Guide to Earned Value Management (EVM) - PMP Time Management
Earned Value Management (EVM) is a powerful project management tool that compares the planned value of tasks to the actual completed value. EVM allows project managers to measure project performance and predict future performance based on this information.
Why It's Important: Using EVM in your project management practices gives you an objective measurement of how much work has been accomplished on a project, enabling better oversight and control. It's also a useful method for early identification of project risks.
What It Is: The term Earned Value Management encompasses several values including Planned Value (PV), Actual Cost (AC), and Earned Value (EV). EVM also includes key metrics such as Cost Variance (CV), Schedule Variance (SV), Cost Performance Index (CPI), and Schedule Performance Index (SPI).
How It Works: EVM is based on the concept that work completed has a value equal to the money spent plus the profit. The management system evaluates the actual work completed, compares this to the planned value of the work, and calculates a performance measure.
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Earned Value Management Practice calculations: The most common type of question you'll find on the PMP exam pertains to calculating EVM values and interpreting the results. It's crucial that you practice these calculations and understand the difference between a positive and negative variance. Memorize key terms and formulas: There are several EVM formulas you will need to memorize for the PMP exam. Apply EVM concepts: Some questions may be scenario-based, asking you to apply EVM concepts to a hypothetical project situation.