Program Management in Defense and High Tech Environments

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Earned Value Management

In earlier chapters, we discussed the value and use of earned value manage-

ment (EVM). EVM is the most frequently used tool to make the manage-

ment (actually, the measurement) of program progress more quantitative.

Years ago, a simplistic program management technique was to track

spending against planned spending. If you were spending on plan, it was

assumed that you were making the necessary progress. In conjunction with

monitoring spending, the program manager (PM) would monitor sched-

ules. If you were on schedule, it was assumed that your costs would be on

schedule. Eective PMs would do both, of course—make su ...