Critical Areas for Earned Value Management System Implementation

A sustainable and successful Earned Value Management System Implementation requires much more than just EVM tools; it requires a thoughtful approach to people, processes and tools and strong Senior Management support. A focus on change management is also needed to ensure an EVMS Implementation is fully adopted.

Pinnacle has developed proven methods for Earned Value Management System Implementation that reflects this balance. Our unique EVMS Implementation approach allows us to quickly identify and focus on gaps while also leveraging your organization’s existing practices.

Our Earned Value Management Implementation services include the following:

• An EVM Gap Analysis and building an Earned Value Management System Implementation Roadmap
• Gaining and Sustaining Senior Management support for an EVMS Implementation and ongoing operation
• Designing a measurable Earned Value Management System Implementation plan
• IBR and Validation support for your EVMS Implementation
• Choosing and implementing the right Earned Value Management System tools 
• Training and Coaching the Earned Value Management System Implementation team and the wider user community

There are four critical areas of an EVMS Implementation listed below. The first two, EVM Roadmap and Senior Management support need to happen in parallel.  Senior Management support needs to continue as an ongoing part of your EVMS Implementation.

Designing a Measurable Earned Value Management System Implementation Plan should be integrated throughout the EVMS Roadmap and then reviewed throughout the EVMS implementation and into production of your EVM System.

Choosing an EVM or PM products for your Earned Value Management System Implementation should happen after the Gap Analysis and after the EVM users needs are defined.  This is described below.

EVMS Gap Analysis and EVMS Implementation Roadmap

The first step in performing an EVM Gap Analysis requires knowing where you are in comparison to the EIA-748 32 Criteria.  Pinnacle has built a set of Earned Value Management Assessment and Earned Value Training materials that document an organization’s capabilities against the EIA 32 guidelines and build upon the NDIA’s EVM Intent Guide and the DCMA Earned Value Implementation Guide.  We use the results of this EVM Gap Analysis to define an Earned Value Management System Implementation Roadmap that is built specifically for your organization’s needs, culture and contractual requirements.

This Earned Value Management System Implementation Gap Analysis should be done for each EVM role, EVMS deliverables, and EVMS processes, and for all members of the EVMS Implementation team and the EVM community.

EVM Stakeholders 

Many organizations overlook some of the significant EVMS Implementation roles.  Include these when building your plan:

• Project Managers and Program Managers required to use the Earned Management System Implementation
• Control Account Managers
• Schedulers
• Project Management Office team members supporting the Earned Value Management System Implementation and Operations
• Senior Management and Executives users of EVMS implementation data (CEO, CTO, COO, CFO)
• Customers who have mandated the Earned Value Management System Implementation

EVM Deliverables

Pinnacle focuses on defining the required deliverables / work products as an essential part of the EVMS Implementation.  We use the EIA-748 standards and the NDIA Earned Value Management Intent guide as a starting point.  We have added techniques and tools gained from years of experience with successful and right-sized Earned Value Management System Implementations.

Many organizations tend to think that software provides all the elements for an Earned Value Management System Implementation; however, processes and training are essential to any EVMS Implementation.

EVM Processes

When you have defined the EVMS Implementation roles and deliverables you can determine which processes you need and what gaps you need to fill. Often the EVM teams charged with managing the Earned Management System implementation just don’t have the experience required.  They typically lack people who have done an Earned Value Management System Implementation before, and therefore, lack some of the skills required to guide a successful EVMS Implementation.

Executive Support for an Earned Management System Implementation

Even when an EVMS Implementation is required by a government contractual mandate, senior Executives may push back on the time, cost, and effort required for a successful EVMS implementation.  An in-depth explanation of all the elements of an Earned Value Management System Implementation is critical. 

Assemble your Executive Management team and educate them on all elements of an Earned Value Management System implementation. We have found that explaining the contractual requirements from all of the Federal Agencies for an EVMS Implementation is a key topic to cover. 

Additional topics should include the organizational impact of an EVMS implementation and its benefits to the bottom line of the company. An Earned Value Management System Implementation is simply good Integrated Project Management.

Building a Measurable Earned Value Management System Implementation plan

When you have defined your Earned Value Management capabilities and the associated EVM gaps  you can begin to design your EVMS Implementation Roadmap.  There are a number of activities that you should include in this Earned Value Management System Implementation Roadmap.

Tracking Adoption by looking at the number of projects that have been planned and statused using the new EVMS Implementation processes is a good measurement. Understanding that Management is using and acting on data from the new Earned Value Management System implementation is also critical. 

A staged or iterative introduction is an excellent way to guide an Earned Value Management System Implementation – consider prototyping followed by testing, and then moving to operational use of the new EVMS implementation.

Training and Coaching are critical elements of a successful EVMS Implementation. Earned Value Management System Implementation Training should always be delivered combining tool, process, roles and deliverables into a single EVMS Implementation training course.  Augment this with EVMS coaching for all users.

Selecting tools for an Earned Value Management System Implementation

A common fault seen in many EVMS Implementations is to call the EVM software vendor first, buy a tool and then try to make it fit your EVM needs. Until you have determined your own unique EVMS implementation needs how can you tell which products are the right fit?

Define your Earned Value Management System Implementation organizational needs plus your end users’ needs.  Build a set of uncomplicated User Scenarios for each of the roles involved in using your Earned Value Management System Implementation.  Test these with your EVM stakeholders. Involve stakeholders throughout the entire process, building as much support and acceptance as possible to ensure Adoption when you deploy.

Pinnacle has been very successful in defining initial Earned Value Management System Implementations and fixing existing EVMS Implementations. 

Talk to a Pinnacle professional to determine which of the many EVM tools will that fit your Earned Value Management System Implementation goals.-  Give Us a Call or