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:
I. Earned Value Parameters
A. 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.
B. 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.
C. Discuss the various methods used to determine earned value.
D. 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.
II. Earned Value Management Calculations
A. 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.
III. Interpretation of EVM Statistics
A. Explain the use of EVM statistics for identifying potential project performance deficiencies.
B. 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.
C. Discuss the role of EVM principles in achieving integrated cost and schedule control. Be sure to substantiate your claims with research.
D. 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.
E. 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.
IV. Application of EVM
A. Assess the role of integrated cost and schedule control in improving overall project performance. Be sure to use research to substantiate your
reasoning.
B. 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%
