5. Manage earned value indicators and curves

Project expenditure trend curves (planned/actual expenditure) for the work to be carried out (work planned compared with work carried out) enable variances and project performance indices to be calculated at the date of the update, and help in project management decisions.

Three curves are essential:

• planned expenditure curve – at date of update: budgeted cost of planned work (CBTP);

• the actual expenditure curve – at the date of the update: actual cost of work performed (CBTE);

• the real cost of work curve (RCWC): what the project should have cost according to the work carried out.

Four indicators reflect the project's earned value at the update date:

• schedule variance...