While doing all 32 of the 748B criteria may not be for everyone, I'd suggest there are a minimum set of EV criteria needed to simply manage any program.
These 11 are numbered by their 748B criteria:
(1) Define the WBS - what are we building?
(2) Identify the organization - who's doing the work?
(5) Integrate the WBS and OBS - who is doing what?
(6) Schedule the work - when are they doing it?
(7) Identify products and milestones - tell what I get for the work.
(8) Set a time phased budget - how much is it going to cost?
(16) Record direct costs - how much did it cost?
(23) Determine variances - the difference between plan and actual cost?
(25) Sum data and variances -add those up so I can see the big picture.
(26) Manage action plans - how can i fix the gaps?
(28) Incorporate changes - fix the gaps.
I'd suggest these "program control" activities are minimally needed for success` of any project using any project management method.
If you're doing these in any credible manner - that is, maintaining the integrity of the data - then you're very close to having a full up EV system.
If you're not doing these, then you probably can't answer the 5 immutable questions of successful project management:
- What does done look like?
- How do we get to done?
- Do we have enough of what we need to get to done?
- What are the impediments along the way?
- How do we measure progress toward done?
EV is a contributor in each of these answers. So when I hear
"EV is just too hard, too much complexity, too mauch paper work."
What would be credible alternatives to answering the 5 questions?
