EVM Certification Schedule Management & Performance Flashcards

What is the Estimated Time to Complete (ETC) in Earned Schedule terms used to forecast?

Answer: The remaining duration needed to complete the project based on current schedule performance

In Earned Schedule, ETC(t) estimates the remaining calendar time to completion, analogous to cost ETC in traditional EVM.

Which EVM performance measurement method credits earned value based on a pre-set percentage at start and the remainder at completion?

Answer: Fixed formula (e.g., 25/75 or 50/50)

Fixed formula methods like 25/75 grant a portion of budget at start and the rest at finish, reducing subjectivity for short work packages.

What type of work is measured using the Level of Effort (LOE) earning method in EVM?

Answer: Ongoing support activities that cannot be tied to discrete deliverables

LOE is used for support tasks like project management and administration where earned value equals PV by definition each period.

On a US government EVM program, the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) '14-point assessment' evaluates:

Answer: Key EVM metrics to determine whether a contractor's EVMS data is reliable and actionable

The DCMA 14-point check is a standardized health check of EVM metrics that flags potential data integrity or performance issues.

What does a large negative Schedule Variance (SV) combined with a CPI close to 1.0 most likely indicate?

Answer: The project is behind schedule but spending is well controlled

Negative SV with CPI ≈ 1.0 means work is being done efficiently in cost terms but less work is being accomplished than planned on the timeline.

When an EVM project's Independent Estimate at Completion (IEAC) significantly exceeds the contractor's EAC, what does this suggest?

Answer: The contractor's EAC may be optimistic and the government should scrutinize the assumptions

A large gap between IEAC and contractor EAC typically signals that the contractor's forecast is over-optimistic and warrants formal review.