Using Physical % complete method for EV

[Rob Harding]

Has anyone experienced a problem when using the Physical % complete method
for EV. We have been trailing this method as a way forward but have
identified that when the Physical % Complete filed is updated it does not
always update EV. Sometimes entering the data multiple[le times it will work.
This problem does not seem to be consistent.

 

[Robert Dibble]

Rob:
Yes, we are experiencing some difficulty with this field. Especially in the
fact that even if there are 5 tasks under a summary task, and the 5 tasks all
show 100% Physical % Complete, the Summary task Physical % Complete value may
not show 100%. In some cases it is less than 100%. The outcome of this is
that it rolls up to the Iteration or Project summary tasks and has an affect
on our Earned Value numbers.
We haven't tried entering a singular Physical % Complete value multiple
times, but we do regularly highlight the % Work Complete column and paste it
into the Physical % Complete column to get all the Physical % Complete values
updated.

I'm very interested in knowing how to 'synch' up the Summary Physical %
Complete value with its detail Task Physical % Complete values.

 

[Robert Dibble]

Another note: In the "MS Project Summary physical % complete" post, Steve
House [MVP] states "there's no mathmatical rule to govern [the Physical %
Complete] rollup. Thus what you're asking just isn't possible in Project"

Rob:
Yes, we are experiencing some difficulty with this field. Especially in the
fact that even if there are 5 tasks under a summary task, and the 5 tasks all
show 100% Physical % Complete, the Summary task Physical % Complete value may
not show 100%. In some cases it is less than 100%. The outcome of this is
that it rolls up to the Iteration or Project summary tasks and has an affect
on our Earned Value numbers.
We haven't tried entering a singular Physical % Complete value multiple
times, but we do regularly highlight the % Work Complete column and paste it
into the Physical % Complete column to get all the Physical % Complete values
updated.

I'm very interested in knowing how to 'synch' up the Summary Physical %
Complete value with its detail Task Physical % Complete values.

Has anyone experienced a problem when using the Physical % complete method
for EV. We have been trailing this method as a way forward but have
identified that when the Physical % Complete filed is updated it does not
always update EV. Sometimes entering the data multiple[le times it will work.
This problem does not seem to be consistent.

 

[Bob Zapf]

The following solution will provide a representation of a Physical % Complete
roll up - Use a custom number field with a formula (that rolls up a sum) that
applies the Physical % Complete value to the Baseline Cost, title this field
"EV Taken" or maybe "BCWP" or just "EV". Use a second number field with a
formula (applied at the summary task too) that divides EV by the baseline
cost. This will give a representation of summary "Physical % Complete" at the
summary task that my organization calls EV % Complete which I think is what
you are after. The idea is based on the notion of using a dollar as the unit
of measure of the physical work completed. I hope this helps.
--
Bob Zapf

Another note: In the "MS Project Summary physical % complete" post, Steve
House [MVP] states "there's no mathmatical rule to govern [the Physical %
Complete] rollup. Thus what you're asking just isn't possible in Project"

Rob:
Yes, we are experiencing some difficulty with this field. Especially in the
fact that even if there are 5 tasks under a summary task, and the 5 tasks all
show 100% Physical % Complete, the Summary task Physical % Complete value may
not show 100%. In some cases it is less than 100%. The outcome of this is
that it rolls up to the Iteration or Project summary tasks and has an affect
on our Earned Value numbers.
We haven't tried entering a singular Physical % Complete value multiple
times, but we do regularly highlight the % Work Complete column and paste it
into the Physical % Complete column to get all the Physical % Complete values
updated.

I'm very interested in knowing how to 'synch' up the Summary Physical %
Complete value with its detail Task Physical % Complete values.

Has anyone experienced a problem when using the Physical % complete method
for EV. We have been trailing this method as a way forward but have
identified that when the Physical % Complete filed is updated it does not
always update EV. Sometimes entering the data multiple[le times it will work.
This problem does not seem to be consistent.

 

[Robert Dibble]

Thank you very much for the ideas. I'll give it a try. I've coded EV before,
and am very close to coding it again to get around some of the issues in
Project/Project Server.

The following solution will provide a representation of a Physical % Complete
roll up - Use a custom number field with a formula (that rolls up a sum) that
applies the Physical % Complete value to the Baseline Cost, title this field
"EV Taken" or maybe "BCWP" or just "EV". Use a second number field with a
formula (applied at the summary task too) that divides EV by the baseline
cost. This will give a representation of summary "Physical % Complete" at the
summary task that my organization calls EV % Complete which I think is what
you are after. The idea is based on the notion of using a dollar as the unit
of measure of the physical work completed. I hope this helps.
--
Bob Zapf

Another note: In the "MS Project Summary physical % complete" post, Steve
House [MVP] states "there's no mathmatical rule to govern [the Physical %
Complete] rollup. Thus what you're asking just isn't possible in Project"

Rob:
Yes, we are experiencing some difficulty with this field. Especially in the
fact that even if there are 5 tasks under a summary task, and the 5 tasks all
show 100% Physical % Complete, the Summary task Physical % Complete value may
not show 100%. In some cases it is less than 100%. The outcome of this is
that it rolls up to the Iteration or Project summary tasks and has an affect
on our Earned Value numbers.
We haven't tried entering a singular Physical % Complete value multiple
times, but we do regularly highlight the % Work Complete column and paste it
into the Physical % Complete column to get all the Physical % Complete values
updated.

I'm very interested in knowing how to 'synch' up the Summary Physical %
Complete value with its detail Task Physical % Complete values.

:

Has anyone experienced a problem when using the Physical % complete method
for EV. We have been trailing this method as a way forward but have
identified that when the Physical % Complete filed is updated it does not
always update EV. Sometimes entering the data multiple[le times it will work.
This problem does not seem to be consistent.

 

[Jim Aksel]

Although this disagrees with others on this post, Physical % Complete WILL
correctly roll up in summary tasks. The behavior is similar to the
SUMPRODUCT function in Excel ... it takes the Physical%Complete of each
subtask * Baseline for each subtask, then add them up. It works fine for me;
no need for custom calculations and the like.

I can duplicate your problem. The Physical%Complete will not sum properly
if the tasks are not baselined, or are using the incorrect EV method. Make
sure the EV method is set to Physical%Complete (Advanced Tab for each task),
and the Project/Customize/Calculations/EV button is set to Physica%Complete
as well.

Then, make sure your tasks are baselined against the same baseline you are
using for your calculations. Resources must be assigned at real rates. Then
it will work fine.

Thank you very much for the ideas. I'll give it a try. I've coded EV before,
and am very close to coding it again to get around some of the issues in
Project/Project Server.

The following solution will provide a representation of a Physical % Complete
roll up - Use a custom number field with a formula (that rolls up a sum) that
applies the Physical % Complete value to the Baseline Cost, title this field
"EV Taken" or maybe "BCWP" or just "EV". Use a second number field with a
formula (applied at the summary task too) that divides EV by the baseline
cost. This will give a representation of summary "Physical % Complete" at the
summary task that my organization calls EV % Complete which I think is what
you are after. The idea is based on the notion of using a dollar as the unit
of measure of the physical work completed. I hope this helps.
--
Bob Zapf

Another note: In the "MS Project Summary physical % complete" post, Steve
House [MVP] states "there's no mathmatical rule to govern [the Physical %
Complete] rollup. Thus what you're asking just isn't possible in Project"

:

Rob:
Yes, we are experiencing some difficulty with this field. Especially in the
fact that even if there are 5 tasks under a summary task, and the 5 tasks all
show 100% Physical % Complete, the Summary task Physical % Complete value may
not show 100%. In some cases it is less than 100%. The outcome of this is
that it rolls up to the Iteration or Project summary tasks and has an affect
on our Earned Value numbers.
We haven't tried entering a singular Physical % Complete value multiple
times, but we do regularly highlight the % Work Complete column and paste it
into the Physical % Complete column to get all the Physical % Complete values
updated.

I'm very interested in knowing how to 'synch' up the Summary Physical %
Complete value with its detail Task Physical % Complete values.

:

Has anyone experienced a problem when using the Physical % complete method
for EV. We have been trailing this method as a way forward but have
identified that when the Physical % Complete filed is updated it does not
always update EV. Sometimes entering the data multiple[le times it will work.
This problem does not seem to be consistent.