Portfolio and Earned Value
Score every active project on cost and schedule, and forecast its final cost and finish date.
Earned value compares three figures for a project:
- Planned value — the budget for the work that should be done by today.
- Earned value — the budget for the work actually done.
- Actual cost — what the work has cost so far: logged hours × cost rates, or recorded budget spend if that is higher.
The scores
- CPI (cost performance) = earned value ÷ actual cost. Below 1 means over budget for the work done.
- SPI (schedule performance) = earned value ÷ planned value. Below 1 means behind schedule.
- EAC (forecast final cost) assumes the current cost performance continues.
- Variance is the budget less the forecast final cost.
A project is off track when CPI or SPI is below 0.85, at risk between 0.85 and 0.95, and on track otherwise.
Where to see it
A project's Earned Value tab shows its scores and forecast finish. ERP → Portfolio lists every active project with its scores, budget, forecast and finish date. The figures at the top filter by status and link to pending change orders and open returns.
Task links and the critical path
On a project's Schedule tab, link tasks so one starts when another finishes. When a task's due date moves later, the tasks that depend on it move with it. The critical path — the chain of tasks that sets the finish date — is highlighted.
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