Construction project-controls glossary

The earned-value, WBS and project-controls terms a construction PM actually uses, with the formulas the textbooks tend to skip. Every entry follows PMI / ISO 21508 conventions, includes a worked example with realistic numbers from a live electrical project, and links to the related concepts. Written by Mark Roddy, founder of WBSync, with 10+ years in the electrical construction industry.

Most-read entries

If you are new to earned-value management, start with these in order:

  1. Earned Value Management (EVM) — the umbrella concept
  2. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) — the foundation everything hangs off
  3. Schedule Performance Index (SPI) — schedule health in one number
  4. Cost Performance Index (CPI) — budget health in one number
  5. Schedule Efficiency (S/E) — labour-only CPI, the foreman's KPI
  6. Estimate at Completion (EAC) — the four standard forecast formulas

All entries

Calculate the formulas without a spreadsheet

Try the free SPI/CPI/EAC calculator, or get every metric live across your project — start free with WBSync (30-day trial, up to 30 operatives, no card).