I am managing and monitoring a set of projects using MS Project. However, tracking project in MS Project gives a rather fictitious project progress. For example, one of the projects is a construction project. The project indicates 68% complete, but the actual construction has not even started. Just because few tasks in the Gantt have been achieved does not mean the project is progressing well. Does any one have a mean to track and report project progress other than by tracking task completion? Saving Changes...
You need more than one measure to track project progress. The measures that come to mind, first, are:
* tasks complete/remaining
* budget used/remaining
* time passed/remaining
There are shortcomings in each of these, and none of them are standalone measures. If you want to know if you've completed the right amount of tasks, you base this comparison against time and budget. Is your budget on track? The answer is determined based on tasks and time remaining. And so on.
I'm leading up to recommending using EVM (earned value). EVM is not the only way to accomplish what you are asking about, but it can help you create a more clear picture. EVM has its shortcomings, too, but it works with MS Project and there is an abundance of information on how to use it available online. Saving Changes...
Krishna PakkiProject Services Manager| Rio TintoGilbert, Az, United States
If I guess right, MS Project progress in your file is based on duration rather than actual/physical completion. You should set-up qty based for construction activities, deliverable based for engineering.Agree with Aaron on EVM. You can use simple templates tailored for your project Saving Changes...
I agree with Aaron and Krishna, it look like you schedule is not fully inform.
Have you put the budget? man hours?
If your design is complete and construction not started progress should be much lower. Saving Changes...
Thank you very much for your comment. The earned value is a cost indicator. For my needs, it will tell how much value I have achieved with the work complete, but it will not show the real progress.
I am using one of the measures indicated by Aaron, tasks complete/remaining. But because I have more non-construction work than actual construction work, it shows as if we are really busy, while in fact the work that we are doing are not creating value yet. This is an important point specifically if you have to report to the management committee: they are not interested in how many tasks you are completing, rather on whether there is physical progress or not. My 68% of tasks achievement must be tangible (maybe they have to see 68% of the actual building complete). I don't know if I am making my point clear...
I think that my problem might have to do with having a "uniform schedule" as indicated by Vincent. I would appreciate if you can share literature or example on how to achieve this uniformity.
Lastly, if anyone has a template for a building project, please do share.
Thanks again for your contribution.
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2 replies by Aaron Porter and Krishna Pakki
Jul 19, 2017 6:25 PM
Krishna Pakki
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Hi Khuabi, suggest if you can browse for tools and templates in "Practice Areas Earned Value" on this site.
May i ask you what type of construction project is it before searching for templates in my database.
Jul 19, 2017 7:22 PM
Aaron Porter
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If your management committee was willing to read an S-Curve, or have it explained to them, EVM could have some value. If they're not willing, then you're right - it won't help you. I'm including the following link because of one suggestion it makes - use duration to calculate % Complete, instead of tasks.
Look into "The One Page Project Manager." It might give you some ideas on how to present comprehensive project information, in one page, that is meaningful to your management committee.
Saving Changes...
Krishna PakkiProject Services Manager| Rio TintoGilbert, Az, United States
Jul 19, 2017 5:19 PM
Replying to Yves Nzuzi Khuabi
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Thank you very much for your comment. The earned value is a cost indicator. For my needs, it will tell how much value I have achieved with the work complete, but it will not show the real progress.
I am using one of the measures indicated by Aaron, tasks complete/remaining. But because I have more non-construction work than actual construction work, it shows as if we are really busy, while in fact the work that we are doing are not creating value yet. This is an important point specifically if you have to report to the management committee: they are not interested in how many tasks you are completing, rather on whether there is physical progress or not. My 68% of tasks achievement must be tangible (maybe they have to see 68% of the actual building complete). I don't know if I am making my point clear...
I think that my problem might have to do with having a "uniform schedule" as indicated by Vincent. I would appreciate if you can share literature or example on how to achieve this uniformity.
Lastly, if anyone has a template for a building project, please do share.
Thanks again for your contribution.
Hi Khuabi, suggest if you can browse for tools and templates in "Practice Areas Earned Value" on this site.
May i ask you what type of construction project is it before searching for templates in my database.
...
1 reply by Yves Nzuzi Khuabi
Jul 20, 2017 3:21 AM
Yves Nzuzi Khuabi
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Hi Krishna,
The project that I am referring to is a building renovation project.
Thank you very much for your comment. The earned value is a cost indicator. For my needs, it will tell how much value I have achieved with the work complete, but it will not show the real progress.
I am using one of the measures indicated by Aaron, tasks complete/remaining. But because I have more non-construction work than actual construction work, it shows as if we are really busy, while in fact the work that we are doing are not creating value yet. This is an important point specifically if you have to report to the management committee: they are not interested in how many tasks you are completing, rather on whether there is physical progress or not. My 68% of tasks achievement must be tangible (maybe they have to see 68% of the actual building complete). I don't know if I am making my point clear...
I think that my problem might have to do with having a "uniform schedule" as indicated by Vincent. I would appreciate if you can share literature or example on how to achieve this uniformity.
Lastly, if anyone has a template for a building project, please do share.
Thanks again for your contribution.
If your management committee was willing to read an S-Curve, or have it explained to them, EVM could have some value. If they're not willing, then you're right - it won't help you. I'm including the following link because of one suggestion it makes - use duration to calculate % Complete, instead of tasks.
Look into "The One Page Project Manager." It might give you some ideas on how to present comprehensive project information, in one page, that is meaningful to your management committee.
...
1 reply by Yves Nzuzi Khuabi
Jul 20, 2017 3:19 AM
Yves Nzuzi Khuabi
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Thanks Aaron.
Saving Changes...
Hau Doan HuuAsst CEO in IT and DX, cum DCIO| Vietnam PostHanoi, Hanoi, Viet Nam
Thank Aaron for the link you shared. It is really meaningful and easy to explain. Totally agree with Krishna and Aaron. I think the biggest problem here is that you can not show the holistic view of project tasks in order to get the project done. Thus, the management can not understand of the real progress instead of physical construction progress only. Saving Changes...
If your management committee was willing to read an S-Curve, or have it explained to them, EVM could have some value. If they're not willing, then you're right - it won't help you. I'm including the following link because of one suggestion it makes - use duration to calculate % Complete, instead of tasks.
Look into "The One Page Project Manager." It might give you some ideas on how to present comprehensive project information, in one page, that is meaningful to your management committee.
Hi Khuabi, suggest if you can browse for tools and templates in "Practice Areas Earned Value" on this site.
May i ask you what type of construction project is it before searching for templates in my database.
Hi Krishna,
The project that I am referring to is a building renovation project. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Using MS Project (I use it) you can not monitor the project progress. You can monitor the project schedule only. That is the key point to understand. To monitor project progress you need the project plan which, as you know, is composed for subsidiary plans. Each subsidiary plan will ask what/when/who/how/how much about each knowledge area you have included into your initiative. Saving Changes...
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