Performance-Based Earned Value (Practitioners) [Paperback]

Paul Solomon (Author), Ralph Young (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471721883 | ISBN-13: 978-0471721888 | Publication Date: December 1, 2006 | Edition: 1

A complete toolkit for implementation of Earned Value Management

Performance-Based Earned Value uniquely shows project managers how to effectively integrate technical, schedule, and cost objectives by improving earned value management (EVM) practices. Providing innovative guidelines, methods, examples, and templates consistent with capability models and standards, this book approaches EVM from a practical level with understandable techniques that are applicable to the management of any project.

Clear and unambiguous instructions explain how to incorporate EVM with key systems engineering, software engineering, and project management processes such as establishing the technical or quality baseline, requirements management, using product metrics, and meeting success criteria for technical reviews. Detailed information is included on linking product requirements, project work products, the project plan, and the Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB), as well as correlating technical performance measures (TPM) with EVM. With straightforward instructions on how to use EVM on a simple project, such as building a house, and on complex projects, such as high-risk IT and engineering development projects, it is the only book that includes excerpts from the PMI's Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), CMMI, the EVM System standard, systems engineering standards, federal acquisition regulations, and Department of Defense guides.

Performance-Based Earned Value allows both novices and experienced project managers, including project manager of suppliers and customers in the commercial and government sectors; software and systems engineering process improvement leaders; CMMI appraisers; PMI members; and IEEE Computer Society members to:

• Incorporate product requirements and planned quality into the PMB
• Conduct an Integrated Baseline Review
• Analyze performance reports
• Perform independent assessments and predictive analysis
• Ensure that key TPMs are selected, monitored, and reported
• Identify the right success criteria for technical reviews
• Develop techniques for monitoring and controlling supplier performance
• Integrate risk management with EVM
• Comply with government acquisition policies and regulations

Written by Paul Solomon and Ralph Young, internationally recognized industry experts, Performance-Based Earned Value is constructed from guidance in standards and capability models for EVM, systems engineering, software engineering, and project management. It is the complete guide to EVM, invaluable in helping students prepare for the PMI-PMP exam with practical examples and templates to facilitate understanding, and in guiding project professionals in the private and public sectors to use EVM on complex projects.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

A complete toolkit for implementation of Earned Value Management

Performance-Based Earned Value uniquely shows project managers how to effectively integrate technical, schedule, and cost objectives by improving earned value management (EVM) practices. Providing innovative guidelines, methods, examples, and templates consistent with capability models and standards, this book approaches EVM from a practical level with understandable techniques that are applicable to the management of any project.

Clear and unambiguous instructions explain how to incorporate EVM with key systems engineering, software engineering, and project management processes such as establishing the technical or quality baseline, requirements management, using product metrics, and meeting success criteria for technical reviews. Detailed information is included on linking product requirements, project work products, the project plan, and the Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB), as well as correlating technical performance measures (TPM) with EVM. With straightforward instructions on how to use EVM on a simple project, such as building a house, and on complex projects, such as high-risk IT and engineering development projects, it is the only book that includes excerpts from the PMI's Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), CMMI, the EVM System standard, systems engineering standards, federal acquisition regulations, and Department of Defense guides.

Performance-Based Earned Value allows both novices and experienced project managers—including project managers of suppliers and customers in the commercial and government sectors; software and systems engineering process improvement leaders; CMMI appraisers; PMI members; and IEEE Computer Society members—to:

• Incorporate product requirements and planned quality into the PMB
• Conduct an Integrated Baseline Review
• Analyze performance reports
• Perform independent assessments and predictive analysis
• Ensure that key TPMs are selected, monitored, and reported
• Identify the right success criteria for technical reviews
• Develop techniques for monitoring and controlling supplier performance
• Integrate risk management with EVM
• Comply with government acquisition policies and regulations

Written by Paul Solomon and Ralph Young, internationally recognized industry experts, Performance-Based Earned Value is constructed from guidance in standards and capability models for EVM, systems engineering, software engineering, and project management. It is the complete guide to EVM, invaluable in helping students prepare for the PMI-PMP exam with practical examples and templates to facilitate understanding, and in guiding project professionals in the private and public sectors to use EVM on complex projects.

About the Author

PAUL J. SOLOMON, PMP, is an internationally known consultant and author on Earned Value Management (EVM), and founder of his firm, Performance-Based Earned Value®. Mr. Solomon led the use of EVM on programs at Northrop Grumman Corporation, including the B-2 Stealth Bomber and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. He is a coauthor of EVM standards, including the national standard, ANSI/EIA-748 (for which he received the U.S. Department of Defense David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award) and the PMI Practice Standard for EVM. He was a visiting scientist at the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) and wrote an SEI report on CMMI® and EVM. Mr. Solomon frequently speaks at industry and government conferences and is a tutor concerning EVM, systems engineering, and software engineering in the U.S. and India.

RALPH R. YOUNG, DBA, is Director of Engineering Process Improvement, Systems and Process Engineering, Defense Group at Northrop Grumman Information Technology. Dr. Young helped lead his former business unit (Litton PRC) to CMM Level 5 and his current business unit to CMMI® Level 5. Northrop Grumman Corporation's Defense Group was the first organization in the world to be evaluated a second time at CMMI® Level 5. Dr. Young supports continuous improvement for both internal and external projects, to make process improvements, implement effective requirements practices, and develop innovations to facilitate project management.

Product Details

• Paperback: 324 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-IEEE Computer Society Pr; 1 edition (December 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471721883
• ISBN-13: 978-0471721888
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 0.7 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #736,866 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Next Generation of EVM, June 11, 2007

By 

Andre Vidal Campos "Andre Vidal" (Sao Jose dos Campos, SP Brazil) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Performance-Based Earned Value (Practitioners) (Paperback)

Excellent book. PBEV is definitely an evolution of Earned Value Management. It is the first Book I have found that integrates Project Quality, Cost, and Schedule control all in one method. Solomon and Young were very successful in describing the weaknesses of EVM and pointing out the best solutions on the PBEV.

OBS: It is an advanced book for EVM experienced people. I wouldn't suggest you to try to understand PBEV without any knowledge on EVM.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Whatever is measured is improved., December 10, 2006

By 

Terry Bartholomew "Requirements Analyst" (New Orleans, LA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Performance-Based Earned Value (Practitioners) (Paperback)

Paul Solomon and Ralph Young have hit the "Best Practices" ball out of the park with Performance Based Earned Value (PBEV). PBEV integrates the best of standards based Project Management, Earned Value Management, and Requirements Management standards into a single well illustrated end-to-end guide for product development teams to follow.

Everyone knows that poor requirements are the single largest source of product rework and project failure. There are plenty of books on requirements analysis, definition, and management, but the problem persists. This is because most books do not weave the requirements process into other project management activities and use a meaningful technique to measure progress toward success.

PBEV fills the gap and shows you step-by-step how a high-maturity development organization starts with requirements, creates Technical Performance Measurements (TPMs), and uses the TPMs to monitor and control product development activities right to project completion. Anyone who believes the old adage: "whatever is measured is improved," will find this book to be the key to truly integrating processes and improving development performance.