Date of Award
3-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Cost Analysis
Department
Department of Systems Engineering and Management
First Advisor
Jonathan D. Ritschel, PhD
Abstract
Earned Value Management (EVM) is an integral tool for the success of many programs by allowing the assessment of cost and schedule performance via its metrics. However, the accuracy of these metrics depends on programspecific factors such as phase and contract type. The purpose of this research is to analyze the stability of Estimates at Completion (EACs) for long duration development efforts. Prior research by Christensen in 1996 on EAC stability for development and production contracts was replicated by Kim, White, Ritschel, and Millette in 2019 and found differing results using modern data. This research found that for development efforts at least five years in duration, EACs calculated using EVM metrics achieve stability later in the project than Christensen (1996) and Kim et al. (2019) found for development and production efforts. The Earned Schedule (ES) method proposed by Lipke in 2003 provided similar results for EAC stability using its time-based metrics. This research shows that there is no significant difference in stability when using EVM or ES metrics to calculate EAC.
AFIT Designator
AFIT-ENV-MS-24-M-174
Recommended Citation
Vuu, Bradley L., "Analyzing Earned Value Management for Long Duration Development Efforts" (2024). Theses and Dissertations. 7777.
https://scholar.afit.edu/etd/7777
Comments
A 12-month embargo was observed for posting this work on AFIT Scholar.
Distribution Statement A, Approved for Public Release. PA case number on file.