measure.

Perhaps the best way to avoid this is use of Physical %Complete.