Add a Work Package

Prerequisites

  • As needed, extend the project's initial work breakdown structure (WBS) to add lower levels. Remember that the lowest level of detail for the WBS in EVMax is the control account level.
  • You may want to identify the control accounts to help determine the level of detail required for the scope of work. See Identify Control Accounts. Once you add one or more work packages to a WBS element, it is assumed the work package parent WBS element is intended to be a control account.
  • Optional. Define and add any work package level user defined codes or fields for the project. See Add Project User Fields. For the Level dropdown, select Work Package.

The following steps assume you are using the Standard View Ribbon Menu option to create a control account level work package or planning package.

  1. Select Home > Earned Value in the Navigation Menu. The main EVMax window displays.
  2. Select your project from the Project dropdown in the Ribbon Menu.
  3. Expand the WBS hierarchy as needed to view the control account WBS elements.
  4. Select the control account WBS element row in the top pane. Or, when one or more work packages have already been defined for the control account, elect the work package row in the top pane.
  5. Click New in the Ribbon Menu or use the Ctrl + N shortcut. This enables the Work Package tab in the bottom pane, Add/Edit tab window.
  6. The Work Package is auto populated with a system unique ID number. Enter a unique Description for the work package.

  7. Select the Assumption type from the dropdown. The default is Bottoms Up.

    Tip:

    When you select the Parametric Assumption, also select the Parametric Type from the dropdown.

  8. Select a Start Date and End Date to automatically calculate the Duration. Or, select a Start Date and enter the Duration to automatically determine the End Date. This determines the work package period of performance.

  9. Accept the default Spread or select another option from the dropdown. The typical default is Linear. The Default Spread is set in the Manage Projects window, Settings tab.

    Tips:

    Select Manual if you want to enter specific resource FTE, hour, or direct cost values for the work package period of performance calendar months instead of automatically distributing a total value using a distribution profile. You may want to select Manual for Travel assumption types.

    Select Daily if you want to enter resource hour values for the work package and automatically determine the End Date and Duration based on the calendar productive hours. When you select Daily, End Date and Duration are disabled. The Disable Contraction by Resource option is enabled. This option determines whether the End Date and Duration changes should you reduce the number of hours. Leave it unchecked if you want the End Date and Duration to change.

  10. Optional. If you have any work package user defined codes or fields, a list of the codes or fields displays at the bottom of the Add/Edit window. For each Prompt row, select the applicable code from the dropdown or enter the applicable text in the Value column cell.
  11. Click Save in the Ribbon Menu or use the Ctrl + S shortcut.
  12. Select the work package row you just added in the top pane so the Work Package tab is enabled in the bottom pane.
  13. Select the Status EVT tab.

  14. Select an EV Technique from the dropdown or leave the default % Complete selection.

    Tips:

    Recommend selecting Quantities for the EV Technique when you select the Material assumption type so you can enter the BOM quantity to status the work package and calculate earned value. For low value or commodity materials such as nuts and bolts, you could also use the Earned as Spent EV Technique. When you are using the BOM for material take off quantities with labor resources and rate factors associated with the material item, recommend using the Earning Rules EV Technique because you are mixing the elements of cost (labor and material) in the same work package.

    When you select the Earning Rules EV Technique, a Milestones window appears below the EV Technique field. The accomplishment milestones along with the weight, a percentage, for each milestone must be defined. The sum of the milestone weights equals 100 percent. When a milestone is completed, the weight is translated to a cumulative to date percent complete for the work package. This is the basis for calculating earned value for the current reporting period. You can establish a Milestone Library to select a predefined set of milestones or you can define a unique set of milestones for the work package. See Select Milestones from Library or Define Earning Rule Milestones.

    To create a control account level planning package, select Planning Package for the EV Technique.

  15. Click Save in the Ribbon Menu or use the Ctrl + S shortcut.