Earned Value Management Using Microsoft Office Project: A Guide for Managing Any Size Project Effectively

Kudos to the writer for keeping it simple yet having all the detailed formulae explained very well. My non tech background was not a deter as everything is well supported with easy to follow instructions and screen shots. A must read for the aspiring PM's and a value add to those already there.- Nidhi Sinha, Analyst

I purchased this book when it was pre-released hoping to find innovative solution for EVM based on microsoft project 2007. Even though released in 2008 the book focuses on MS project 2003 and not 2007. None of the visual reports nor additional features of MS project 2007 are there.The book is extremely expensive and doesn't give the value for the money.It contains a CD with a commercial excel sheet for earned value and it focuses on how to use it instead of describing solely what is meant to be, a MS project guide of implementing EVM.I got the impression that this book is all about advertising for that excel sheet and nothing more.In short, it was a huge miss of it's target.A big dissapointment.

I have adopted this book as the textbook for my course in Earned Value Management at National University in San Diego, California. I wanted a text that combines EVM with Microsoft Project in order to introduce my students to the concepts of of EVM while teaching them to manage projects using MS Project. This book provides all the tools we need in a single volume.

The book is for MS 2007, uses a propriatary Excel Spreadsheet to produce reports and requires use of custom fields to be effective. If you use 2007 there may be some benefit if you want to follow the strict methodogy used by the author.

Finally someone has made sense of EVM with MS Project. This is a great reference aid and I highly recommend this as a must-have in your project management library.

If you want a book that teaches you about Earned Value Project Management then, don't buy this book. I will not list everything wrong with this book due to space limitations. I am searching for a book that can be used in my EVMS class. I will not require students to purchase a book such as this one which is full of errors.The title alone is enough to make anyone suspicious. A book that states it will show the reader how EVM can be used on "Any Size Project Effectively" is a grandiose and delusional claim. I am sure the next Western Power that wants to build a Multi-billion dollar naval ship will all be clamoring to purchase the $99 Excel spreadsheet offered on the accompanying CD to run their next project.The author is completely confused by stating on page x that the PMI Practice standard is" now the accepted EVM standard for the ANSI." This statement is factually incorrect and one I am sure the NDIA PMSC (custodians of the ANSI/EIA-748) would be surprised to learn. On page xvi the author states that "After reading chapter 3, you will understand the entire EVM technique. . ." After reading chapter 3, I discovered that statement was false and realized the author is severely uninformed regarding the use of Earned Value Management. So let's focus on chapter three.First, it is absolutely amazing what is not included in this chapter. There is no discussion of the Control Accounts, Work Packages or Planning Packages. I am convinced the author does not understand these key and foundational artifacts of EVMS. This chapter, which is supposed to explain "the EVM technique" completely lacks sophistication and accurate detail. For example, on pages 22-23 he only explains two EVM measures for tasks/work packages (%Complete and 50/50) and then states the 50/50 "method is not recommended." This poor, erroneous and narrow recommendation for EVMS task/work package measurement is a very good reason to forgo purchasing this book. One last example from chapter 4, but which is also present in chapter 3 is a very key point. On page 60 is figure 4.1. This figure is awash with fundamental EVMS errors. First, there are several zero budget tasks and one of the zero budget tasks has a negative VAC. Second there are numerous tasks shown where the BCWP (Earned Value) exceeds the BCWS (Planned Value). This is possible if the figures were only monthly and there was more BCWP to earn in the out months, but that is extending a level of sophistication that is absent in this book. It is safe to assume this figure is incorrect and misleading as printed. As I stated above there are many, many more problems that could be described.This book was provided by the publisher as an instructor review copy. This company (J. Ross Publishing) has one of the most unfriendly policies in this regard which is: Return this book in a saleable condition in 45 days or pay full market price. The only exception being that if the book is adopted in a course, then you pay nothing. Needless to say I will not be adopting this poorly written and inaccurate book.The good news, well sort of. It is clear this author is grossly uninformed in regard to EVMS, but he does provide some useful guidance on Microsoft Project set-up and tips. The MS Project set-up and tips are of no use to the unskilled EVMS analyst and some tips and suggestions may lead you astray. However, no revision of this book is likely to correct all the EVMS problems and the fact that MS Project 2003 is the version demonstrated throughout does not help. Even if it were updated to MS Project 2010, it would not correct all the EVMS misstatements. If this author were to partner with a knowledgeable EVMS person then there exists the chance for a very good and useful book.I have written other book reviews on EVMS books which you can also read.

Avoid this book like the plague. Sad to say that it only took about 15 minutes reviewing parts of the book to determine that for the most part it's simply what I term a YAPAC book - "Yet Another Point and Click" book.The author devotes a lot of time to laboriously walking through how to navigate MS Project - point here, click there - when this information is readily available on Internet sites too numerous to mention. This is absoluteldy not value added content in a thin volume that lists for over $70 US.Next we see what on the surface are some time based equations for schedule measurement in which the author presents some interesting, but laborious, equations that take a long path to provide the same data available with fundamental EVM equations. Is the author not familiar with the Project Management Institute's "Practice Standard for Earned Value Management"? Surely anyone with the PMP designation writing a book would be. There's no mention of those who have done legitimate work on time based measurements, but the author leads us to believe that his (erroneous) calculations for time based measurements are his original ideas.The techniques the author presents for measuring and reporting based on EVM show a lack of the in-depth understanding of MS Project necessary to apply it effectively. Those well versed in MS Project know and realize the software's notorious inconsistencies in providing accurate tracking and calculation of EVM, and the problems related to task versus resource planning. The author blissfully ambles along taking things at face value without acknowledging any problems whatsoever, and in fact recommends techniques that virtually guarantee poor metrics and results.And what's up with this spreadsheet thing? Why on earth would I want to be enticed to pay big money for what, after all, is a spreadsheet that I could create and tailor in an evening to do exactly what I want? I immediately lost all interest in discussion of this "tool" when the references to "copy and paste" and manual entry of data came into play. A true tool with any sophistication would simply create the spreadsheet for me, or populate a template, or do something besides require me to move data from one program to another. Perhaps I could recommend a good book on Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) and its power to the author and his colleagues. The CD that comes with the book says you get a 6 month license to use the "tool". This is a joke, right?As one who also holds the PMP certification, a graduate degree in project management, and years of experience in project management, teaching and developing courses on EVM, and having written research works on the topic, I can state that I have a solid and firm basis for offering the above critiques. Looking at this book just motivates me to write one that provides true value on the topic . . . and at a modest cost.