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Object documentation Measurement Methods  Locate the document in its SAP Library structure

Definition

In the measurement method, you define how the system determines the POC for an object. In the standard system, different measurement methods have been predefined. You can also define your own measurement methods in Customizing for the Project System.

Use

You save measurement methods with a Progress Version for the different project elements. You can save planned and actual measurement methods. In progress determination, the system determines the POC according to the valid measurement method.

For more information, see Determination of the Measurement Method

You can define measurement methods:

·        In Customizing, as default values per object type

·        In object maintenance for the following objects:

¡        WBS element

¡        Activities

¡        Activity elements

Note

You can assign orders to a measurement method only in Customizing for the Project System. You cannot maintain measurement methods directly in the order.

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

Object

Maintenance of the Measurement Method

Projects in structure planning

Details ® General, in the Progress tab

Projects in the project planning board

Details ® Detail Information on Object, in the Progress tab

WBS element

Details ® General, in the Progress tab

Activities or activity elements

Details  ®  Activity/Element  ®  General, in the Progress tab

Assigned orders

In Customizing for the Project System, under Progress ® Progress Analysis.

Structure

The measurement method consists of a measurement technique, which has been predefined in the SAP system, and additional parameters.

Measurement Techniques

The measurement technique defines how the system determines the POC on the basis of the available data in the SAP system. The following measurement techniques are available in the SAP system:

·        Start-Finish Rule

·        Milestone Technique

·        Estimates

·        Proportional to Time

·        Degree of Completion

You can only use this measurement technique for the actual activities that you confirm.

·        Proportional to Quantity

·        Proportional to Dependent Work

·        Proportional to Cost

·        Actual = Planned

In this measurement technique, the system copies the planned POC to the actual POC. You can only use this measurement technique in the actual.

Parameters for the Measurement Technique

In the different measurement techniques, you define additional parameters to determine the POC, for example

·        Maximum POC

As long as work has not been completed, which means there is no actual finish date, the actual POC cannot exceed the maximum POC. The maximum POC should prevent an over evaluation (the “90% syndrome”) of work that is “almost complete”.

·        Start POC

Percentage for the initial POC in the start-finish rule.

·        Statistical key figures

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

Integration

The table provides an overview of the measurement methods that we recommend for each object:

Object

Planned

Actual

Comments

Internal activity

Proportional to cost Milestone technique

Degree of completion
Milestone technique

 

External activity

Proportional to cost
Proportional to time

Proportional to cost
Proportional to time

 

Cost activity

Milestone technique
Estimate
Start-Finish rule

Milestone technique
Estimate
Start-Finish rule

 

Production order for the project

Proportional to cost

Proportional to cost

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

WBS element

Milestone technique
Proportional to quantity
Start-Finish rule
Estimate
Proportional to time
Proportional to cost

Milestone technique
Proportional to quantity
Start-Finish rule
Estimate
Proportional to time
Proportional to cost

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

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

Note

To get a better comparison of the determined values, we recommend that you use the same measurement methods in planned and actual. An exception is the measurement method that you only use in actual.

 

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