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The best solution for Progress Curves is at this site:
http://www.cla-it.eu/TMSDetails-general.html
Best regards
With the method of "S curves", you build baseline ealry and late S curves with the schedule, and then you measure the physical progress without taking in account the dates (just weight and % physical complete). It's another method than yours. Yes, I do not construct the remaining S curves, I have the updated schedule which gives me the final estimated dated, with critical path method, the longest path give the final date. The S curves are built to measure trends, delay, float and physical progress. I let the schedule bringthe final estimated date and float. I don' t need your forecast curves, because I have the schedule.
I am not using EVM for my S curves, I am using the methodology the construction industry uses on regular cummulative S curves. We use contract cost (BOQ) as a mesure of progres, at times we use estimated manhours as a measure of progress, at time we use BOQ volume of work when the unit of volume of work is common such as CY of concrete on a particular concrete Phase.
EVM yields its own S Curves.
But as many already know there are certain metrics on EVM that are wrong. I do not like EVM as it is currently applied, in any case Earned Schedule.
Earned Schedule also yields its own S Curves.
http://www.google.com.pr/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&cad=rj...
http://www.google.com.pr/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&ved=0C...
Rafael,
You put the ETC connected to the EV...
Do you understand that theorically it is false?!
BR, JYM.
Rafael,
In the EVM there is the ETC (Estimate To Complete), this is your curves (projectiosn at terminaison, early and late). But the ETC is the extension of AC (Actual Cost) in the EVM, not the extension EV (Earned Value). "S curves v2" calculates the EV (in volum of work) with weights and % physical complete information. For you Actual = Actual Costs, for me Actual = Earned Value; it is not the same, that is why I say that your method is so bad.
Best regards, Jean-Yves Moine
We use software that can model remaining activity duration based on remaining volume of work and resource productivity on activities that behave in such way. Other activities are duration type such as concrete curing, their progress will be determined with passage of time.
On Volume of Work activities we compute progress based on actual volume of work, it is synonym of physical progress. The remaining work have remaining physical work still to be performed, projected with an early activity performance and projected with a late activity performance. It is very simple and even ancient software such as P3 provides for it, no need to use less functional external software.
I am not saying that your method of computing progress is bad I am saying that the curves are missing projected progress as per whatever method you use. It is not only about baseline projected progress for the whole duration it is also about current schedule actual and projected progress after DD. You got to expand your method to display what is the projected early progress and projected late progress of current job up to the projected end date.
Rapheal, As you say "The missing curves tells you what is the predicted cumulative resource/cost usage against time"...
So, it is not physical progress S curves, it is expenses forecast in terms of resources/cost...
The tool I am selling "S curves v2" calculates the physical progress, it is not the same thing.
sorry but your method is very bad !
The spreading of a physical progress is NOT linear (miletones, technique 50-100, etc.)...
Your curves are false if you use % physical progress, ...
It's a poor indicator, and false!
BR, JYM.
No matter what method you use to calculate progress, after DD your project if not finished will still have some pending activities, and these have early and late dates that will intersect on projected completion date. The curves on your reference is missing the projected curves form the remaining work, the most important of the set. They only show past history, the baselines that where initially determined and actual that at DD is past history.
The missing curves tells you what is the predicted cumulative resource/cost usage against time, they display projected final resource/cost that can be different from baseline as well as the projected end of job that can be different from baseline.
The curves shown in your reference do not show projected slippage and therefore are of poor value.
No Rafael, I am not agree because I use physical % progress on the schedule.
If you use % duration complete you can do projections but it is a bad choice, wrong, not a good method.
How do you want to do forecast if you use % physical progress on the schedule's task?
You can see the expected finish date with the schedule and the critical path, with float.
your curves are nice but falses.
BR, JYM.
Jean,
The link only show Early and Late for Baseline plus Actual for current plan but misses the most relevant the Projected Early and Projected Late Curves, without these the set is useless. It is a poor choice for a sales sample.
S Curves are very simple, the following figure displays the full set, with the projected curves you now that is the projected cost and duration versus the baseline, without the projected you know no new prejections except past history.
Best Regards,
Rafael
you can buy "S curves V2" VBA EXCEL application: http://www.cubixpm-scurves.com/en/
it allows to :
BR, Jean-Yves Moine.
I agree MS Project goes better with the English language. Perhaps instead of ALAP shall be used ALAP-TF and ALAP-FF, different to Zero Total Float and Zero Free Float as to avoid confusion between similar names for different functionalities.
If you apply either ALAP definition (ALAP-TF or ALAP-F) to all activities you will get the same result as eventually this will cause all free float and all total float to be consumed.
I also understand some software are missing the Zero Total Float constraint, a constraint intended not to be used for scheduling but to be used temporarily for isolating float paths, a very useful functionality as long as you eliminate out-of-sequence events. Seems like Zero Free Float is similar to a Finish no Latter Than constraint but instead of using a fixed date it uses a calculated date causing the early dates equal the late dates of the activity.
Zero Free Float constraint is useful to model just in time deliveries.
I am also missing the Expected Finish Constraint, a constraint that causes the program to calculate the Remaining Duration in such a way that the “Expected Finish” date is met.(An ‘Expected Start’constraint is similar to a ‘Start On’ constraint.)
All software should provide all, it is up to you to make good use of these.
The ALAP date constraint in MSP is not an error or a bug. It does exactly what it says it does, and yes it does suck all of the float out of the path.
A constraint that lets a task go to the end of its own float only would be the zero free float constraint such as is in P3/P6, but MSO has no such equivalent (fortunately, never really needed anyway).
Sory I no longer have the file as I am not a regular MS Project user I erased them long ago. Erasing from rapidshare was perhaps an error I did not noticed. I try to keep forever all my postings for the free use of PP members.
Well, the following tip I got long ago might be of some help for other graph needs.
Rafael,
These downloads are not available on the rapidshare. Can you please reload them.
Rohit
DELETED - POSTED FILE LOST, NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Enclosed please find revised files as to transfer the macros that were set as Global. Please excuse any inconvenience as I am not proficient with MS Project, I just recorded some macros using the Macro Record function similar to Excel.
DELETED - POSTED FILE LOST, NO LONGER AVAILABLE
The prior link is deleted from rapidshare as to avoid confusion.
Best regards,
Rafael
Enclosed please find two files for the preparation of S-Curves using MS Project.
DELETED - POSTED FILE LOST, NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Best Regards
Rafael
Email: PPadmin@planningplanet.com
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