Earned Value Management – an introduction

Posted on February 28, 2011 by abrachan

If we apply 80:20 principle to the entire project management concepts, Earned Value Management (EVM) falls into the 20 percentage of the concepts which will give us 80% of the benefits. EVM helps project managers to be more pro-active. This ability to forecast helps project managers to manage their projects effectively. In the absence of it, one becomes very reactive and helpless. EVM is built on some very basic building blocks like;

Planned Value (BCWS) – Also known as Budgeted Cost Of Work Scheduled till the project review date. Sum of the budgeted values of work that were supposed to be completed as per the plan, till the review date.

Earned Value (BCWP) – Is also known as Budgeted Cost Of Work Performed (BCWP). This is the sum of the budgeted cost of the work performed till the review date.

Actual Cost (AC) – Is the actual cost of work performed till the review date.
The underlying concept

If the earned value (EV) is equal to the planned value (PV), then the project is progressing as per the schedule.

If the actual cost (AC) is equal to the earned value (EV), then the work is progressing within budget.

The ratios to be monitored

Schedule variance (SV) = Planned value (PV) – Earned value (EV)

Cost Variance (CV) = Planned Value (PV) – Actual Cost (AC)

Schedule performance index (SPI) = EV/PV Cost performance index (CPI) = EV/AC Schedule variance percentage = ((EV-PV)/PV)*100

If the SPI=1 and CPI=1 indicates that the project is right on track schedule wise as well as cost wise.

A well implemented earned value management system can become the cornerstone for effective project management.

Watch the video at www.youtube.com/pmriworld

Agile certifications- some history

Posted on February 26, 2011 by abrachan

Ken schwaber and mike beedle started scrum because they were suffocated by surrounding non value adding processes and structures. Their key intent was to make something simple, as close as possible to the natural way of doing things, which protects the pigs from the chickens, and it prospered. Lot of people joined hands with them and the scrum alliance happened. Then they decided to teach the rest of the world how to scrum through certifications, and a chosen few tried to monopolise it. The founders got chucked out and they started scrum.org and launched their own certifications. Now pmi has joined the bandwagon. Soon pmriworld, also will join the group. Sometimes one get a feeling that the scrum leadership also follow the scrum team size of seven. Whenever it goes beyond it, it splits.

Agile project management using SCRUM (3rd March 2011) & PMdistilled PMP preperatory program (4,5,6 march), organized by Knowledgeworks at Bangalore

Posted on February 15, 2011 by abrachan

Knowledgeworks India, has announced Agile project management using SCRUM workshop on the 3rd March 2011 (8 contact hours), and the three day PMdistilled PMP preparatory program on 4,5,6 March 2011 (35 contact hours). Block your seats as early as possible. Please recommend this course to those who may be interested.

Contact : 09895372115, 9447209070

Congratulations V.Anand PMP

Posted on February 9, 2011 by abrachan

Hi,

Finally I was able to pull some time to make this happen.
Cleared PMP successfully yesterday.
Hope you guys are doing well. Take care.

Thanks & Regards,
Anand V
Mobile: 9963531528

PRINCE2 training in India

Posted on February 9, 2011 by abrachan

Project Management Research Institute is glad to announce the following PRINCE2 training schedule. Those interested, please contact us at 0091 9895372115.

It’s a good time now to get internationally accredited certification on Project Management and improve your Project Management skills.

PRINCE2™ (Projects In Controlled Environments) training program (5 days) is a widely used project management method that navigates you through all the essentials for running a successful project.PRINCE2™ is a flexible method and is aimed at all types of projects. It is a process-based method for effective project management. Please request for our brochure to know more information.

* PRINCE2™ is a Trade Mark of the Office of Government Commerce. *The PRINCE2™ Cityscape Logo™ is a registered Trademark of the Office of Government Commerce and is Registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office. *ThePRINCE2™ Cityscape Logo™ is a Trademark of the Office of Government Commerce in the United Kingdom and other countries.

CITY	DATE ONE	DATE TWO	VENUE
Kolkata	20^th-24^th Dec 2010	30^th May – 3^rd Jun 2011
New Delhi	10^th-14^th Jan 2011	25^th-29^th Apr 2011
Mumbai	21^st-25^th Mar 2011
Bangalore	17^th-21^st Jan 2011	6^th-10^th Jun 2011
Chennai	14^th-18^th Mar 2011
Hyderabad	18^th-22^nd Apr 2011

REGISTRATION FEE

Fees (in INR.)
(Foundation + Practitioner)
Course Fees:	33,000/-
*Service Tax @10.3%:	3,300/-
Study Material:	8,000/-
Exam Fees:	18,000/-
	62,300/-

In the lighter vein….unfortunately this is the fact. Politics is still the only field which do not need any qualification. …

Posted on February 7, 2011 by abrachan

Reality of Life in our Country- NEED CHANGE
* Most ‘First Class’ students get technical seats, some become Doctors and some Engineers.
* The ‘Second Class’ passed, pass IAS, become Administrators and control the ‘First Class’.
* The ‘Third Class’ passed, enter politics and become Ministers and control both.
* Last, but not the least, The …

Courtesy to Gigy and F.B

From the PMdistilled PMP preparatory program conducted at Bangalore by PMRI & Knowledgeworks during Jan 2011

Posted on February 7, 2011 by abrachan

Click here for all photos

From the PMP program at Muscat during Dec 2010, organized by Promatas @ Muscat

Posted on February 7, 2011 by abrachan

Simple ways to cope up with recession / inflation in India! – My first post from an Indian railway’s train compartment

Posted on February 4, 2011 by abrachan

Here are some simple ways to cope up with recession / inflation;

Take an air-conditioned bus/train instead of flying. I am making this post from a train. Another great incentive for using the train is the availability of plug points for connecting a computer (in the air conditioned compartment). Kochi-Trivandrum sector would have cost me Rs.1500 by flight, where as the train cost was just 350 Rs.
Cover short distances by walk / cycle
Avoid using the car, if really not required
Take the stairs, instead of the lift which will improve the physical fitness level, and at the same time help to reduce power consumption.
While traveling, carry water and food from home. This will help to save some money, and at the same time have quality food.
Carry your ipod/ipad with kindle, which will help to save by avoiding buying reading material.
Do not buy that new gadget. Delay the decision as much as you can.
Exercise well. An improvement in the health level will act as an incentive to focus on health more, which will help to avoid junk food, and late sleeping (saving on electricity).
Eliminate alcohol and cigarettes.
Diverse your income portfolio.
Collect all the payment receivables on war footing, and deploy them in revenue generation avenues.
Identify and implement business ideas, which will help others to reduce expense.
Experiment with organic farming at your backyard, which will reduce the dependency on costly vegetables, which are polluted by pesticides.
Get up early and sleep early (reducing electricity charges)
Hope for the best