Pinnacle Insights

This article is part of a series on the roles and responsibilities involved in performing Integrated Program Management. Other articles included in this series are:

• Master Scheduler Roles & Responsibilities
• Earned Value (EV) Analyst Roles & Responsibilities

The Control Account Manager, or CAM, plays a critical role in an Earned Value Management System (EVMS). 

Often these two terms are used interchangeably, but they mean very different things to those of us who have been implementing project management and project controls systems.  

In Part 2 of this series, Schedule Analysis, Part 2: Why Should I Do It?, it was stated that schedule analysis increases confidence in the schedule and its results. It provides information as to where the schedule needs to be improved and how it needs to be improved. 

In Part 1 of this series, Schedule Analysis, Part 1: What Is It?, provided a brief introduction to schedule analysis. This article discusses why a schedule analysis should be performed. But first, a point of clarification. Schedule analysis and Schedule Risk Analysis (SRA) are two different things. 

A schedule is a time-model of how you as the supplier or manager plan on executing your project. It represents the project scope, resources, assumptions and constraints of the project. Like a cost model, the time model or schedule should respond to changes.

Project Management (PM) tool selection can be a daunting task. Many organizations drive their PM tool selection without understanding exactly how these tools will be used, who will use them, and how they will be accepted within an organization. If you select the wrong PM tools they are likely to end up sitting on a shelf and delaying any improvement to your PM capabilities.

What's the foremost risk to implementing Project Management improvements? The same thing that threatens any business change initiative. It requires change!

More and more construction companies are bidding on Federal contracts that require an Earned Value Management System (EVMS).  To successfully win a contract you must either have an EVMS in place, or have a plan defined to implement one.