SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Determine project cost and schedule performance using earned value management techniques 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
243825  Determine project cost and schedule performance using earned value management techniques 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Project Management 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies Project Management 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular-Fundamental  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  20 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
The person credited with this unit standard will be able to use the earned value management technique to accurately determine the current cost and schedule performance of the project and to forecast the final cost and schedule outcome of the project. Using this technique they will be able to identify negative cost and schedule performance trends at an early stage of the project life cycle and take appropriate corrective action. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
It is assumed that learners are competent in:
  • Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 4 or equivalent.
  • Communication at NQF Level 4 or equivalent.
  • Computer Literacy at NQF Level 3 or equivalent.
  • Unit Standard: Monitor and control the execution of a simple to moderately complex project at NQF Level 5. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
  • Work breakdown structure - Is a product-orientated-family tree division of hardware, software, services and project-unique tasks which organises, defines, and graphically displays the product to be produced, as well as the work to be accomplished.
  • Work package - Detailed short-span tasks, or material items, identified for accomplishing work required to complete a project.
  • Planning package - A logic aggregation of future work within cost account that can be identified and budgeted but not yet defined into work packages.
  • Planning packages are identified during the initial baseline planning to establish the time phasing of the major activities within a cost account and the quantity of the resources required for their performance. Planning packages are placed into work packages consistent with the rolling wave concept prior to the performance of the work.
  • Level-of-effort - Work that does not result in a final product, e.g. liaison, coordination, follow-up or other support activities, and which cannot be effectively associated with a definable end product process result. Level of effort should be used sparingly and only for that effort which cannot be identified as discrete, short span work packages or as apportioned effort should be classed as level-of-effort.
  • Master project schedule - The highest summary level schedule for a project depicting the overall phasing and all the major interfaces, contractual milestones, and key elements.
  • Cost account plan - The management control unit in which earned value performance measurement takes place.
  • Performance measurement baseline - The time-phased budget plan against which project performance is measured. It is formed by the budgets assigned to higher-level work breakdown structures elements. The performance measurement baseline does not include any management or contingency reserves. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Decompose project scope into work/planning packages. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The total scope of the project is decomposed into work packages (or planning packages for future work) using the work breakdown structure technique or any other approved method. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Work packages may include planning packages for future work.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Authorised work and related resources are defined in required format to meet the requirements of the project. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Internal organisational elements and the major contractors/subcontractors responsible for accomplishing the authorised work are identified and recorded in line with the requirements of the project. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The planning, scheduling, budgeting, work authorisation and cost accumulation systems are integrated to provide for the organisational and work breakdown structure. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The individuals responsible for planning, measuring and controlling performance are identified and responsibilities allocated in writing in the required format. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Plan and schedule the project scope on a master project schedule. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Authorised work is scheduled in a manner that describes the sequence of work and identifies the significant task interdependencies required to meet the development, production and delivery requirements of the project. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Physical products, deliverables, milestones, technical performance goals, or other indicators that will be used to measure output are identified and integrated with the master schedule. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Budgets are established for all authorised work in the required format and include where necessary identification of (labour, material, equipment) cost elements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    A time-phased budgeted cost of work scheduled (planned value) baseline at the cost account level is established against which project performance can be measured. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Time-phased budgets for level-of-effort work are identified and established in required format for control purposes. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Set up and assign cost account plans. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Costing is done to ensure that the sum of all work package budgets, plus planning package budgets within the cost account, equals the cost account plan's total budget. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Overhead budgets for the cost of doing business of each organisational component whose expenses will become indirect costs to the project (if not incorporated into the line item rates) are established and are reflected in the project budgets at the required level. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Management reserve (contingency budget) are excluded from the performance measurement baseline. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Authorised individuals are provided with access to as well as being allowed to input and change, the information and supporting documentation necessary in compliance organisational procedures. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Establish and maintain a performance measurement baseline. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Approved scope changes are incorporated into the performance measurement baseline and the effects of such changes in budgets and schedules are recorded within the required time frame. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Original budgets for those elements at the lowest level in the work breakdown structure are reconciled with current performance measurement budgets in terms of changes to the authorised work and internal re-planning in the detail needed by management for effective control. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Integrity of records are maintained throughout the project in accordance with project standards. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Records pertaining to work performed that would change previously reported amounts for direct costs, indirect costs, or budgets, except for correction of errors and routine accounting adjustments.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Changes to the performance measurement baseline are documented in required format. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Changes to the procuring activity are notified through prescribed organisational procedures. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Monitor and control project performance and forecast final cost and schedule outcomes. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Measurement of task progress and actual costs expended are done at intervals as prescribed by organisational guideline. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Direct and indirect costs are measured and recorded on an applied or other acceptable basis in a manner consistent with the budgets in a formal system that is controlled by the general books of account. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Costs from cost accounts are summarised into the work breakdown structure avoiding allocation of a single cost account to two or more work breakdown structure elements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Variances or indexes are noted, resulting from the comparisons between the budgeted cost of work performed (earned value) and the budgeted cost of work scheduled (planed value) and between the budgeted cost of work performed and actual cost of work performed (actual cost), together with the reasons for significant variances. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Corrective action is taken, in collaboration with higher authority to mitigate negative deviations from the plan. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Forecasts are made based on cumulative performance indexes to date, to predict and prepare for cost and schedule outcomes at project completion. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • An individual wishing to be assessed (including through RPL) against this unit standard may apply to an assessment agency, assessor or provider institution accredited by the relevant ETQA.
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard or assessing this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment to be conducted by an accredited provider according to internal approved provider policy and the relevant ETQA guidelines.
  • Moderation of assessment will be conducted by the relevant ETQA at its discretion. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • An understanding of the principles, methods and technique for applying earned value management on a project.
  • An understanding of the concept and importance of earned value management.
  • An understanding of the significance of planned value, earned value and actual cost parameters.
  • Knowledge of setting up and assigning cost account plans.
  • Knowledge of establishing and maintaining a performance measurement baseline.
  • The ability to detect performance variances and predict project cost and schedule outcomes at an early stage of the project life cycle. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems in which responses show that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made when developing contingencies to the plan. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation when monitoring and controlling project performance. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information decomposing a project scope into work/planning packages. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively when disseminating information regarding changes to the performance measurement baseline. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Terms, techniques and processes referred to in this unit standard are based upon recognised best practice for generic project management reflected in industry standards such as:
  • Standards from Project Management Institute (PMI®) such as:
    > A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK Guide), 2000 and 3rd edition, from Project Management Institute (PMI®).
    > Extensions to PMBoK® Guide from PMI®.
    > Work Breakdown Structure.
    > Earned Value.
  • Body of Knowledge from Association for Project Management, UK.
  • ISO 10006.
  • British Standard 6079.
  • IPMA Competence Baseline from International Project Management Association.
  • Project Management role delineation studies from PMI® for CAPM and PMP.
  • Project Management Competency Development Framework from PMI® 2002.
  • Emerging global performance standards for project management personnel (GPSPMP - Global).
  • Australian National Competency Standards for Project Management 2003. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  65649   National Certificate: Official Statistics  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  PSETA 
    Elective  58309   National Diploma: Project Management  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  SERVICES 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.