Advanced Techniques & Methods Flashcards

A CAM notices a control account's cumulative CPI is 0.85 while the SPI is 1.05. What does this combination most likely indicate?

Answer: Work is ahead of schedule but costing more than planned

CPI below 1.0 indicates cost overrun while SPI above 1.0 indicates schedule performance ahead of plan.

When using the 50/50 earned value technique on a work package, when is the remaining 50% of budget earned?

Answer: When the work package is completed

The 50/50 method earns half the budget when work starts and the remaining half only upon completion.

Which formula calculates the To-Complete Performance Index (TCPI) based on the current Estimate at Completion (EAC)?

Answer: (BAC − EV) ÷ (EAC − AC)

TCPI based on EAC divides the remaining work (BAC − EV) by the remaining funds (EAC − AC).

A CAM must replan remaining work in an open control account without changing the total budget or contract milestones. What is this action called?

Answer: Internal replanning

Internal replanning redistributes budget for future work within existing constraints without changing the contract budget base.

Under EVMS guidelines, which practice is prohibited when closing out a completed work package with a cost variance?

Answer: Transferring the remaining budget to mask the variance

Shifting budget to hide variances (retroactive changes) violates EVMS baseline discipline.

Which earned value method is most appropriate for a level-of-effort (LOE) activity like project administration support?

Answer: Earned value equals the planned value each period

LOE earns value equal to its planned value automatically, so it never generates schedule variance.

A control account's Variance at Completion (VAC) is calculated as BAC − EAC and equals −$120,000. What does this tell the CAM?

Answer: The account is projected to overrun its budget by $120,000

A negative VAC means the estimate at completion exceeds the budget at completion, projecting an overrun.