how to calaculate an early start S-curve and late finish S-curve

[krishnan]

Some clients ask to compare the actual progress curve aginst the early start
and late finish S-curves. how to do this?

 

[Steve House [Project MVP]]

That's going to be hard to do since s-curves are based on cumulative work or
cumulative costs over time, not lists of dates which is what early start and
late finish would be.

 

[davegb]

That's going to be hard to do since s-curves are based on cumulative work or
cumulative costs over time, not lists of dates which is what early start and
late finish would be.

I'd think there'd be 2 slightly different S-curves based on ES and LS,
but not on F dates. And unless there was a lot of total slack on a
significant number of tasks, they'd be pretty much the same. The LS
curve would be slightly to the right of the ES curve. Shouldn't be much
difference in shape at all. They'd both accumulate the same costs. I
can't imagine where this would be of much use. Does the OP have an
example of where this would be useful?

 

[Trevor Rabey]

This is often a requirement in construction contracts, or at least it is
sometimes expected to be shown.
However, how it helps anyone or what it means remains a mystery.
Generally, Tasks are scheduled to start on their ES, but that is only the
(sensible) default and not all Tasks always.
If all Tasks are scheduled to start on their ES then there would be a
corresponding cumulative Work or Cost curve, and another if all Tasks were
scheduled to start at their LS (which implies also finish at the LF).
Its just the same curve with the bulge moved to the right.
Similarly, there is one cumulative cost (cash flow) curve for the un-leveled
version of the project and another for the leveled version, bulge moves
right.
I guess it helps to see the limits of the cash flow profile

Also, in the construction industry, at least here in Australia and S Africa,
there is a fashion for measuring something called "earned hours", a kind of
ersatz earned value.

 

[davegb]

This is often a requirement in construction contracts, or at least it is
sometimes expected to be shown.
However, how it helps anyone or what it means remains a mystery.
Generally, Tasks are scheduled to start on their ES, but that is only the
(sensible) default and not all Tasks always.
If all Tasks are scheduled to start on their ES then there would be a
corresponding cumulative Work or Cost curve, and another if all Tasks were
scheduled to start at their LS (which implies also finish at the LF).
Its just the same curve with the bulge moved to the right.
Similarly, there is one cumulative cost (cash flow) curve for the un-leveled
version of the project and another for the leveled version, bulge moves
right.
I guess it helps to see the limits of the cash flow profile

Also, in the construction industry, at least here in Australia and S Africa,
there is a fashion for measuring something called "earned hours", a kind of
ersatz earned value.

I'd be interested to know if anyone can give any really practical
reason for having this information. Or is it one of those, "We can do
it, so let's" kinds of things with not practical purpose. With so much
computer horsepower available these days, there's a lot of that going
around. In the eighties, when I worked for a major oil company, our
standard project economic analysis sheet went from 3 pages to 12, and I
don't think it was one bit more useful. Who can effectively evaluate
the meaning of 10 or 12 economic indicators simultaneously? I sure
can't. Give me an NPV, an IRR and a Payout and I've got about all I can
use. But I'm old school about these things, still believe in the KISS
principle (not the band).

 

[krishnan]

Thanx.
Is there any way to plot an S -curve directly from MSP.
could any one assist in developing an S-curve based on man hour and cost
loaded

This is often a requirement in construction contracts, or at least it is
sometimes expected to be shown.
However, how it helps anyone or what it means remains a mystery.
Generally, Tasks are scheduled to start on their ES, but that is only the
(sensible) default and not all Tasks always.
If all Tasks are scheduled to start on their ES then there would be a
corresponding cumulative Work or Cost curve, and another if all Tasks were
scheduled to start at their LS (which implies also finish at the LF).
Its just the same curve with the bulge moved to the right.
Similarly, there is one cumulative cost (cash flow) curve for the un-leveled
version of the project and another for the leveled version, bulge moves
right.
I guess it helps to see the limits of the cash flow profile

Also, in the construction industry, at least here in Australia and S Africa,
there is a fashion for measuring something called "earned hours", a kind of
ersatz earned value.

I'd be interested to know if anyone can give any really practical
reason for having this information. Or is it one of those, "We can do
it, so let's" kinds of things with not practical purpose. With so much
computer horsepower available these days, there's a lot of that going
around. In the eighties, when I worked for a major oil company, our
standard project economic analysis sheet went from 3 pages to 12, and I
don't think it was one bit more useful. Who can effectively evaluate
the meaning of 10 or 12 economic indicators simultaneously? I sure
can't. Give me an NPV, an IRR and a Payout and I've got about all I can
use. But I'm old school about these things, still believe in the KISS
principle (not the band).

Steve House [Project MVP] wrote:
That's going to be hard to do since s-curves are based on cumulative work
or
cumulative costs over time, not lists of dates which is what early start
and
late finish would be.
--
Steve House [MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs

Some clients ask to compare the actual progress curve aginst the early
start
and late finish S-curves. how to do this?

I'd think there'd be 2 slightly different S-curves based on ES and LS,
but not on F dates. And unless there was a lot of total slack on a
significant number of tasks, they'd be pretty much the same. The LS
curve would be slightly to the right of the ES curve. Shouldn't be much
difference in shape at all. They'd both accumulate the same costs. I
can't imagine where this would be of much use. Does the OP have an
example of where this would be useful?

 

[John]

Thanx.
Is there any way to plot an S -curve directly from MSP.
could any one assist in developing an S-curve based on man hour and cost
loaded

krishnan,
Well you left the door open when you said "...directly from MSP." Is it
possible to plot an S-curve IN Project? No. Is it possible to use an
advanced feature of Project to create an S-curve? Yes.

Probably the best way to create an S-curve is to use VBA and export
Project's timescaled data to another application (e.g. Excel). From
there is is easy to create the S-curve. Project has a built-in utility
called "analyze timescaled data in Excel" (found on the Analysis
toolbar) that will export timescaled data to Excel, or a custom VBA
macro can be developed to do it.

Just for reference, fellow MVP, Rod Gill has a macro (not freeware) for
creating S-curves. You can link to Rod's site at:
http://www.msproject-systems.com/order/orderwp-macros.htm

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

This is often a requirement in construction contracts, or at least it is
sometimes expected to be shown.
However, how it helps anyone or what it means remains a mystery.
Generally, Tasks are scheduled to start on their ES, but that is only the
(sensible) default and not all Tasks always.
If all Tasks are scheduled to start on their ES then there would be a
corresponding cumulative Work or Cost curve, and another if all Tasks
were
scheduled to start at their LS (which implies also finish at the LF).
Its just the same curve with the bulge moved to the right.
Similarly, there is one cumulative cost (cash flow) curve for the
un-leveled
version of the project and another for the leveled version, bulge moves
right.
I guess it helps to see the limits of the cash flow profile

Also, in the construction industry, at least here in Australia and S
Africa,
there is a fashion for measuring something called "earned hours", a kind
of
ersatz earned value.

I'd be interested to know if anyone can give any really practical
reason for having this information. Or is it one of those, "We can do
it, so let's" kinds of things with not practical purpose. With so much
computer horsepower available these days, there's a lot of that going
around. In the eighties, when I worked for a major oil company, our
standard project economic analysis sheet went from 3 pages to 12, and I
don't think it was one bit more useful. Who can effectively evaluate
the meaning of 10 or 12 economic indicators simultaneously? I sure
can't. Give me an NPV, an IRR and a Payout and I've got about all I can
use. But I'm old school about these things, still believe in the KISS
principle (not the band).

Steve House [Project MVP] wrote:
That's going to be hard to do since s-curves are based on cumulative
work
or
cumulative costs over time, not lists of dates which is what early
start
and
late finish would be.
--
Steve House [MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs

Some clients ask to compare the actual progress curve aginst the
early
start
and late finish S-curves. how to do this?

I'd think there'd be 2 slightly different S-curves based on ES and LS,
but not on F dates. And unless there was a lot of total slack on a
significant number of tasks, they'd be pretty much the same. The LS
curve would be slightly to the right of the ES curve. Shouldn't be much
difference in shape at all. They'd both accumulate the same costs. I
can't imagine where this would be of much use. Does the OP have an
example of where this would be useful?