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QSO 420 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric Overview In the early days of project management, the control of project cost and project schedule were considered to be separate activities

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QSO 420 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric

Overview

In the early days of project management, the control of project cost and project schedule were considered to be separate activities. If the reported project costs remained below the planned budget and the reported project progress remained on or ahead of schedule, then the project was considered to be on track. The shortcoming of this approach is that if the project costs were below budget, it could indicate that the planned work is not being accomplished at the necessary rate. To address this potential shortcoming, an integrated method of controlling and reporting budget and schedule was needed.

Earned value management (EVM) was developed in response to the need to integrate the control and reporting of project cost and schedule. EVM techniques have been codified by the American National Standards Institute into a published standard. The Project Management Institute has developed a practice standard for earned value management that serves as a complement to its Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) guide. The use of EVM is often mandated in procurements issued by the U.S. government and has become more common in private industry.

 

The state of a project is assessed using earned value measurement (EVM) measures and supporting project documentation. The results of such an assessment are typically compiled in a report written for the project manager that summarizes the state of the project and identifies areas in which performance is currently or potentially deficient.

 

For this summative assessment, you will create a presentation for a project manager based on a case study that reports the project’s performance, including any current or potential deficiencies that you have identified, as well as your recommendations for improving project performance.

 

The project is divided into three milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Three, Four, and Five. The final product will be submitted in Module Seven.

 

In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes: 

 

• QSO-420-01 Analyze project documentation for data needed in determining earned value management parameters
• QSO-420-02 Employ fundamental earned value management equations in calculating cost and schedule variance statistics
• QSO-420-03 Assess earned value management principles for their effectiveness in achieving integrated cost and schedule control
• QSO-420-04 Appraise project performance through interpretation of earned value management statistics for informing project decision making

 

Prompt

The state of a project is assessed using earned value measurement (EVM) measures and supporting project documentation. The results of such an assessment are typically compiled in a report written for the project manager that summarizes the state of the project and identifies areas in which performance is currently or potentially deficient.

 

For this summative assessment, you will create a presentation for a project manager based on a case study that reports the project’s performance, including any current or potential deficiencies that you have identified, as well as your recommendations for improving project performance.

 

To purchase and access the case study for this assignment, please see the course syllabus or the Module One resources.

 

Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed. Use presentation notes (“speaker notes”) to articulate those points that are not observable in the presentation:

 

1. Earned Value Parameters
   1. Define the basic elements used to calculate EVM measures—earned value (EV), planned value (PV), actual cost (AC), and budget at completion (BAC)—and where you would find them in project documentation.
   2. Analyze the project documentation from the case study for the data necessary to establish EVM parameters. In other words, is everything you need to establish the EVM parameters for this project contained within that documentation? If not, explain how you might obtain it. Be sure to use specific examples to justify your rationale.
   3. Discuss the various methods used to determine earned value.
   4. Select the most appropriate method for determining earned value for the project in the case study. Be sure to use research to substantiate your position.

 

2. Earned Value Management Calculations
   1. Demonstrate how EV, PV, and AC are used to calculate the following EVM measures: cost variance (CV), cost performance index (CPI), schedule variance (SV), schedule performance index (SPI), estimate to complete (ETC), estimate at completion (EAC), and variance at completion (VAC). B. Employ EVM equations to calculate the EVM measures (CV, SV, CPI, SPI) for the project in the case study.

C. Explain the implications for the projects in the case study when CPI is greater than or equal to 1.0, CPI is less than 1.0, SPI is greater than or equal to 1.0, and SPI is less than 1.0.

 

3. Interpretation of EVM Statistics
   1. Explain the use of EVM statistics for identifying potential project performance deficiencies.
   2. Interpret the EVM statistics calculated for the project in the case study in terms of current or potential deficiencies. Do the statistics imply or identify any deficiencies? If so, what are they? Be sure to support your reasoning with research.
   3. Discuss the role of EVM principles in achieving integrated cost and schedule control. Be sure to substantiate your claims with research. 
   4. Interpret the EVM statistics calculated for the project in the case study. Do they lend themselves to the successful integration of cost and schedule control for this project? Be sure to cite research to justify your position.
   5. Make appropriate recommendations for improving integrated cost and schedule control for the project in the case study. Be sure to use research to justify your recommendations.

 

4. Application of EVM
   1. Assess the role of integrated cost and schedule control in improving overall project performance. Be sure to use research to substantiate your reasoning.
   2. Analyze the overall performance of the project in the case study based on your interpretation of the EVM statistics and with regard to integrated cost and schedule control.

 

Milestones

Milestone One: Earned Value Parameters

In Module Three, you will create a presentation that defines the basic elements used to calculate EVM measures, analyzes the project documentation from the case study, dicusses various methods used to determine earned value, and selects the most appropriate method for determining earned value in the case study. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone One Rubric. 

 

Milestone Two: Earned Value Management Calculations

In Module Four, you will create a presentation that demonstrates calculation of EVM measures, employs EVM equations, and explains the implications for the case study. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Two Rubric.

 

Milestone Three: Interpretation of EVM Statistics

In Module Five, you will create a presentation that explains the use of EVM statistics for identifying potential project performance deficiencies, interprets EVM statistics in terms of deficiencies, discusses the role of EVM principles in cost and schedule control, interprets EVM statistics calculated for the case study, and makes appropriate recommendations for improving integrated cost and schedule control. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Three Rubric.

 

Final Submission: Presentation

In Module Seven, you will submit your final project. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This submission will be graded with the Final Project Rubric.

 

Deliverables

Milestone	Deliverable	Module Due	Grading
One	Earned Value Parameters	3	Graded separately; Milestone One Rubric
Two	Earned Value Management Calculations	4	Graded separately; Milestone Two Rubric
Three	Interpretation of EVM Statistics	5	Graded separately; Milestone Three Rubric
	Final Submission: Presentation	7	Graded separately; Final Project Rubric

 

 

               

Final Project Rubric

Guidelines for Submission: Use Microsoft PowerPoint or a similar presentation software to create 16–20 slides (not including references slide[s]) that report the project’s performance to the project manager. Be sure to cite references using APA format.

 

Critical Elements	Exemplary (100%)	Proficient (85%)	Needs Improvement (55%)	Not Evident (0%)	Value
Parameters: Elements	Meets “Proficient” criteria and uses industry-specific language to establish expertise	Accurately defines basic elements used to calculate EVM measures and identifies their location within project documentation	Defines basic elements used to calculate EVM measures, but does not identify their location within project documentation, or definition lacks accuracy	Does not define basic elements used to calculate EVM measures	7
Parameters: Analysis	Meets “Proficient” criteria and examples provide evidence of well-informed, keen insight into EVM principles	Comprehensively analyzes project documentation for data necessary to establish EVM parameters and justifies rationale with examples	Analyzes project documentation for data necessary to establish EVM parameters, but with gaps in detail, or does not justify rationale with examples	Does not analyze project documentation for data necessary to establish EVM parameters	7
Parameters: Earned Value	Meets “Proficient” criteria and uses industry-specific language to establish expertise	Comprehensively discusses methods used to determine earned value	Discusses methods used to determine earned value, but with gaps in detail	Does not discuss methods used to determine earned value	7
Parameters: Selection	Meets “Proficient” criteria and provides explanation of why other methods are inappropriate for project in case study	Selects appropriate method for determining earned value for project in case study and substantiates position with research	Selects method for determining earned value for project in case study, but method is not appropriate, or does not substantiate position with research	Does not select method for determining earned value for project in case study	7
Calculations: EVM Measures	Meets “Proficient” criteria and articulation is exceptionally clear and logical	Accurately demonstrates how elements are used to calculate EVM measures	Demonstrates how elements are used to calculate EVM measures, but with gaps in accuracy	Does not demonstrate how elements are used to calculate EVM measures	7
Calculations: Equations		Accurately employs EVM equations to calculate EVM measures for project in case study	Employs EVM equations to calculate EVM measures, but with gaps in accuracy	Does not employ EVM equations to calculate EVM measures	7
Calculations: Implications	Meets “Proficient” criteria and articulation is exceptionally clear and logical	Accurately explains implications for project per specifications	Explains implications for project but with gaps in accuracy or detail	Does not explain implications for project	7
Interpretation: Use of EVM Statistics	Meets “Proficient” criteria and provides cogent examples to detail the process of using EVM to identify deficiencies	Comprehensively explains how EVM statistics are used to identify potential project deficiencies	Explains how EVM statistics are used to identify potential project deficiencies, but with gaps in detail	Does not explain how EVM statistics are used to identify potential project deficiencies	7

 

Interpretation: Deficiencies	Meets “Proficient” criteria and cites specific, relevant examples to establish a robust context for the interpretation	Accurately interprets EVM statistics for the project in the case study for deficiencies and supports reasoning with research	Interprets EVM statistics for the project in the case study for deficiencies, but with gaps in accuracy, or does not support reasoning with research	Does not interpret EVM statistics for the project in the case study for deficiencies	7
Interpretation: Role of EVM Principles	Meets “Proficient” criteria and cites specific, relevant examples to establish a robust context for the discussion	Comprehensively discusses the role of EVM principles in achieving integrated cost and schedule control and substantiates claims with research	Discusses the role of EVM principles in achieving integrated cost and schedule control, but with gaps in detail, or does not substantiate claims with research	Does not discuss the role of EVM principles in achieving integrated cost and schedule control	7
Interpretation: Integrated Control	Meets “Proficient” criteria and articulation is exceptionally clear and logical	Accurately interprets EVM statistics for the project in the case study for the successful integration of cost and schedule control and justifies position with research	Interprets EVM statistics for the project in the case study for the successful integration of cost and schedule control, but with gaps in accuracy, or does not justify position with research	Does not interpret EVM statistics for the project in the case study for the successful integration of cost and schedule control	7
Interpretation: Recommendations for Improving	Meets “Proficient” criteria and provides detailed examples of how the recommendations will support the improvement of integrated cost and schedule control	Makes appropriate recommendations for improving integrated cost and schedule control for the project in the case study and justifies recommendations with research	Makes recommendations for improving integrated cost and schedule control, but recommendations are not appropriate, or does not justify recommendations with research	Does not make recommendations for improving integrated cost and schedule control	7
Application: Integrated Cost and Schedule Control	Meets “Proficient” criteria and assessment is exceptionally well informed and integrates relevant theories and research	Accurately assesses the role of integrated cost and schedule control in improving overall project performance and substantiates reasoning with research	Assesses the role of integrated cost and schedule control in improving overall project performance, but with gaps in accuracy, or does not substantiate reasoning with research	Does not assess the role of integrated cost and schedule control in improving overall project performance	7
Application: Project Performance	Meets “Proficient” criteria and articulation is exceptionally clear and logical	Comprehensively analyzes performance of the project in the case study based on interpretation of EVM statistics and with regard to integrated cost and schedule control	Analyzes performance of the project in the case study based on interpretation of EVM statistics and with regard to integrated cost and schedule control, but with gaps in detail	Does not analyze performance of the project in the case study	7

 

Articulation of Response	Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization and is presented in a professional and easy-to-read format	Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization	Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas	Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas	2
				Earned Total	100%