CAM Technology & Tools 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which software tool is most commonly used in defense programs as the earned value cost engine that stores control account budgets and calculates performance metrics?
- Deltek Cobra (Correct answer)
- Adobe Acrobat
- Tableau Desktop
- Slack
Correct answer: Deltek Cobra
Deltek Cobra is a widely used EVM cost-processing tool that maintains budgets, actuals, and earned value calculations at the control account and work package level.
Question 2: A CAM needs to verify that the schedule logic driving their control account forecast is sound. Which tool would they most likely use to inspect network logic and float?
- A word processor
- Oracle Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project (Correct answer)
- A CRM platform
- An email client
Correct answer: Oracle Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project
Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project are the standard scheduling tools used to build and analyze the integrated master schedule, including logic ties and float.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of the IPMDAR when it comes to EVM data technology?
- It encrypts contractor email traffic
- It standardizes electronic delivery of contract performance and schedule data to the government (Correct answer)
- It replaces the need for a scheduling tool
- It automatically writes variance explanations
Correct answer: It standardizes electronic delivery of contract performance and schedule data to the government
The Integrated Program Management Data and Analysis Report (IPMDAR) defines a standardized electronic dataset for delivering cost and schedule performance data to the customer.
Question 4: In an EVM toolset, actual costs typically flow into the cost engine from which source system?
- The corporate accounting or ERP system (Correct answer)
- The proposal pricing spreadsheet
- The risk register
- The CAD design tool
Correct answer: The corporate accounting or ERP system
Actual costs (ACWP) originate in the accounting/ERP system and are imported into the EVM cost tool to align with control accounts.
Question 5: A CAM notices that BCWS in the EVM tool does not match the time-phasing in the integrated master schedule. What does this most likely indicate?
- The customer changed the contract type
- A cost-schedule integration or synchronization failure between tools (Correct answer)
- The accounting calendar is illegal
- The tool license expired
Correct answer: A cost-schedule integration or synchronization failure between tools
Mismatched time-phasing between the schedule tool and cost tool signals that the cost-schedule integration process failed or was not rerun after updates.
Question 6: Which capability is the main advantage of an automated EVM dashboard for a CAM's monthly analysis?
- It eliminates the need for variance analysis
- It rapidly surfaces trends and threshold breaches in CPI and SPI for early action (Correct answer)
- It sets the contract budget base
- It negotiates changes with the customer
Correct answer: It rapidly surfaces trends and threshold breaches in CPI and SPI for early action
Dashboards speed up detection of trends and threshold breaches, but the CAM must still perform and document the analysis.
Question 7: When exporting control account data for customer review, why is maintaining a consistent WBS coding structure across all tools critical?
- It reduces printer toner usage
- It enables data from schedule, cost, and accounting systems to be traced and reconciled to the same elements (Correct answer)
- It is required only for firm-fixed-price contracts
- It makes the files smaller
Correct answer: It enables data from schedule, cost, and accounting systems to be traced and reconciled to the same elements
A consistent WBS coding structure allows cost, schedule, and accounting data to be traced and reconciled across systems.
CAM Technology & Tools 2
Which software tool is most commonly used in defense programs as the earned value cost engine that stores control account budgets and calculates performance metrics?