Earned Value Project Management

by Quentin W. Fleming, Joel M. Koppelman

"Earned value" is a project management technique that is emerging as a valuable tool in the management of all projects, including and, in particular, software projects. In its most simple form, earned value equates to fundamental project management. This is not a new book, but rather it is an updated book. Authors Quentin Fleming and Joel Koppelman have made some important additions. In many cases, there will be no changes to a given section. But in other sections, the authors have made substantial revisions to what they had described in the first edition. Fleming and Koppelman’s goal remains the same with this update: describe earned value project management in its most fundamental form, for application to all projects, of any size or complexity. Writing in an easy-to-read, friendly, and humorous style characteristic of the best teachers, Fleming and Koppelman have identified the minimum requirements that they feel are necessary to use earned value as a simple tool for project managers. They have also witnessed the use of simple earned value on software projects, and find it particularly exciting. Realistically, a Cost Performance Index (CPI) is the same whether the project is a multibillion-dollar high-technology project, or a simple one hundred thousand-dollar software project. A CPI is a CPI … period. It is a solid metric that reflects the health of the project. In every chapter, Fleming and Koppelman stick with using simple stories to define their central concept. Their project examples range from peeling potatoes to building a house. Examples are in round numbers, and most formulas get no more complicated than one number divided by another. Earned Value Project Management—Second Edition may be the best-written, most easily understood project management book on the market today. Project managers will welcome this fresh translation of jargon into ordinary English. The authors have mastered a unique "early-warning" signal of impending cost problems in time for the project manager to react.

Genres: Business, Management, Technical, Reference, Nonfiction

212 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1996

Reviews

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is hard to say that an Earned Value Management book is interesting or engrosing, but this one really was all of that. If someone wants to learn EVM, then this is the book to get.

[Ryan Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for EVMS minded professional

[Alex Francis]

Yeah so I’m definitely going to count my textbooks.

[Ricardo Vargas · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me it is considered the "bible" of Earned Value Management. When I was preparing my dissertation work for my master degree this was one of the first books I used to understand the earned value process. It is just a perfect book if you want to understand the topic.

Para mim esse livro é considerado a "biblia" da Análise de Valor Agregado. Quando eu estava preparando minha dissertação de mestrado esse livro foi um dos primeiros que eu utilizei para compreender o processo de valor agregado. É simplesmente um livro perfeito se você quer compreender o assunto.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very comprehensive. Still, only read it if you have to. The opening chapter was interesting. The next two or three kept my attention. Then it bogged down into Earned Value concepts with terms and equations. Seriously, only read it if your boss tells you your next project (and your review/raise) will hinge on using Earned Value and you have no idea what he's talking about.

Other than that, it's a great book. Just not what you want for casual reading.

[Rob Greca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best book on EVM.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ughhh, so glad this topic is now behind me!!!

[Jeff Harkness · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent guide for understanding and learning EVM. Very clearly written, thorough, and well organized. A great (no, excellent) resource for all project managers.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fairly straight-forward, though nothing very attention-grabbing, particularly the examples.

[BAHADIR KAPLAN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for earned values theory.
Emphasizes the practice ac well.
PRetty much adequate for beginners.