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Understanding The S
Understanding The S
Monitoring
written by: ciel s cantoria edited by: Michele McDonough updated: 5/26/2011
This article discusses S-Curve theory and how it is used in project management as a tool for monitoring the growth, progress and
performance of ongoing projects. Understand the S-Curve model, its analysis, data and schedules needed to create the graph that
reveals deviations from baseline metrics.
An understanding of S-Curve theory and its analyses will help learners and team members grasp the importance
of monitoring the progress and growth of an ongoing projectat a specific stage or percentage of completion.
Outside of the technical jargon, the S-Curve model simply makes use of the projected number of man-hours and costs to
complete the project vs. the actual number of hours and costs incurred within the same time frame. The proposed time, man-hour
and cost data are referred to as the baseline data.
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The S-Curve is a form of mathematical theory, which aims to represent the utilization of resources over the proposed time of the
project. Simply stated, the curvature illustrates the side by side comparisons of the actual time and expenditure components vs.
the proposed time and costs allocations of specific resources.
As a tracking tool, comparisons of different S- Curves against the standard S-Curve help in monitoring the growth or progress of
the project. Data that is simultaneously plotted in graph form will clearly present how efficiently the team has performed so far,
in accordance with the time or budget limitations.
Two or more curved lines running symmetrically should both be flat at the beginning and become steep in the center and become
flat again towards a convergence at the projects completion date. This is how most project timelines would be depicted. In
todays highly technological work environment, there are varioussoftware-scheduling packages that can automatically generate
these S-Curves.
However, the matter of understanding the significance of its theory and its analyses is of utmost importance.
Image Credit: Coupled S-Curves courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
If the scope increases and the baseline duration or time allotment is fixed, then it is likely that the project will becompleted
beyond the targeted date. This results to what is called the Project Slippage, or the difference between the targeted finish
beyond the budgeted costs, which could result to fewer profits or even potential losses.
If the scope decreases and the baseline duration or time allotment is fixed, then it is likely that the project will be completed
The Progress Metrics This is a comparison between the Target S-Curve and the Actual S-Curve, in which the latter is a
measure of the actual man-hours and expenditures of a project on a specific completion stage date.
Ordinarily, the Actual S-Curve is expected to run below the lines of the Target S-Curve, since the results of constant monitoring
entails compliance and observance of the targeted time and costs. Hence, the two curved lines are expected to meet or converge
towards the end of the project completion.
If the curvatures present a graph where the Actual S-Curve runs open-ended above the Target S Curve as of cut-off monitoring
date, consider the possibility of errors in the data contained in the production schedules. A careful review should be made to
pinpoint unrealistic values of man-hours and costs incurred for the already completed stage.
Image Credit S-curve(Asymmetric).jpg courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Man Hours vs. Time S-Curve: This type of analysis is suitable for projects that are estimated as labor intensive, in which
the project manager has to know the cumulative amount of man hours worked at a specific stage of the project. Results of
the graph will provide the basis for adjustment, whether there is underperformance that warrants additional labor force or