Measurement Methods

Definition

In the measurement method, you determine how the system calculates the percentage of completion (POC) for an object. We supply a number of measurement methods as standard. However, you can define your own in Project System customizing.

Use

Your choice of measurement method depends on your project and priorities.

Example Example

If you use milestones to mark the transitions between the various phases of your project, choose the milestone measurement method. However, if the project is subject to continued further development that is not reproduced using milestones, it is better to use time proportionality.

End of the example.

You define measurement methods in conjunction with progress versions for the various project objects. You can define planned and actual measurement methods. The system then uses the valid method to calculate the POC.

See Determining the Measurement Method .

You can define measurement methods:

  • As default values per object type in Project System customizing; choose Start of the navigation path Progress Next navigation step Progress Analysis Next navigation step Define Measurement Method as Default Value End of the navigation path .

  • In object maintenance, for the following objects:

    • WBS element

    • Activity

    • Activity elements

      Note Note

      You can only assign measurement methods to orders in Project System customizing. You cannot maintain it in order processing.

      End of the note.

The table below shows where you maintain the measurement methods for the various objects:

Object

Maintaining the Measurement Method

Projects in structure planning

Start of the navigation path Details Next navigation step General, End of the navigation path then Progress tab page

Projects in the project planning board

Start of the navigation path Details Next navigation step Detailed information on object, End of the navigation path then Progress tab page

WBS element

Start of the navigation path Details Next navigation step General, End of the navigation path then Progress tab page

Activities or activity elements

Start of the navigation path Details Next navigation step Activity/Element Next navigation step General, End of the navigation path then Progress tab page

Assigned orders

Start of the navigation path In Project System customizing, underProgress Next navigation step Progress analysis. End of the navigation path

Structure

The measurement method consists of a measurement technique prescribed by the system and additional parameters that depend on the technique chosen.

Measurement Techniques

The measurement technique determines how the system uses the available data to determine the POC. In the SAP system, the following measurement techniques are available:

Measurement Technique Parameters

You define additional parameters for the various measurement techniques, for the purpose of determining the POC. Examples:

  • Maximum POC

    As long as the task has not been completed, that is, no actual finish date has been entered, the system will not allow you to have an actual POC that is higher than the maximum POC. The maximum POC prevents an overestimate of completion such as occurs when tasks are “almost finished” (also called the “90% syndrome”).

  • Start POC

    Value for the initial POC in the start-finish rule measurement technique.

  • Statistical key figures

    If you want to calculate the POC on a quantity-proportion basis, you must define the statistical key figure for the measurement method.

Integration

The table below provides an overview of the measurement techniques we recommend for each object:

Object

Plan

Actual

Comments

Internally processed activity

Milestone technique, cost proportional

Milestone technique, degree of processing

Externally processed activity

Cost proportional, time proportional

Cost proportional, time proportional

General costs activities

Cost proportional, milestone, estimate, start-finish

Cost proportional, milestone, estimate, start-finish

Production order for project

Cost proportional

Cost proportional

The system uses a suitable weighting to aggregate the POC for the order in the activity.

WBS element

MilestoneQuantity-proportionalStart-finishEstimatesTime-proportionalCost proportional

MilestoneQuantity-proportionalStart-finishEstimatesTime-proportionalCost proportional

If activities are assigned to the WBS element, the POC should be calculated in the activity.

The system uses a suitable weighting to aggregate the POC for the activities in the WBS element.

Note Note

We recommend you use the same measurement method to determine both the planned and actual figures. This makes it easier to compare the values. Exception: the measurement methods which can only be used for actual values.

End of the note.