Earned Value Management Overview (EIA-748-C)

What EVM is, as a system

Foundations gave you EVM's arithmetic (PV/EV/AC, SPI/CPI). This lesson gives you EVM as a system — the disciplined framework that makes those numbers meaningful. The difference matters: the formulas only tell the truth if the underlying baseline is integrated, the scope is fully captured, and progress is measured objectively. EVM-the-system is what guarantees that.

The performance measurement baseline

Everything in EVM is measured against the performance measurement baseline (PMB) — the integrated, time-phased plan built from the structures of this track:

• Scope, broken down — The work breakdown structure defines all the work — nothing measured is outside it.
• Control accounts — Where scope, budget, schedule, and responsibility meet (Lesson 3) — the points EVM is measured at.
• Time-phased budget — Each control account's budget spread over time — the planned value curve (the S-curve, Lesson 7).
• Reserves, held apart — Management reserve sits outside the PMB (next lesson) — the baseline is the committed plan.

EIA-748 and its 32 guidelines

EVM is codified in the EIA-748 standard, whose 32 guidelines define what a compliant EVM system must do. You don't need them memorized — but knowing they group into five process areas gives you the shape of a complete system:

Using EVM well

Implement EVM proportionate to the project — full EIA-748 rigor for large or government-mandated programs, a lighter earned-value approach for smaller ones. Build a sound PMB from the WBS and control accounts, measure progress objectively, analyze variance and forecast EAC each period, and protect baseline integrity through change control. Run that way, EVM is the most powerful early-warning system in project management.

Ten things to remember

1. EVM integrates scope, schedule, and cost into one measurable system.
2. The formulas only tell the truth if the baseline is integrated and progress is objective.
3. Integration is the whole idea — scope/schedule/cost managed together, not in silos.
4. Everything is measured against the PMB — the integrated, time-phased baseline.
5. The PMB is built from WBS + control accounts + time-phased budget.
6. EIA-748 codifies EVM in 32 guidelines across 5 process groups.
7. The 5 groups: organize, plan & budget, account, analyze, revise.
8. Disciplined change control is non-negotiable — never move the baseline to hide overruns.
9. Implement proportionately — full EIA-748 for big/mandated, lighter EV for small.
10. EVM is this whole track, integrated — where Project Controls comes together.