May 2012

The EVM Newsletter™
from Management Technologies
In This Issue
Those Millennials
TPI or SPI?
AACE Meets with US Feds
"Major Tom"
Shipshape EVM
EVM Worldwide
Rebaseline Now, or Hold our Breath

Management Technologies
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EVM, Saving the World from Bad Bugs

 

 

DynPort Vaccine Company LLC recently posted a three minute video on EVM.

DynPort - EVM
DynPort - EVM

 

 
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Quotable Quote

quill

 

"Our youth now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for their elders and love chatter in place of exercise; they no longer rise when elders enter the room; they contradict their parents, chatter before company; gobble up their food and tyrannize their teachers.""

 

Socrates,
circa 425 B.C

 

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EVM3The Earned Value Management Maturity Model�
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The Earned Value Management Maturity Model book is now available from Books 24x7, as well as from Management Concepts.

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Save $150 with Management Technologies' EVPrep Workshop

Attendees at AACE Approved Education Providers (AEP) events receive no-cost temporary membership in AACE.

 

This policy allows these attendees to apply for AACE certification exams at the AACE member price ($150 less than the non-member price).

 

If you are planning on taking the EVP exam here is how to save $150.

 

  1. Attend our EVPrep exam prep workshop
  2. Get your temporary member e-mail from AACE.
  3. Apply to take the EVP exam at AACE member rates
  4. Save $150.
   

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EVM Schedule Adherence and CPI and SPI (t)Statistical Forecasting

The EzEVM™ workbook has provided projects and firms a low cost solution to performing EVM and refining their EVM processes.

 

The EzEVM MSExcel workbook template now includes "Schedule Adherence" and statistical forecasting of final CPI and SPI(t).

 

EVM data can be entered from any EVM software to provide these valuable analysis products as well as traditional EVM indicators.

 

 

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CPM Becomes a PMI R.E.P.™

You may recall that recently PMI and CPM (College of Performance Management ) announced an amicable split after ten years as PMI CPM.

 

Since that time the College of Performance Management has been approved as a PMI Registered Education Provider or R.E.P. Attendees at CPM events like EVM World 2012 now can earn PMI Category A PDUs. Category A PDUs cannot be challenged by PMI during renewals of PMI Certifications.

 

  

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EVP Exam Follows EVM World 2012
 

  

If you have been to the AACE website and viewed the certification exam calendar you did not see the EVP Exam scheduled for June 2. Do not panic. According to an email from AACE the exam will be conducted but is deleted from their calendar since the time to apply for the exam has passed.

 

EVM World starts 30 May and runs through 1 June. Two and one half days of training, workshops, keynote speakers, great food, and the FL beaches. Network and hear from experts in EVM.

 

 

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Angels Do Have Wings

Those of you who know me or have read my LinkedIn profile know I fly a Cessna aircraft around California, Arizona, and Nevada. When possible I volunteer my flying and plane for Angel Flight West missions.

 

I could explain why I do this but this one minute video says it all - without saying a word.  

 

 

Angel Flight West - Never Far Away

 

 

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SPI(t) OR TPI?

 

 

Should SPI (t) become TPI? A recent discussion on LinkedIn suggested TPI replace SPI (t), the earned schedule version of SPI. SPI ($) refers to the traditional SPI using the vertical axis of the S curves. If the change occurs then TPI and SPI would be terms which would not need () or subscripts, and TPI would refer to time. What do you think?

 

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 R.E.P. logo

 

 

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Top 

Greetings..

 me2011

Welcome to the May EVM Newsletter.

 

In this issue we highlight yet another corporation that is making EVM part of their standard project performance metrics, whether their customers ask for EVM data or not.

 

Rebaselining. To admit to needing to do a rebaseline is to admit the current plan is not achievable. So it's full of political consequences for the PM, the project organization, the customer, and potentially their stakeholders. Research into the idea of a Rebaseline Factor is one of our stories. If used, it has the potential to take the politics out of "is it time for a rebaseline?"

 

AACE stresses the importance of cost management in a first annual meeting with US Government leaders.

 

Fed up with your kids? Fed up with the millennials you have to work with? Guess what, you are not alone. Neither were your parents, their parents, or their parents. Want proof? See our Quotable Quote.

 

Our May EVM Tidbit is about EVM data. We all collect it. What should we do with it?

 

Before the next EVM Newsletter EVM World will be over. I'll be there. If you are there step up and introduce yourself. (Hint: I look at lot like the guy above.)   

  

Like us on Facebook  View our profile on LinkedIn

  

 

For 2012 EVM Europe and Thanksgiving have settled on different weeks. That means those who celebrate Thanksgiving can also attend EVM Europe.  Details are below. Finally an excuse to tell your boss why you need to visit The Netherlands.

 

You can help make this newsletter interesting by contributing news about your activities in EVM, your company, product announcements, or your projects. Each month starts with a blank sheet, we don't make this stuff up! Send news to me at
 

 

Ray Stratton, PMP,EVP 
Editor

 

 

AACE Hosts US Federal Cost Management Roundtable

 

AACE International sponsored its first cost management Federal Agency Roundtable April 13, in Washington, DC.  Organized by the AACE International Government Liaison Committee, the Federal Agency Roundtable brought together selected federal officials and federal space support contractors for a discussion of Total Cost Management (TCM) topics such as Earned Value Management (EVM) and risk management. 

 

Kim Hunter, Government Liaison Chair, noted that "Government agencies are challenged in 2012 and beyond to complete projects in the most cost efficient way possible, using both available dollars and human resources wisely." Government leaders are working in an environment where they have to produce greater results faster and for less money.  Effective risk management can make a significant difference in achieving success across government projects. This roundtable explored how EVM is used within the federal government as a major risk management tool and how AACE International can help federal leaders create an environment where proven TCM practices can be applied effectively.

  

To facilitate interaction among the 35 attendees, participants were divided into two groups with a scribe assigned to record and report back conclusions and themes to the entire group at the end of the discussions.  Jerry Jones, Federal Aviation Administration, facilitated one group while AACE President Elect Marlene Hyde facilitated the second.  The group shared transferable techniques and identified areas where future inter-agency cooperation might lead to more effective deployment of TCM practices within the federal government.

 

Based upon the positive feedback from participants, the Government Liaison Committee will be recommending future Roundtables to build upon the momentum created.   Anyone interested in learning more information about AACE International or its Federal Agency Roundtable, please contact Dennis Stork, Executive Director.

 

 

 

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Tidbit #32, Don't Let "Major Tom" Die in Vain

 

Have you heard of Major Tom or do you remember him. If you played cassette tapes in high school you may recall Peter Schilling's song "Major Tom". While in space astronaut Tom had the following thought while ..."starting to collect requested data. What will it affect when all is done?"

 

Does your organization collect EVM data and really use it? Or do you just format it and send it to your customer along with variance reports. In the early 1990's several large programs were cancelled because while the leaders felt all was in good shape the EVM data was screaming otherwise. Once the data was examined several programs were cancelled and several careers terminated. Their mistake - thinking that EVM is just a bunch of numbers to send to the customer.

 

Here's another good reason to use the EVM data. ANSI Guideline 2.4 (e), "Implement managerial actions taken as the result of earned value information." If you have or aspire to an ANSI 748 EVMS you have to use the data!

 

For those who first heard about Major Tom on cassette tapes here's the whole four minute story. 

Peter Schilling - Major Tom ( VIDEO English version )
Peter Schilling - Major Tom (Original)

 

For those whose music has only been a bunch of downloaded bits here's a four minute version for you.

Major Tom Lincoln MKZ Car Commercial
Major Tom Lincoln (MKZ Car Commercia)l

 

 

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Shipbuilder Keeps EVM Shipshape

  

Todd Shipyards implemented an ANSI 748 compliant EVM years ago. Yet Todd has found, "There is an ongoing process involved in order to keep up that certification. A government agency can be expected to continually ask for more and better documentation, and our goal is to deliver on those requests quickly in order to keep them happy.

 

"Contractors working within an EVM framework should expect to be asked for continuing improvements," according to Todd Pacific Shipyards Senior Business Analyst, Scott Arndt. Todd also found that what is good for their government work is good for all their work. "A lot of what the government is asking for is not specific to government, but has to do with how you are performing against cost and schedule, and that is something anyone who runs a project would be interested in seeing."

 

 

Usage of EVM Grows Worldwide

  

According to the March 2012 edition of PMI's Pulse of the Profession the use of EVM increased in 2011 by 13% over 2010. Forty two percent of PMO respondents report using EVM "always or often". Sales of our EVP Study Guide show interest in EVM in India, South Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.

 

And Management Technologies has seen EVM in new areas as we picked up our first EVM client in Trinidad and Tobago."

 

 
 
 

 Is it Time to Rebaseline? 

 

Rebaselining a project can be a political minefield. Should we rebaseline? Should we wait a little longer? Can we recover to theQuestion Mark current plan? How will a rebaseline play politically? Will it affect my career?

 

Is there a way to use EVM data as a basis to trigger a rebaseline? Mojtaba Zarei-Kesheh presented his concept of a Re-baseline Factor (RBF) at the EVM Conference in Europe last November. He proposes that project CPI and SPI values alone should not be used as triggers for rebaselining. Rather, one should look at the overall values of CPI and SPI at the control account level over a period of time. He does this by performing a count of the number of control account CPIs and SPIs that are a specified distance from 1.0.

 

Over time this count may increase indicating a failure to follow the baseline. An index created and once his index exceeds a threshold a rebaseline trigger has occurred and rebaselining should be considered. Mojtaba plans to present his paper at EVM Europe and hopes to see it published in the US so the details are left for him to present and publish.

  

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Workshops EVPrep™ and EVM Workshops
  
The following workshops are planned for the following locations:
  • Reston, VA
  • Houston, TX
  • Las Vegas, NV
  • Denver CO
  • Saint Louis, MO
Earned Value Experience (CAM) Workshop
 
You'll experience creating an earned value management baseline, determining earned value from project status, Classroomcalculating earned value management indices, and estimating final cost and completion date. This workshop is perfect for team leads, control account managers, financial and schedule control staff, project and program managers, and chief project officers.

Excel EzEVM™Templates may be retained by attendees to implement earned value management in their organization.

 

 

View the Earned Value Experience (CAM) workshop outline and get the registration form.
 
Interested in an on-site workshop? Send an e-mail with your your address and the number of attendees to receive a quote


EVPrepEVPrep Exam Prep Workshop

The workshop covers all the topics likely covered in the exam and provides exam-like questions and workshop discussion about each question and the possible answers. This workshop also includes an EVM analysis question to help prepare you for the three page written essay in Part II (was part IV).
 
Take this workshop and save $150 on the exam. Attendees are given a temporary limited membership in AACE that allows you to take the exam at AACE member rates.

 
This is twelve hours of mock EVP exam and discussions of correct and incorrect answers.
  
Do you have an EVP FAQ
  
Go to AACE's website for the latest information about exam dates.
View the EVPrep workshop outline and get the registration form.

Interested in an on-site workshop? Send an e-mail with your your address and the number of attendees to receive a quote.

Can EVM Work on Agile Projects? 

 

Come to EVM World 2012 and find out!

 mics

I'll be chairing a workshop panel discussion on applying EVM to agile projects at EVM World 2012 in Naples FL, May 30 - June 1. The four panelists are known for their expertise in EVM and its application to agile projects.

 

This is the first workshop of the two and a half day event and immediately follows the kickoff keynote. This is a workshop, not a presentation. Bring your questions and opinions for an interesting 75 minutes. The panelists are:

 

  • Kim Hunter, PMP, EVP; Task Lead for IntePros Federal's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) support
  • Tony J. Barrett, PE, EVP, PMP; Valued Technology's Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
  • Richard (Dick) Brodkorb; Vice President, Earned Value Management, SM&A, LLC
  • Eric Christoph, PMP, EVP; Vice President for Management Solutions at L-3 Communications 
,Upcoming EVM and PM Conferences 
        
   
EVM World 2012
WHEN: 30 May 2012 - June 2 2012
WHERE: Naples, FL
MORE INFO: CPM
 

EVA 17 

WHEN: 12-13 June 2012

WHERE: London at The Armourers' Hall Moorgate

MORE INFO: EVA17

 

AACE Annual Meeting 2012

WHEN: 8-11 July 2012

EVA17

WHERE:Marriott Rivercenter, San Antonio, Texas
MORE INFO: AACE, International  

 

EVM Europe 2012

WHEN: 28-29 November 2012

WHERE: University of Twente Enschede, The Netherlands

MORE INFO: EVM Europe 
(Note: Thanksgiving ({US} is  22 Nov)
  
Do you have news to share? Send your news item and we'll review it for posting in a future EVM Newsletter.
 
Sincerely,
 
Ray Stratton, PMP, EVP
Management Technologies

Copyright 2012, Management Technologies
 

The EVM Newsletter, EVPrep, The Earned Value Management Maturity Model, EVM3, EzEVM, CAMcert, and The Earned Value Experience are trademarks of Management Technologies.

 

The Earned Value Professional , EVP, and the AEP logo are marks of the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering, International. (AACE�).

 

The PMP, PMBOK, PMI, and R.E.P. , and the Registered Education Provider logo are
registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

 

EVM World is a
registered trademark of the College of Performance Management, Inc.