Ethan Alan Group, LLC

Ethan Alan Group is located in the greater Seattle metropolitan area and specializes in project controls services including, earned value management (EVM), CPM scheduling, and risk, as well as Deltek IPM software solution implementation and training.  

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In a recent post on LinkedIn and this blog, we were reminded of the recent request by NDIA to promote the proper referencing of the EVMS standard in a memo dated March 11, 2015.

The memo states that the use of ANSI in the title of EIA-748 grew out of a cultural norm that had been perpetuated in the written representation of industry and Government artifacts over the years.  Cultural norms, like many other social norms, are an unplanned and unexpected result, much like a shortcut off of a designed walkway or path.

We would like to take a moment to inform our readers and colleagues, using the reference of ANSI-748 for the EIA-748 Earned Value Management System (EVMS) Standard is not correct.

Please visit the link on this post to view NDIA’s memo on this topic.

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What is Wrong with Earned Value Management?

The following Deltek White Paper titled "What is Wrong with Earned Value Management?" is a very good read, and still very valid today as well. 

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What is EVMS?

An earned value management system (EVMS) is an integrated business management system, usually in compliance with ANSI 748, utilizing Earned Value Management (EVM) methodology.  The process includes integration of scope, schedule, cost, a performance measurement baseline, and earned value.  Read a great White Paper by Deltek titled “What is EVMS?”

How can an Earned Value Management System help you?

Implementing an EVMS will provide indices which are used as early detection mechanisms, giving you time to implement effective corrective action so your project may be successfully completed on time and on budget.

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Please enjoy our Winter 2014 Newsletter

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Capturing accurate performance of work in place on a project

One of the more critical components of proper project controls is capturing actual progress or performance on assigned tasks.  This information is critical in evaluating and assessing where a project is currently, and charting the course for where it is heading.  Accuracy, agreement and transparency can be one of the more challenging aspects in collecting performance.  Resources may overstate or understate performance, inexperienced resources may not have the background to accurately evaluate work in place, and complicated tasks such as software coding or specialized subject matter may be difficult to quantify. Oracle's Primavera P6 has a nice feature to help ensure accurate performance is taken.  Use of steps can be used for the purpose of measuring physical percent complete.  Steps are an appropriate method to define scope and/or better describe physical progress of an activity through weighted elements.  Each step can be weighted based on the step's proportion to the overall activity.  The sum of the step weight percent will be equal to 100% effort of the task.  It is recommended that no incremental progress should be taken on steps, and that steps will either be 0% or 100% complete.  The steps must also be at a detail enough level to assist the project manager in managing the scope of the project.  Additionally, because steps are what measure physical percent complete and what allows the schedule to earn value (BCWP), they must be at an adequately detailed level in order to demonstrate progress on the activity. Example of steps and step weight: Task:  03200-0010, Pour East Wall      Step 1:  Form wall (one-side); Weight = 10%      Step 2:  Install block-outs; Weight = 10%      Step 3:  Install reinforcing; Weight = 10%      Step 4:  Install M.E.P. rough-in; Weight = 10%      Step 5:  Button up wall; Weight = 10%      Step 6:  Pour concrete; Weight = 25%      Step 7:  Strip formwork; Weight = 25% Buy in by the project team on task steps and their weighted values take the guessing out of determining progress and performance.  Use of steps promotes transparency, eliminates future disagreement, and helps keep the project team properly informed of progress.

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Ethan Alan Group and Prophix Partnership Announcement

Ethan Alan Group LLC has partnered with Prophix, a leading developer of Corporate Performance Management software.

Click here for more

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Please enjoy our Fall 2014 Newsletter.

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Introduction to Ethan Alan Group

Welcome to our blog.

Who are we?

Ethan Alan Group, LLC is an authorized Deltek Consulting Partner specializing in project controls services including, earned value management (EVM), CPM scheduling, and risk, as well as Deltek IPM software solution implementation and training.

Why start a blog?

Our core competency is providing project controls services, and it is our desire to educate and inform our readers how proper project controls techniques are essential in the overall success of a program or project. 

Due to the complexities of all programs and projects, complicated schedules, and detailed coordination, all programs and projects experience setbacks in one form or another. Proper project controls techniques measure progress in an objective manner combining measurements of scope, schedule, and cost into a single integrated system.  When properly deployed, implemented, and maintained, the project controls system provides early warning of performance problems, prevents scope creep, communicates objective progress to stakeholders, and keeps the project team focused on achieving significant milestones.

Respectfully,

Eric Christensen

Founder and President