I'd looking for feedback on managing Action Items in a log file versus adding each Action Item as a separate task in the project plan. It seems to make sense to add an Action Item as a task since you can assign resources, target date and manage the progress. Has anyone taken this approach? What are pros & cons? Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
May 10, 2016 3:22 PM
Replying to Patrick Dicey
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Neither schedule or cost performance should cause a rebaseline, correct? Otherwise, your SPI and CPI will always be 1.0. Those are valid variances that should be reported with root cause and/or corrective actions identified and accounted for in an EAC update.
You are correct, Patrick. Schedule and cost performance, or actual results, do not cause a rebaseline.
The problem here is in planning additional effort and costs. You could technically add activities to your schedule, and the additional assignments would be added to your budget, without baselining either of them.
The bottom line is that your baseline is always against planned values, not actual values.
If you do that, you will still be measuring your performance against your last baselines, the ones without your additions.
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1 reply by Patrick Dicey
May 10, 2016 4:44 PM
Patrick Dicey
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I think at this level of detail we will find that the Earned Value system description and approach will vary from company to company. Personally, for planned, in-scope tasks I would add them to the applicable work package unbaselined as you stated. The performance will be evaluated against the applicable WBS item's existing baseline where they fall under.
For unplanned, in-scope tasks I would baseline the tasks within a new work package. If they're funded by an existing WBS, that WBS item will take the performance hit (bad plan). If funded out of Management Reserve (risk mitigation?) that WBS item would probably deserve a rebaseline.
In summary, I enjoy working in commercial space now and not having to worry about nitpick EV baselining rules :)
Saving Changes...
Patrick DiceyManager, Customer Project Management| CentralSquare TechnologiesOrlando, Fl, United States
May 10, 2016 4:26 PM
Replying to Stéphane Parent
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You are correct, Patrick. Schedule and cost performance, or actual results, do not cause a rebaseline.
The problem here is in planning additional effort and costs. You could technically add activities to your schedule, and the additional assignments would be added to your budget, without baselining either of them.
The bottom line is that your baseline is always against planned values, not actual values.
If you do that, you will still be measuring your performance against your last baselines, the ones without your additions.
I think at this level of detail we will find that the Earned Value system description and approach will vary from company to company. Personally, for planned, in-scope tasks I would add them to the applicable work package unbaselined as you stated. The performance will be evaluated against the applicable WBS item's existing baseline where they fall under.
For unplanned, in-scope tasks I would baseline the tasks within a new work package. If they're funded by an existing WBS, that WBS item will take the performance hit (bad plan). If funded out of Management Reserve (risk mitigation?) that WBS item would probably deserve a rebaseline.
In summary, I enjoy working in commercial space now and not having to worry about nitpick EV baselining rules :) Saving Changes...
Maura SwartSr Automation Engineer| BechtelFrederick, Md, United States
Is there an action items template file available for download that anyone can recommend?
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1 reply by Stéphane Parent
Jul 20, 2016 1:52 PM
Stéphane Parent
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Maura, I often use an issue log template to track action items. There are a few templates available in the Deliverables section.
Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
Jul 20, 2016 1:32 PM
Replying to Maura Swart
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Is there an action items template file available for download that anyone can recommend?
Maura, I often use an issue log template to track action items. There are a few templates available in the Deliverables section. Saving Changes...
