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EVM in the UK construction Industry

9 replies [Last post]
Wed, 2007-05-16 12:23
Tariq Usman
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Hello fellows,

i am writing my MSc Dissertation on Earned Value Management System, where i will a bit discuss EVM in the UK construction Industry as well. it will be highly appreciated if anyone can participate in the discussion and widen the circle around this topic area and enrich the discussion with some useful information about EVM in the UK construction industry.I am not interested in the EVM definitions and stuff like that but i am particularly interested to whether we in UK construction industry really bother this methodology or we just left this to U.S & Australia to be the champions of this.

-i am particularly looking for the discussion to know whether is it really a usefull tool or is it just a wastage of time and money?

-comparing US and UK, we are far behind in implimenting this tool in our projects in the UK, Why? why we are so resiliant in implimenting this tool in our projects in the UK? any particular reason. Bearing in mind, this tool was mainly developed for IT industry but research shows that it is as good in construction as in IT, do you agree to this?


it will be highly appreciated if someone can widen this discussion area and respond the querry.

regards,

Tariq
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Replies

Tue, 2007-06-12 12:25
#1
Shahzad Sikandar
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we have been using EVM for our water/sewarage project within a frame work for a local water company.

United Utilities is also using this for their AMP4 Programme which worth more than hundereds millions.

British nuclear / Defence indrutry is also using it extensilvely in the UK.



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Sun, 2007-05-20 07:15
#2
A D
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References for your use. Must be of some help for u.

Bent, James A (1982). Applied Cost and Schedule Control. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker, Inc.

Brandon, Daniel M. (1998, June ) "Implementing Earned Value Easily and Effectively." Project Management Journal. Vol 29. Number 2.

Christensen, David S. Comprehensive Bibliography of Earned Value Literature. http://www.uwf.edu/~dchriste/ev-bib.htm

Horan, Ron and Don McNichols (1990, September). "Project Management for Large Scale Systems." Business Communications Review 20:19­24.

Hudec, Jim, Gayla Suddarth, et. al, “Experiences in Implementing Quantitative Process Management,” Proceedings of the SEI Software Engineering Process Group Conference, May 1996.

Mahler, Fred and Mark Mazina (1982, February). "Earned Value Reporting Earns Its Keep." Cost Engineering 24:13-17.

Nichols, John M (1990). "Project Control." Chapter 15 of Managing Business and Engineering Projects. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Niemann, William J (1982, May-June). "If the Pharaoh had Only Used an Earned Value System in Building the Pyramids." Program Manager 11:1­5.

Ruskin, Arnold M (1995, September). "Measuring Project Performance: Acceptably Small Inch-pebbles." Engineering Management Journal 7:5-10.

Cheers,

Raviraj
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Thu, 2007-05-17 09:41
#3
Tariq Usman
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Thanks oliver for the response, i had already sent accross the questionnaire for my research findings to plenty of companies but i was much disappointed by the response as most of them said they dont use it, thats why i decided to put this discussion on planning planet as i was thinking that i might get some good response here, and i really appreciate your response and i hope that more people will respond to my query.


regards,

Tariq
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Thu, 2007-05-17 09:26
#4
Oliver Melling
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Hi,

I have worked at 3 major companies over the last few years, all of which were in the UK, all of which used Earned Value Management.

Tariq, I am also doing an MSc dissertation in Project Management.

If you want to find out peoples opinion on EV and use it in your dissertation then you must form a questionnaire or hold interviews so that you can refer any findings you make against referneced primary material.

Another option is to use secondary data from previous papers on EVM.

I think you will find that many companies use EV, but not all of them use it properly or to its full potential.

Oliver
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Thu, 2007-05-17 09:16
#5
Tariq Usman
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Thanks Stephen,

i got your point and thanks for correcting me, i will try to get some more research papers on this matter.

To UK fellow Planners:

Just want to have a quick survey, to gather some data, how many of you are using EVMS on their projects?


regards,

Tariq
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Thu, 2007-05-17 09:03
#6
Steve Craine
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Hi Guys

I can tell you its used extensively here in the UK in the Rail industry

Steve
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Thu, 2007-05-17 08:51
#7
Stephen Devaux
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"Bearing in mind, this tool was mainly developed for IT industry but research shows that it is as good in construction as in IT, do you agree to this?"

Say what? Tariq, sorry to disappoint, but EV was developed for use on US DoD programs, not IT. There is a thread I started a few months ago asking if anyone knew of non-DoD and construction companies using EV tracking. The answer is: precious few!

And certainly it’s not being used on the VAST majority of IT projects in the US!


"-comparing US and UK, we are far behind in implimenting this tool in our projects in the UK,.."

Are you sure about that? I honestly don’t know enough about the situation in the UK, but I do have a pretty good idea of the situation in the US. And I’m going to have to ask for evidence of anyone who maintains that EV is in common usage anywhere in the US outside of federal government projects.

All this entirely leaves aside the issues of comprehension of earned value data, the competence with which EV processes/systems are applied, and the ways in which EV is misinterpreted and used/misused.

EV is potentially a good and underutilized tool, especially when used in collaboration with most of the other valuable techniques in the project management toolbox. It is unfortunate if, as you say, it’s not being applied effectively in the UK. I just don’t think the UK is at all unique in this regard.
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Thu, 2007-05-17 08:15
#8
Tariq Usman
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Charleston,

i am not saying we are not using it here in UK, of course its been use here a lot, but what i am saying is that if we compare between US & UK, we as in UK construction industry are well behind in adopting this methodology, that is not what i am saying, but i have seen it somewhere in the literature review for my dissertation. i have sent questionnaire to planners but most of them said they dont use EVM, i am not saying all of then said, they dont use EVM but most of them replied they dont use it, so thats what i want to explore in my dissertation.

If i am wrong please correct me.

regards,

Tariq
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Thu, 2007-05-17 07:51
#9
Charleston-Joseph...
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Tariq,

My hunch EVM not use in UK.

Not possible. It will be an insult to British pride to stoop too low to there American cousin.

Somehow, UK will always come up with some clone of the EVM.

Cheers,

Charlie
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