EVM Training

Master Project Management with Earned Value Training

Embark on a journey to elevate your project management skills with our comprehensive Earned Value Training. This specialized training is meticulously designed to empower organizations and professionals to navigate through the intricate path of project management with precision and expertise.

Unlock the Power of Key Project Metrics

Delve into the core of project management by mastering the pivotal metrics such as Earned Value (EV), Planned Value (PV), and Actual Cost (AC). Our Earned Value Training ensures you gain in-depth knowledge and practical skills to utilize these metrics effectively, enabling you to keep your projects on track, within budget, and adhering to schedules.

Ensure Successful Project Execution with Informed Decisions

Learn how to gauge the health of your projects by deriving insightful data from key calculations and metrics. Our training equips you with the capability to make data-driven, informed decisions that pave the way for successful project execution, even amidst challenges and changing project landscapes.

Equip Your Team with Essential Project Management Skills

With a focus on both theoretical knowledge and practical application, our Earned Value Training is tailored to equip your project teams with the essential skills and knowledge to monitor, control, and steer projects effectively towards their goals while ensuring optimal resource utilization.

Deliver Value While Staying on Budget and Schedule

Immerse yourself in a learning experience that ensures you not only deliver projects that provide value but also ensures that they are executed within the stipulated budget and time frames. Navigate through the complexities of project management and ensure every project you handle is a testament to efficiency and effectiveness.

Enroll Now for a Future in Successful Project Management

Secure your spot in our Earned Value Training and embark on a path to becoming a proficient project manager. Enhance your career, boost your team’s productivity, and ensure every project you manage is executed successfully, adhering to all its planned parameters. Enroll now and steer your projects towards assured success!

Earned Value Training Help is Available

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Earned Value Training Help is Available

Do any (or many) of these situations apply to you?

  • The Project has to comply with the EIA-748 EVMS Standard! What is that? How do we do that?
  • You have a new contract of over $20 Million, and you need to get yourself, your staff, and all the Project personnel up to speed on your new contractual Earned Value requirement.
  • The RFP says the company must have an Earned Value Management (EVM) certification. How can we respond to the RFP?
  • Your contract is over $100 Million and now you must have and demonstrate a Certified Earned Value Management System (EVMS).  How do you do that?
  • How do you get a compliant EVMS Description in the first place?
  • You have an Integrated Baseline Review (IBR) coming up and don’t have a clue about what that entails. 
  • You reviewed company training materials and everything dealing with Earned Value is out of date; and it is going to cost thousands to update the materials and keep them up to date! 
  • What are Control Account Managers (CAMs)? Must we have CAMs to do Earned Value? How do I get CAMs/Train them?
  • I used to have great CAMs, but none of my new CAMs can spell EV.  How do I train them? 

You Are Not Alone

If you answered “yes” to any of these, don’t feel like the Lone Ranger.  Even though the Earned Value concept has been around for over 50 years, the requirement can still be new to your company, new to your contract, and new to your employees.  Most will not have learned EVM in college.  Even companies that have been using EVM for years face a recurring need for training.  We’re pretty consistently seeing a turnover of 20-40% of our experienced CAMs each year across the industry. 

If you answered “yes” to several, I’m sure you’re a bit overwhelmed and asking yourself, how can we possibly meet all these requirements?

Over 40 Years of Experience

Well, don’t despair.  Humphreys & Associates, Inc. (H&A) has just what you need to get you through all those situations, and more.  For over 42 years, H&A has been the leader in providing EVM proposal support, EVMS Requirements/Gap Analysis support, EVMS Design, Implementation support, IBR Preparation, and EVMS Review/certification preparation, staff augmentation, and of course, EVMS and Project Management Training. 

H&A has trained over 950,000 people around the world in all aspects of the Earned Value requirements and has built the largest, most comprehensive library of training materials in the Earned Value Management consulting industry.  We have tailored training materials and have trained and supported contractors whose customers have been from DOD, DOE, NASA, FAA, HHS, as well as international customers such as the Australian DOD, the Canadian DND, Sweden Defense, and the UK.

EVMS Training Library

Our actively maintained library includes:

  • Basic and Advanced Courses in Earned Value Management and
  • Control Account Manager/Project Controls Staff Training and Certification;
  • EVMS Review training to prepare upper management and project teams for:
    • Earned Value Management System Review,
    • Integrated Baseline Review (IBR), and
    • Internal/Joint/External Surveillance;
  • Specialized training in:
    • Developing a WBS,
    • Planning Techniques,
    • Project Scheduling,
    • Baseline Establishment,
    • Materials Management,
    • Subcontract Management,
    • Basic and Advance Variance Analysis,
    • Estimating,
    • Change Management,
    • Government Reporting requirements,
    • OTB/ OTS incorporation, and
    • Agile Software Development

Real-World Application

Our curriculum makes extensive use of real-world examples and case studies to extend the process of learning into application.  We offer these hands-on courses in a variety of settings and formats to meet your needs. 

Public offerings are open to the industry at large and are particularly useful when you have a limited number of individuals needing the training or those individuals who are widely geographically separated. 

In-house offerings at your facilities allows us to meet the training need at one location or for one specific team and can include specifics of your system description.  

Earned Value Webinars

Webinar offerings of the two courses above and our Virtual Learning Lab (VLL) format are available, especially in these times of limited travel.  Webinars of the public and in-house training courses rely on the same content as the in-person courses with the addition of virtual interaction opportunities to increase student involvement and enhance learning.  Our Virtual Learning Lab (VLL) format provides an opportunity for busy individuals to learn at their own pace and time of their choice – even if they are working from home.  The VLL makes extensive use of video presentations and application case studies to enhance the learning environment and ensure the students continue to apply the knowledge they have gained. 

Training Materials

If you have an existing training staff, H&A can even be your source for training materials.  Most of our courses are available for purchase/licensing and our staff of EVMS experts can tailor them to any company environment.  The big benefit here is you leveraging H&A active involvement with EVM requirement changes to keep the material up to date and your training staff don’t have to do it.  In the end you get an up-to-date course without out committing the staff and costs to do the work.  This approach also aligns your material across all our offerings to provide you delivery flexibility with a consistent core content.       

In addition to providing course materials, H&A also can provide Train-The-Trainer sessions in those courses, so your company’s training department can understand and become comfortable with the training materials and updates.

EVMS Certification Programs

Our Certification programs go beyond the public or in-house training courses to create the Qualified CAMs and Project Controls (PC) personnel that are integral parts of a successful EVMS implementation.  These roles are where “the rubber meets the road” for EVMS.  CAMs and PCs will be expected to demonstrate how the company’s EVM System is actually operating on a day-to-day basis.  H&A offers comprehensive and rigorous Certification Courses for both of these important functions so you can be assured that your people not only understand Earned Value concepts but have demonstrated the ability to address the requirements or even problems that can arise on a Project. 

Mock Reviews

To enhance the review training listed above (EVMS, IBR, and Surveillance) and best prepare your organization for these events, H&A also provides teams of our consultants who can conduct Mock Reviews for all three of these events.  These mock reviews simulate each type of government review, including the conduct of CAM and other manager interviews, the running of metrics testing, and the preparation of in-briefs and exit briefs all of which are integral parts of a government EVMS Review.  These Mock reviews can also be used as on-the-job training for company personnel who may be required to conduct IBRs or Surveillance at a subcontractor’s facility. H&A can also augment your company teams in conducting these subcontractor reviews to extend the training while helping your team complete required tasks. 

Agile

H&A has a team of experienced Agile Coaches who are also experts in integrating Agile and Earned Value Management methodologies. H&A also has a vast library of Agile and EVM training materials that can be tailored to meet specific client needs.

Specialized and Experienced Training

Our specialized training courses have been developed over time to address the specific training needs of past clients and provide in-depth, focused training in a variety of topics to enhance your application EVM to effectively manage your projects.  These courses build on the general knowledge provided by the basic courses to make your team more effective and efficient in each topic area.  In cases where your team needs specific, focused training and you don’t find it listed here, we would be happy to discuss the situation and provide a recommended approach to make you successful.      

Each H&A Senior Team Lead typically has over 30 years of experience in Industry, in Government, and/or in consulting – so there is virtually no situation or problem that they have not encountered before. So, although your company may be overwhelmed by the EVMS requirements and the expectations of your customer, you can rely on our H&A team of experts to get you through it all successfully. 

So please, take a look at the H&A website and all that we have to offer, and then give us a call at (714) 685-1730, or email us so we can get you started on the road to EVMS success. We look forward to helping you be successful!

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Free Online Earned Value Training Resources

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Free Online Earned Value Training Resources

The world of Earned Value Management (EVM) can sometimes be daunting with a seeming overabundance of resources, guides, training, and services designed to help the user.  Depending on which industry and/or government agency you are dealing with, the EVM interpretation can differ.  Below is a listing of free online training resources meant to help you in finding the right information for the right situation. Each online source provides a summary of resources available and the URL to find them. 

Humphreys & Associates, Inc. – EVMS Education Center


Humphreys & Associates, Inc. Menu

The EVMS Education Center is an online Earned Value Training resource for cutting-edge thought and insight on Earned Value Management Systems. The user can select an EVM category from the list below to access more detailed information:

·       Agile Practitioner Connection

·       Getting Started with EVM

·       EVM Practitioner Connection

·       H&A EVMS Workshop Reference Materials

·       H&A Publication Reference Materials

·       EVMS Web Recommendations

·       EVM Glossary Terms

·       EVMS Document Matrix for U.S. Gov’t Agencies


Visit H&A EVMS Education Center

Department of Defense Integrated Program Management


Department of Defense Integrated Program Management Header Menu

The Policy & Guidance page provides the user with OMB Circular A-11, FAR, and DFARS, 5000 series documents, Data Item Descriptions as well as sample CDRLs and Guides and References.  In addition, Training Presentations on IPMDAR Application, Tailoring and Reporting are provided.

DOD Earned Value Training Presentations

The EVM-CR is a data repository managed by the IPM division of OUSD(A&S) AAP, the office of Acquisition, Analytics and Policy.

The purpose of the EVM-CR is to establish a source of authoritative Earned Value Management (EVM) and Integrated Program Management (IPM) data for the Department and to provide prompt access for PMOs, Services, OSD, and DoD Components.

  • Government users with Analyst role can access all published reports in the EVM-CR
  • Contractors that support DOD HQ organizations can be granted similar access by providing appropriate NDAs


Visit Department of Defense Integrated Program Management

Defense Contract Management Agency


Defense Contract Management Agency Menu

This site contains all the latest Data Metrics, Tests and Templates used by DCMA. In addition, updated Compliance Procedures are included.

EVMS Compliance Metric Templates


Visit Defense Contract Management Agency​

Department of Energy EVMS Training


DOE EVMS Training Menu

Training includes an EVM Tutorial which consists of 8 modules and provides a high-level overview of EVM principles and reporting, intended for novice EVM users.

In addition, a series of 34 short video snippets, sponsored by the Office of Project Management (PM), provides training in a variety of EVMS topics.


Visit Department of Energy EVMS Training

NASA EVM


NASA EVM Menu

Includes several downloadable handbooks for reference including:

·       Integrated Baseline Review (IBR) Handbook

·       Schedule Management Handbook

·       Link to request STAT Access and to download the STAT User’s Guide

·       Work Breakdown Structure Handbook

·       EVM Implementation Handbook

·       NASA/SP 2016-3708 EVM P-CAM Reference Guide

NASA IPMR DRD

The Integrated Program Management Report (IPMR) is a consolidation of the Contract Performance Report (CPR) and the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) and is required on all new contracts when an EVMS is a requirement.


Visit NASA EVM

Project Management Institute


PMI Menu

In conjunction with PMI, this website includes several webinar presentations, templates and articles designed to aid the student in a greater understanding of Earned Value Management. The site is continuously updated by contributors across the world and is applicable to both commercial and government environments.


Visit Project Management Institute

National Defense Industrial Association


NDIA Menu

This site provides a comprehensive list of guidance documents applicable across the DoD Environment. Complementary documents to the EIA-748 Standard for Earned Value Management Systems include:

·       EIA-748-C Designation Memo

·       Earned Value Management System Acceptance Guide

·       Earned Value Management System Guideline Scalability Guide

·       Earned Value Management Systems Application Guide

·       Earned Value Management Systems Intent Guide to the EIA Standard for EVMS (EIA-748)

·       Intent Guide Appendix Compliance Map Template

·       Guide to Managing Programs Using Predictive Measures

·       Industry Practice Guide for Agile on Earned Value Management Programs

·       Integrated Baseline Review Guide

·       Master Definitions List for IPMD Guides

·       Planning and Scheduling Excellence Guide (PASEG)

·       Surveillance Guide


Visit National Defense Industrial Association

Need help with Earned Value Training, finding additional resources, or planing your earned value management system? Contact us today.

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EVM Training – Decision Making and Charlie Munger – Tendency Toward Misjudgment – Part 4

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EVM-Training-Decision-Making-Charlie-Munger-Part-4-Tendency-Toward-Misjudgment

This is the fourth and final blog in this series about the human tendency toward misjudgment. In Parts 1, 2, and 3 we learned about Charles (Charlie) T. Munger, Vice Chairman of Berskshire Hathaway and partner of Warren Buffet, and his listing of 25 innate human tendencies toward misjudgment that we harbor. In those three blogs we learned much from him and we will continue that learning in this blog. Charlie was born in 1924 so, at the time of this blog, Charlie he is 94, a wise old man from whom we should learn.

As mentioned previously, I went through each of the 25 “tendencies” that are defined and discussed by Charlie and tried to think about how the tendency could disadvantage or could potentially aid decision making.

Kantian Fairness

The first of the tendencies discussed here is the “Kantian Fairness Tendency.” This does not apply to all people from all cultures around the world, but it certainly does to those you are most likely to be engaged with; those at your place of work. The tendency is that people tend to give and expect fair treatment. It is something innate and reinforced with something learned. An example would be the way people line up to wait and the way they expect others to obey the unwritten rules of waiting in line. People expect to be treated fairly and will wait their turn for that. Applying this tendency to decision-making, people expect the decision process to be fair. If it were to be skewed and unfair, they would hesitate to participate. Being unaware that there is such a bias can be dangerous to the decision-making process. If unfairness could be introduced and carefully hidden, the outcome could be skewed. Any unfairness must be rooted out, no matter how difficult.

Influence-from-Mere-Association

The second tendency covered in this fourth blog is subtle. It is the “Influence-from-Mere-Association Tendency.” Munger points out the problem with this tendency by explaining that if something good happened to us in the past, we will be more influenced by things that were associated with that good event or outcome. Something that is associated with a known good thing is not weighed and measured by the same standards as something that is a stand-alone non-associated item. But we do not really know in all cases that the things we are considering really factored into the previous success at all. If we are told that or assume that or just plain “know that” from company lore, we are on dangerous ground. We would need to know the exact cause and effect chain for the good outcome in the past to be sure we are dealing with a positive associated influence. About the best we can do is be skeptical and challenge things that are presented as associated with previous good outcomes. Our process should require proof of association when association is a factor.

Social-Proof

The third tendency here is one we should all be very familiar with. Munger calls it the “Social-proof Tendency.” You might know it by the name “groupthink” or “the herd instinct.” We need to understand that people tend to act and think as the others around them act and think. This tendency can become an issue in a team or group charged with deciding a crucial issue. Will the members have the strength for independent thought and action or will many of them “go along to get along”? The instinct can be much worse if the situation is a high stress one. The herd must react quickly to stress and the first movement, of the first spooked members, could lead to a stampede. Our decision process has to be sensitive to this and counter it is if needed. Deciders must be coached to avoid being a blind follower and to value independent thought and action. If necessary, the process might have to require mixing the attendance or substituting more independent-minded people.

Contrast Mis-reaction

Another powerful tendency is also one that can be easily exploited against the process. This is the so-called “Contrast Mis-reaction Tendency.” This can be seen as the reaction toward what is perceived as the lesser of two evils. We have all been taught that it is good to compare and contrast choices; but that is only useful when enough truth is known about the choices. A manipulative manager might use this tendency for mis-reaction by explaining to the deciders that there are two outcomes. The first is Outcome A which is described by the manager in such terms as to leave no doubt this is a terrible choice. The second one is Outcome B, also not good, but which appears to be so much better that A; by contrast, our reaction is a mis-reaction toward the one that is automatically more appealing. In this way, the unknowing members of the team see the obvious contrast and are drawn to the outcome favored by the manager while, to them, the whole process appears above board. Our process must be made to present all the choices and to treat them factually, so an uninfluenced choice is made. A good decision-making process does not make false contrasts.

There is not enough time to cover all the tendencies fairly. To do that, you should attend a Humphreys & Associates workshop to explore the entire subject of decision making.

Crucial Decision

In closing, I am going to postulate a situation where the authority to make a crucial decision is assigned, in a high stress situation, to a weak “groupthink team” with a strong leader who has a bloated opinion of himself. The team has been shown some very limited choices, some of which have been described as distasteful ones. The leader is in denial and trying to avoid loss. He wants to force a quick decision. How do you rate the chances of this scenario yielding a good well-considered decision, now that you can see the underlying tendencies to misjudgment?

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