We are looking to try and make a selection of Earned Value Analysis software commercially available. I've done some internet search and the ones that have caught my eye are: 1. QEI Exec Project Management Software; 2. Deltek Cobra; 3. Primavera Cost Manager; 4. CA Clarity PPM Earned Value Management Accelerator
Does anyone have any opinions of these software from a user or non user experience?
Also below is a list of key features that I think are important in EVA software: 1)Budget at Completetion, 2)Actual Cost, 3)Earned Value, 4)Planned Value, 5)Cost Variance, 6)Schedule Variance, 7)Schedule Performance Index, 8)Estimate to Completion, 9)Estimate at Completion, 10)Variance at Completion, 11)To Complete Performance Index
Does anyone have any ideas of more keys features I should be looking out for?
-PS Our business is software solutions.
Thanks in advance Saving Changes...
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Aditya ChinniSr Project Manager| JELDWENKlamath Falls, Or, United States
I'm not sure about QEI Exec Project Management Software and Deltek Cobra. Primavera and "Niku" (now CA) Clarity are clear leaders. I like calling CA Clarity with their old name "Niku" .. some how it sounds pleasant. Both of these has all required features you have listed. Especially with Primavera. They are clear leaders and now they are with Oracle. Even Microsoft Office Project Portfolio Server also can generate those results for you.
My apologies, but for just EVM values no one has implemented such a major change in their organization. You have to change your whole project management methodology and work flows. You have to change lot more. Even adopting these software takes a lot of effort too. Goodluck with your implementation. My vote goes to Primavera and MS Project.
Darren KosaPlanning & Controls ContractorHampshire, United Kingdom
Hi Anon,
I think most of the leading COTS EVM apps will be able to deliver the functionality for requirements 1-10 and most probably TCPI (BAC / EAC), plus all the associated cost performance reports (WBS / OBS / Baseline / Manpower / Variance analysis).
Therefore I would focus on the following:
Affordability (Not just the cost of the licenses, also ongoing costs / overheads)
Schedule integration (Can it interface with your chosen scheduling tool)
EV Techniques (Does it allow you to choose the appropriate technique or default %Complete)
Archiving (Can it store historical data so you have a fallback)
Usability (Steep or shallow learning curves to get to grip with the software)
Accounting system (Will you have to build custom interfaces)
Personally I use an Excel reporting spreadsheet, but I’ve heard good things about Deltek, Dekker and DecisionEdge.
I’d also agree wholeheartedly with Aditya, Finding an EV tool to use is only part of equation, you also need the right processes and people in place for the complete EVMS.
Regards,
Darren Saving Changes...
Aditya ChinniSr Project Manager| JELDWENKlamath Falls, Or, United States
Very good point Darren. Yes this is good practice, few clients also implemented robust Excel system to generate EV / dashboards and they are much sophisticated than many software. For enterprise they have implemented Access database at back end. Great point Darren. Thanks
