Once a project is begun, it is important for a project manager to monitor and control the execution of the endeavor. A project manager must observe and examine how the work is progressing, the costs, application of the resources required, and if the schedule is being sustained with the overall project plan. This is especially important when a project manager uses the earned value management (EVM) system to track and monitor an undertaking. EVM and variance management must have accurate material and labor costs accounted in order to be an effective tool.
Labor and Material Costs
Resources are essential for completion for any project, but must be managed differently because of the constraints and accounting each specifically demands. Labor, materials, and equipment fall under the definition of resources and how they are managed within a project will greatly impact the endeavor (Larson & Gray, 2014). An important resource for a project is the human resource or labor and the skills that each individual brings to the project team. Ordinarily, direct labor is classified by skills and the costs related to provide those skills to complete the work. Direct labor costs are normally calculated by multiplying the hours required to complete the task by the salary scale designated for the task. Indirect labor costs encompass any support staff that is not directly involved within the project, like human resource, administrative, and other ancillary staff (Webb, 2016). Even though these
On the other hand, direct costs represent labor, materials, equipment, and sometimes subcontractors. They are assigned directly to a work package and activity. When project durations are imposed, such as in the racing sailboat project, direct costs may no longer represent low-cost, efficient methods. As detailed in the crash cost list, costs for the imposed duration date will be higher than for a project duration developed from ideal normal times for
Part of the Earned Value Management technique is the monitoring of variances from the approved baseline of costs and schedule. The variances are useful in determining the overall project health and status.
The impact of Earned Value analysis in managing project cost control is undeniable. When EVM is implemented on a project, there are significant benefits to the project manager and the customer. Project manager benefits include increased visibility and control to proactively respond to issues that can impact project schedule, cost and objectives. Customer benefits include increase confidence in the PM’s ability to manage the project and track the progress of their project. Additionally, EVM provides a wealth of information for accountants. Accountants can use the data to report profitability to the investment community (Wilkens, 1991). There is a true connection between project management and corporate accounting. PMs use data provided by finance departments as inputs to determine cost performance of projects via EVM. This includes information used to create financial statements such as the cash flow statement, used to track the actual cash in hand. Said financial statements are to be crafted in compliance with the U.S. GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles). GAAP impacts every item on a qualifying financial statement. GAAP guidelines dictates how financial statements are produced every step of the way, covering hundreds of different components, according to Stanford University’s Cardinal Money Management website (Gresham, 2012). GAAP encompasses basic accounting principles and guidelines and detailed standards issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board
| a) Using the traditional method of assessing project performance, we would be able to see if we have been over or under budget and timelines, and we would only have this information once the project has been completed. However, with the traditional approach would not be able to effectively track project performance at a task level and at any given point in time. Due to this, decisions that may need to be taken during the project or identifying issues or project health during project execution is more difficult using traditional approaches than using the EVM process. b) The EVM process is based on tracking the schedule and cost performance at a task level on an on-going basis, that will help determine project task level and overall status with effective indicators that would help make project related decisions. In the EVM process, a baseline plan is made for project costs and timelines and then these are tracked against actual costs and work completion to find out the cost variances and schedule variances and cost and schedule indexes, that will help determine how the project is performing on these parameters. If the variances are in negative or if the indexes are less than 1, it means that the task or the project is behind on cost and schedule and
Once we have our project underway and our budget and schedule set, a project manager needs to be able to check their status compared to their cost and schedule. They do this using earned value management (EVM) principles. EVM is “a mechanism that can determine how much work was accomplished for the money spent.” (Venkataraman & Pinto, 2008, p. 111). This allows the project manager to see not only if at a current point in the project they are on schedule, but on budget as well at that point and estimate out the rest of the project. In the EVM area there are three main values that a project manager must know. First the planned value (PV), this is the amount
Question: (TCO C) Cost management is used to help manage projects as investments and to evaluate project management performance using Earned Value Management (EVM). What is EVM? Describe the benefits of using EVM.
Executive Summary Project management is the science of planning, organizing, executing, and managing the resources needed to achieve a specific goal. Effective project managers (PM) strategically facilitate the entire project management process to ensure the project’s success. To do this the PM must adequately meet the specific requirements (i.e., time, scope, quality, and cost) set forth by the project and its stakeholders. It is theorized that PM must possess a set of core competencies in order to successfully manage a project. Those competencies are development of project management knowledge areas, application of appropriate project management tools and techniques, understanding of the project
The triple constraints of project management are Cost, Time, and Scope. A proper balance of these three constraints is necessary for successful project completion. Every project, regardless of size or complexity, has to deal with these constraints. The Aurora Water project was initially projected to cost $854 million dollars. Through extensive and successful use of Earned Value Management (EVM), CH2M HILL was able to slash the project cost by $200 million dollars. By fast tracking the project they were able to complete the project 2 months before the original completion date. This was almost a 25% savings from the projected cost. Without innovative ideas to share the savings or fast track the project timeline, the project’s cost could have gone over budget or resulted in fewer savings than
In this case, we need to investigate the status of the MED-X implementation project. The method we adopt is EVM, Earned Value Management. Earned Value Management is a project management technique for measuring project performance and progress. We measure the project performance not only as a whole, but also by performance of its components.
Prepare a five to seven paragraph response proposing leadership styles you would recommend for the Denver Airport Project. Please choose a combination (two or three) of the eight leadership styles presented in the Thompson textbook (Chapter 11: Leadership: Managing the Paradox). Please note that you are to also use three other sources from the internet or the DeVry online library. All sources must be cited.
Spokane Industries has contracted Franklin Electronics for an 18 month product development contract. Franklin Electronics is new to using project management methodologies and have not been exposed to earned value management methodologies. Even though Franklin and Spokane have worked together in the past, they have mainly used fixed price contracts with little to no stipulations. For this project Spokane Industries is requiring Franklin Electronics to use formalized project management methodologies, earned value cost schedules, and schedules for reports and meetings. Since Franklin Electronics had had no experience with earned value management, the cost accounting group was trained in the methodology in order to bid for the
Question 1. What project selection method described in the chapter will ABI probably employ for this proposal? Answer According to the description, the project selection method is profitability of numeric model. We might see the points from the business strategy 1) Bid only on good margin products that have the potential for maintaining their margins over a long term. 2) Pursue only new products. 3) Utilize the most advanced technology in new projects. “ project champion” approach to innovation and creativity. no more than 480 employees. 4) Foster the
Monitoring and control activities are essential components to effective project management (Chrissis, Konrad, & Shrum, 2011; PMI, 2013). The main purpose of monitoring and control activities are to having an understanding of project progress/performance against the agreed upon plan, identify potential risks, provide accurate forecasts, and to ensure corrective actions are taken when necessary (Chrissis et al., 2011; PMI, 2013). Successful cost and schedule control involves much more than merely monitoring project progress and costs, it involves thorough analysis of the data (Kerzner, 2013, p. 738). One of the most effective tools for performance measurement, monitoring, and control is earned value management (EVM); a powerful technique which employs quantitative data to objectively monitor and control project progress (De Marco & Narbaev, 2013).
A direct cost can be traced to a product or service which includes: Direct labor- which is the cost of the labor that’s directly connected to a product or services. Direct labor is sometimes called touch labor, since direct labor workers typically touch the product while it is being made.( Ray H. Garrison, Eric W. Noreen and Peter C. Brewer p 39-40) An example of direct labor is an assembly line worker. Labor cost that cannot be physically traced to the creation of products, or that can be traced only at great cost and inconvenience, are considered to be indirect labot.( Ray H. Garrison, Eric W. Noreen and Peter C. Brewer p 40) Direct material are those materials that become an integral part of the finished product and whose cost can be traced to the finished product.( Ray H. Garrison, Eric W. Noreen and Peter C. Brewer p39-40) Manufacturing overhead is the third element so manufacturing cost, it includes all costs of manufacturing except direct materials and direct labor. Manufacturing overhead includes items such as indirect materials; indirect labor; maintenance and repairs on production equipment; and heat and light, property taxes, depreciation, and insurance on manufacturing facilities. Only cost associated with operating the factory are consider to be manufacturing overhead cost. A company also incurs other costs associated with its selling administive functions, but these costs are not included as part of manufacturing overhead. Only those
The proposal writing process is multifaceted, encompassing both the actual submission of a request for proposal as well as the management of the implementation of received funds. Through class lectures and assigned readings, we’ve discussed the various aspects that make up the process of grant writing. Through this essay, I will explain this process as it leads up the management of the project once funded. Furthermore, this essay will explain how to ensure that the proposal submitted addresses key aspects necessary for the project to be implemented in line with best practices for project management.