Which metric measures schedule performance by comparing earned value to planned value?

Which metric measures schedule performance by comparing earned value to planned value?

• A. Cost variance (CV)
• B. Schedule Performance Index (SPI)
• C. Cost Performance Index (CPI)
• D. Schedule Variance (SV)

Answer: (B)

In earned value management, schedule performance is assessed by the ratio of what you’ve earned to what you planned to earn. This is captured by the Schedule Performance Index, calculated as EV divided by PV. If the value is 1, you’re exactly on schedule; above 1 means you’re ahead of schedule; below 1 means you’re behind. For example, if the earned value is 60 and the planned value is 50, SPI is 1.2, indicating ahead of schedule. If EV is 40 and PV is 50, SPI is 0.8, indicating behind schedule. The other metrics relate to cost or to a raw difference rather than a ratio: Schedule Variance is EV minus PV and shows the amount of schedule deviation, but not the rate of progress. Cost-based metrics (CPI and CV) focus on cost performance, not schedule.

In earned value management, schedule performance is assessed by the ratio of what you’ve earned to what you planned to earn. This is captured by the Schedule Performance Index, calculated as EV divided by PV. If the value is 1, you’re exactly on schedule; above 1 means you’re ahead of schedule; below 1 means you’re behind.

For example, if the earned value is 60 and the planned value is 50, SPI is 1.2, indicating ahead of schedule. If EV is 40 and PV is 50, SPI is 0.8, indicating behind schedule.

The other metrics relate to cost or to a raw difference rather than a ratio: Schedule Variance is EV minus PV and shows the amount of schedule deviation, but not the rate of progress. Cost-based metrics (CPI and CV) focus on cost performance, not schedule.