Event Type: GTIS Branch Event

Project phases provide a logical framework for evaluating a project’s cost efficiency (on-budget) and its rate of progress (on-schedule). In addition, procurement contracts can minimize risk for many planned expenditures. Phase assured value analysis (PAVA) combines these two approaches to provide a straightforward technique for managing both projects and portfolios.

By evaluating ongoing project performance and progress, managers can discover precisely when and where to take corrective action. In addition, executives can evaluate their portfolios of current projects with greater confidence.

While earned value management (EVM) has been promoted as a best practice for performance evaluation, most organizations and managers find it very difficult to implement and unreliable. In addition, EVM ignores the risk reduction provided by firm contracts for future work.

My technique, Phase-Assured Value Analysis (PAVA), compares the planned and actual cost of each completed phase to assess cost efficiency, and the planned and actual phase completion dates to assess ongoing progress. It also tracks vendor agreements for future work in assessing the cost performance picture. The key is to divide the project schedule into phases that are appropriate to the work flow and the need for gate reviews.

Biography:

 Douglas Bower is an independent project management consultant and educator, who supports organizations that want to improve project delivery through application of recognised techniques by trained technical staff. As Manager, E-Business with the Ontario Government, Doug led a team that actively promoted the adoption of e-business techniques and strategies by small and medium enterprises, and the availability of broadband services in Ontario. For over 20 years before joining the government, Doug directed and managed complex multimillion-dollar projects within major Canadian corporations such as CIBC, and also provided consulting services to large IT and telecom firms, including IBM, CGI, Telus Mobility and Bell Canada.

Dr. Bower has an MBA from York University, an MSc in Telecommunications and Network Management from Syracuse University, and a Doctor of Project Management from RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. Doug has been an invited speaker at many project management conferences in Canada, the US, the UK and Australia. His research on project planning, phases and earned value has been published in professional journals.