Latent Errors and Visible Earned Value: How the Evolutionary Model Integrates Earned Value Metrics with Project System Dynamics

A project model is presented that weaves together ideas from earned value project management and systems dynamics. It is able to adjust to increasingly unhealthy actual project behaviors in ways that preserve the signature pattern of the staffing histograms observed in the real world and provide a t...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: John M. Nevison, Karim J. Chichakly
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-12-01
Series:Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/9/4/88
_version_ 1797500224743145472
author John M. Nevison
Karim J. Chichakly
author_facet John M. Nevison
Karim J. Chichakly
author_sort John M. Nevison
collection DOAJ
description A project model is presented that weaves together ideas from earned value project management and systems dynamics. It is able to adjust to increasingly unhealthy actual project behaviors in ways that preserve the signature pattern of the staffing histograms observed in the real world and provide a tool for managers to correct projects that are not meeting the plan. Starting from the planned staffing histogram and the project performance baseline, the model captures the delay and cost of experience dilution, includes the unplanned-for effort that is revealed in the typical pattern of the Cost Performance Index, assesses progress using the actual cost to date and the earned value to date, and adjusts staffing, scope, or both, to complete the project on schedule. A new method of approximating work remaining, called project-to-date, is shown to track the planned staffing histogram better than the commonly used fraction-complete method.
first_indexed 2024-03-10T03:59:48Z
format Article
id doaj.art-43378923661b4588aeadf2d8b1a3cb5a
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2079-8954
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-10T03:59:48Z
publishDate 2021-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Systems
spelling doaj.art-43378923661b4588aeadf2d8b1a3cb5a2023-11-23T10:47:44ZengMDPI AGSystems2079-89542021-12-01948810.3390/systems9040088Latent Errors and Visible Earned Value: How the Evolutionary Model Integrates Earned Value Metrics with Project System DynamicsJohn M. Nevison0Karim J. Chichakly1New Leaf Project Management, 500 Thoreau Street, Concord, MA 01742, USAISEE Systems, Inc., 31 Old Etna Road, Suite 7N, Lebanon, NH 03766, USAA project model is presented that weaves together ideas from earned value project management and systems dynamics. It is able to adjust to increasingly unhealthy actual project behaviors in ways that preserve the signature pattern of the staffing histograms observed in the real world and provide a tool for managers to correct projects that are not meeting the plan. Starting from the planned staffing histogram and the project performance baseline, the model captures the delay and cost of experience dilution, includes the unplanned-for effort that is revealed in the typical pattern of the Cost Performance Index, assesses progress using the actual cost to date and the earned value to date, and adjusts staffing, scope, or both, to complete the project on schedule. A new method of approximating work remaining, called project-to-date, is shown to track the planned staffing histogram better than the commonly used fraction-complete method.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/9/4/88project managementearned value analysislatent errorsproject-to-date metricsschedule managementundiscovered rework
spellingShingle John M. Nevison
Karim J. Chichakly
Latent Errors and Visible Earned Value: How the Evolutionary Model Integrates Earned Value Metrics with Project System Dynamics
Systems
project management
earned value analysis
latent errors
project-to-date metrics
schedule management
undiscovered rework
title Latent Errors and Visible Earned Value: How the Evolutionary Model Integrates Earned Value Metrics with Project System Dynamics
title_full Latent Errors and Visible Earned Value: How the Evolutionary Model Integrates Earned Value Metrics with Project System Dynamics
title_fullStr Latent Errors and Visible Earned Value: How the Evolutionary Model Integrates Earned Value Metrics with Project System Dynamics
title_full_unstemmed Latent Errors and Visible Earned Value: How the Evolutionary Model Integrates Earned Value Metrics with Project System Dynamics
title_short Latent Errors and Visible Earned Value: How the Evolutionary Model Integrates Earned Value Metrics with Project System Dynamics
title_sort latent errors and visible earned value how the evolutionary model integrates earned value metrics with project system dynamics
topic project management
earned value analysis
latent errors
project-to-date metrics
schedule management
undiscovered rework
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/9/4/88
work_keys_str_mv AT johnmnevison latenterrorsandvisibleearnedvaluehowtheevolutionarymodelintegratesearnedvaluemetricswithprojectsystemdynamics
AT karimjchichakly latenterrorsandvisibleearnedvaluehowtheevolutionarymodelintegratesearnedvaluemetricswithprojectsystemdynamics