Primavera Tip: Automatically Calculate Percent Complete
Often managers are uncomfortable with the “guesstimate” given for
percent complete. The Primavera steps feature becomes very useful when
they are weighted to drive the percent complete in a way that is less
subjective and more quantifiable. Generally, steps are a way to track
deliverables or any sub-activity without adding activities and
complexity to your schedule. Any group of steps that is often repeated
(a typical document workflow for example) can be made into a step
template for use on all such activities, too.
To have each step automatically drive physical percent complete for the
activity:
1. Open the
columns within the step tab by right-clicking on the last column and
selecting “Customize Column Headings”. Then select the Step Weight and
Step Weight Percent columns and move them into the view by clicking the
right arrow button on the middle frame. Click OK. The new columns appear
on the steps tab.
2. Now, define
each step by importance or weight it carries toward overall completion
of the activity. The cumulative physical percent complete is
automatically calculated if the setting on the calculations tab at the
project level is checked to “Activities with steps drive percent
complete.” You may want to ensure the Physical Percent Complete column
is viewable in the activity table or that this activity is set in the
general tab to the Physical Percent Complete Activity Type. If you do
not weigh them, then each step carries equal weight, so if you have ten
steps then each one counts 10 % of the total physical percent complete.
Two examples: IT and Construction
|
Test 2000 Code Testing Activity
|
Weight
|
Percent Complete After Step is Completed
|
|
Step One: Unit Test One
|
5
|
5
|
|
Step Two: Unit Test Two
|
5
|
10
|
|
Step Three: Unit Test Three
|
5
|
15
|
|
Step Four: Unit Test Four
|
5
|
20
|
|
Step Five: Integration Testing of One and Two
|
10
|
30
|
|
Step Six: Integration Testing, Add Three
|
10
|
40
|
|
Step Seven: Integration Testing, Add Four
|
10
|
50
|
|
Step Eight: System Test
|
15
|
65
|
|
Step Nine: Functionality Test
|
25
|
90
|
|
Step Ten: Move to Production
|
10
|
100
|
|
CON2000 Pre-Bid Cycle Activity for Carpentry Vendor Selection
|
Weight
|
Percent Complete After Step is Completed
|
|
Step One: Bid Statement of Work (SOW)Drafted
|
5
|
5
|
|
Step Two: Vendor Selection Criteria Agreed Upon
|
5
|
10
|
|
Step Three: SOW Reviewed
|
5
|
15
|
|
Step Four: SOW Approved
|
5
|
20
|
|
Step Five: Solicitation of Bids
|
5
|
25
|
|
Step Six: Bid Close, Vendor Selected
|
30
|
55
|
|
Step Seven: Vendor Notified
|
5
|
60
|
|
Step Eight: Contract Drafted
|
15
|
75
|
|
Step Nine: Contract Revisions
|
20
|
95
|
|
Step Ten: Contract Approved
|
5
|
100
|