Schedule Performance Index (SPI) for PMP® Exam Prep

The SPI formula found in PMP® exam questions is grounded in the A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) definition: “The Schedule ... AProjectManagementProfessional(PMP)®ExamPrepProviderContactUs(877)637-0450MyAccount+Educate360BrandsFromfundamentalstoexamprepbootcamps,Educate360partnerswithyourteamtomeetyourorganization'strainingneedsacrossProjectManagement,Agile,BusinessAnalysis,BusinessManagement,andLeadershipskillsdevelopment.ExploreOurBrandsExploreExploreExploreExploreExploreExploreExploreExploreMENUPMP®CertificationPMPCertificationPMPCertificationTraining(LiveClassrooms)PMPCertificationTraining(OnlineClassrooms)PMPCourseMaterialsPMPCertificationRequirementsPMPCourseScheduleLearnMoreAbout...HowtoEarn35ContactHoursGroupTrainingReviewsFAQsDiscountforMilitary/VeteransDiscountsforUnemployedProfessionalsWhyProjectManagementAcademy?QualityTrainingwithExpertInstructorsPMIVerifiedAuthorizedTrainingPartner100%Money-BackGuaranteeThousandsof5-StarReviewsTheMostLiveClassroomLocationsNationwideTheLargestVarietyofOnlineClassroomOptions"PMAprovidesaremarkableproductandstandsbehinditwithaperformanceguarantee.Ipassedthetestonthefirstattempt!"-DennisMoreReviewsOnlineClassroomsLiveClassroomsAgileCertificationPMI-ACPAgileCertifiedPractitionerPMI-ACPCertificationTrainingCoursesPMI-ACPCertificationRequirementsGroupTrainingFAQsScrumCertificationsCertifiedScrumMaster(CSM)AdvancedCertifiedScrumMaster(A-CSM)CertifiedScrumProductOwner(CSPO)AdvancedCertifiedScrumProductOwner(A-CSPO)OtherAgileCoursesSAFeCertificationsDisciplinedAgileScrumMaster(DASM)CertificationAgileChangeAgentCertifiedProductInnovationProfessional(CPIP)AgileFundamentalsAgileinActionWhatisAgileMethodology?Teamsoperateinshortcyclesaimedatcontinuousimprovement.Whyisthisbeneficial?AnIntroductiontoAgileProjectManagementThereareseveralvariationsonAgile,someofwhichinclude...ReadMoreLearnaboutAgileAllTrainingCoursesSeeAllTrainingCoursesProjectManagementTrainingProjectManagementProfessional(PMP)®CAPMCertificationTrainingPMI-RMPCertificationPMI-SPCertificationMaster'sCertificationinPMFundamentalBusinessPracticesCertificateThePMITalentTriangle®ProjectManagementFundamentalsBusinessAnalysisCertifiedBusinessAnalysisProfessional(CBAP)®CertificationofCapabilityinBusinessAnalysis(CCBA)®PMIProfessionalinBusinessAnalysis(PMI-PBA)®Additionalskills-basedcourseshostedbyoursistercompany,WatermarkLearningAgileCertificationPMIAgileCertifiedPractioner(PMI-ACP)®CertifiedScrumMaster(CSM)AdvancedCertifiedScrumMaster(A-CSM)CertifiedScrumProductOwner(CSPO)AdvancedCertifiedScrumProductOwner(A-CSPO)SAFeCertificationsDisciplinedAgileScrumMaster(DASM)CertificationAgileChangeAgentCertifiedProductInnovationProfessional(CPIP)AgileFundamentalsAgileinActionQualityManagementLeanSixSigmaGreenBeltLeanSixSigmaYellowBeltAccelerateyourcareerthroughexclusiveaccesstotraining,discounts,jobs,tools,andprofessionaldevelopmentopportunitiestoboosttheirskills,jobimpact,andcareerprospects.MaintainyourcertificationwithPDUs,presentations,andwebinars.Getdiscountsoncontinuededucationandprofessionaldevelopmentcourses.GainexposuretoPMtoolsandsoftwaretohelpimproveyourjobperformance.AccesstoPMjobpostingsandrecruiterstohelpyoulandtherightjob.Browseallofouravailablecertificationandprofessionaldevelopmentcourses.SeeAllCoursesLearnMoreCorporateTrainingCorporateTrainingSolutionsOurcustomprogramsfocusonimprovingbusinesssuccessbyteachingyourentireteam.CorporateTrainingSolutionsandCoursesOurInstructorsReviewsCustomersBenefitsofCorporateTrainingDevelopingemployeesisoneofthemostimportantthingsthatyoucandotodrivebusinesssuccess.PMAcanhelpaccelerateyourlearning&developmentgoals!LearnHow5CorporateTrainingBestPracticesFindingqualitycorporatetrainingsolutionstakesmorethanaquickinternetsearch...Requestaquoteorspeaktooneofourtrainingadvisors.RequestInfoReadourBlogPDUCoursesPDUContinuingEducationMaintainYourPMICertificationswithPDUsOnlinePDUCourseLibraryLivePDUCourseLibraryRecommendedPDULearningCategoriesPopularOn-DemandPDUCoursesLeadingVirtualTeamsMicrosoftProjectOrganizationalReadinessSeeAllOn-DemandPDUCoursesPopularLivePDUCoursesLeanSixSigmaGreenBeltFacilitationSkillsWorkshopBulidingBetterBusinessCasesSeeAllLive,VirtualPDUCoursesPMIApprovedPDUCoursesAsaPMIAuthorizedTrainingPartner(ATP),allourcoursesarepre-approvedforProfessionalDevelopmentUnits(PDUs)tohelpyoumaintainyourhard-earnedPMIcertifications.ThroughPMAandoursisterbrand,WatermarkLearning,youcanmaintainyourcertificationswhilecontinuouslyenhancingyourknowledgeandskillsetstomakeyouaneffectiveProjectManager!HowDoIMaintainMyPMPCertification?ATutorialonPDUsContinuingeducationisanessentialpartofaPM’sprofessionaldevelopment...ReadMoreOnlinePDUCourseCatalogFreeResourcesFreeResourcesProjectManagementResourceCenterProjectManagementArticlesProjectQualityManagementforPMPHowtoEarn35ContactHoursforPMPFreePMPPracticeExamQuestionsPMAccelerateTerminologyGamesProjectManagementFormulasforPMPMoreAboutPMAReadOurBlogSearchforProjectManagementJobsPress&MediaPromotionsandDiscountsCharitableContributionsJointhePMATeamDoYouQualifyforthePMPCertificationFindoutrightnowifyoumightbeeligibletositforthePMPexam.TakeafreePMPpracticeexamnow!StartReadtheArticleReadourBlog▲Foralimitedtimesave$200offanyofourqualitytrainingprogramsover$1195.UsecouponcodeHOLIDAYS200atcheckoutCodecopiedtoyourclipboardSkiptocontentHome»Resources»PMPFormulas»SchedulePerformanceIndex(SPI)forPMP®ExamPrepSchedulePerformanceIndex(SPI)forPMP®ExamPrepTimeismoney.Forprojectmanagers,clients,leaders,businessowners,stakeholders,andwell,anyoneinaprofessionalroleworkingcollaborativelyonaproject,“willitbedoneontime?”isaquestionpackedwithmeaning.Projectmanagersuseprovenformulastoprovidedata-basedpredictionsforscheduleandcost,suchastheSchedulePerformanceIndex(SPI).KnowinghowtousetheSPIformulaandhowtointerpretSPIformulacalculationsisacorerequirementontheProjectManagementInstitute(PMI)ProjectManagementProfessional(PMP)®exam.Onthispage:SPIDefinedSPIFormulaInterpretingSPISPICalculationExamplesCostPerformanceIndex(CPI)andSPIScheduleFormulasforPMP®exampreparationPMP®CertificationExamCPISampleQuestionsSchedulePerformanceIndex(SPI)DefinedTheSPIformulafoundinPMP®examquestionsisgroundedintheAGuidetotheProjectManagementBodyofKnowledge(PMBOK®Guide)definition:“TheSchedulePerformanceIndex(SPI)isameasureofscheduleefficiency,expressedastheratioofearnedvaluetoplannedvalue.”Atthecore,theSPIgivesinsightintotheaccuracyofthepredictedschedulecomparedtotheactualscheduleoftheproject.It’sunlikelythatyouwillbeaskedtoknowonlytheofficialSPIformuladefinitiononthePMP®certificationexam.YoushouldplantoreceivequestionsthatmeasureyourunderstandingoftheSPIformulaandhowtobestusethedataitprovidestomanagetheoverallprojectschedule.SchedulePerformanceIndexFormulaInformallyreferredtoas“PMPSchedulePerformanceIndex”,theSPIformulaiscalculatedwiththeEarnedValue(EV)andthePlannedValue(PV),orhowmuchworkyouhadplannedonbeingdoneversuswhathasbeenaccomplished.KnowinghowtocalculateeachofthevaluesusedtodeterminetheSPIisexpectedaspartofsuccessfullyansweringPMP®examquestions.TheformulaforSPIusesEarnedValueandPlannedValue.TheSPIiscalculatedbydividingtheEVbyPV.TheresultingSPIvalueisinterpretedbasedonthevariancefrom1.Somemayrefertothisformulaasthe“PMPSchedulePerformanceIndex”butthatisonlyduetotheinclusionofthetoolwithinthePMP®certificationexam.AnyonewithprojectmanagementresponsibilitiescanusetheSchedulePerformanceIndex(SPI)calculationtobettermanagetheirprojectschedules.InterpretingSchedulePerformanceIndex(SPI)TheSPIcalculationeasilydisplayshowclosetheworkistoprogressingwithintheoriginalscheduleestimate.UsingtheformulaSPI=EV/PV,theprojectmanagerwillhaveavalueoflessthan1(projectbehindschedule),of1(projectonschedule),orgreaterthan1(projectaheadofschedule).<1=1>1BehindScheduleOnScheduleAheadofScheduleSchedulePerformanceIndexValueMeaningsFromtheresultingSPIcalculation,subtract1todeterminewhatpercenttheworkisbehindoraheadoftheplannedschedule.SchedulePerformanceIndexCalculationExamplesCalculatingtheSPIisnotacomplicatedmathematicalprocess,itismerelysimpledivisionandknowledgeofhowtointerprettheresultingdata.ConsidertheseexamplesfromvariousprojectmanagementandPMP®examresources.ProjectSPIExample1WhendeterminingSPI,youarelookingfordataaboutthecostsandtheschedule.Informationabouttheoriginalscheduledurationandwheretheworkiswithinthattimeframe.Forexample,theremaybea3-monthprojectandtheprojectmanageriscalculatingtheSPIattheendofmonthone.Thereisaprojectbudgetof$1,500andtheworkis40%complete.Theprojectmanagerplannedfor$500workofworktobedoneeachmonth,inotherwords,a$500/monthspend.Isthisprojectbehindschedule,onschedule,oraheadofschedule?TheSPIis1.2whichmeanstheprojectis.2or20%aheadofschedule.Theprojectmanagercandecideifthatpacewillcontinueandadjusttheplanwithanearliercompletiondate,or,basedonknowledgeoftheoveralleffort,knowexpectedresourcedelayswillrequiretheoriginalscheduletostayfortheworktobecompletedontime.ProjectSPIExample2Inthisexampleofa12-monthprojectwithabudgetof$100,000,theprojectmanagermustdeterminetheSPIatthe6-monthmark.Todate,$60,000hasbeenspentfor40%oftheworkcompleted;workwasdistributedevenlyeachmonth.UsingtheSPIformula,theprojectmanagerneedstodeterminehowclosetoscheduletheworkisprogressing.ActualCost(AC)=$60,000PlannedValue(PV)=50%of$100,000=$50,000EarnedValue(EV)=40%of$100,000=$40,000SchedulePerformanceIndex(SPI)=EV/PVTheprojectistrackingbehindscheduleasindicatedbytheSPIvalueof.08,whichislessthan1.CostPerformanceIndex(CPI)andSPITheSPIisfrequentlyusedinconjunctionwiththeCostPerformanceIndex(CPI).TheCPIspeakstobudgetvarianceandtheSPIprovidesinsightintoschedulevariance.TheSPIandCPIfocusedquestiononthePMP®examaregenerallynotdesignedtotestastudent’smathematicalabilities,butrather,theunderstandingofthedataandhowtoapplyittomanageaprojecttoasuccessfuloutcome.ThereisaformulaspecifictotheCPIandthoseseekingtosuccessfullypassthePMP®examshouldknowhowtocalculatetheCPI.TheCPIformulaforthePMP®examiscalculatedwiththeEarnedValue(EV)andActualCost(AC).TheSPIandCPIquestionsonthePMP®examwillrequireknowledgeofhowtheformulasarecalculated,howtointerprettheresultingvalue,andhoweachisused.SPIandCPIarekeyconceptsinEarnedValueManagementandarecriticalconceptsforthePMP®certificationexam. StudentsshouldbepreparedtocompletecalculationsofeithertheSPIortheCPI,orboth,aspartofthePMP®exam.Additionally,inboththecontextofthePMP®examsettingandlaterasaworkingPMP®certificationholder,theProjectManagershouldbeabletointerpretwhattheSPIandCPImeantoaproject’scostandschedulerespectively.ScheduleFormulasforPMP®exampreparationThereare25formulasthatmaybeincludedorreferencedinthePMP®certificationexam,speakingtotherangeofknowledgeaprojectmanagerneedsinanybusinesssetting.TheCPIandSPIformulasdiscussedhereinarepartofwhatisknownasEarnedValuecalculations.ThePMI®article“Howtomakeearnedvalueworkonyourproject”thetoptenitemsforimplementingearnedvaluearelistedas:ProjectRequirementsWorkBreakdownStructureChangeManagementProcessIntegratedProjectPlanCorrectScheduleandBudgetScheduleandBudgetContingencyContingencyManagementCostCollectionSystemAccurateReportedProgressManagementSupportPreparationforthePMP®certificationexamshouldincludeEarnedValueformulasandtheconnectiontoprojectmanagementprocesses,tools,knowledgeareas,andresources.PMP®CertificationExamSPISampleQuestionsQuestionABCDYouaretakingoveraprojectanddeterminethefollowing:ActivityBhasanearlyfinish(EF)ofday3,alatefinish(LF)ofday6,andanearlystart(ES)ofday2.ActivityLisbeingdonebyaveryscarceresource.Thecostperformanceindex(CPI)is1.2andthescheduleperformanceindex(SPI)is0.8.Basedonthisinformation,whatwouldyoubemostconcernedabout?FloatResourcesCostScheduleYouareaprojectmanagerworkingonahigh-visibilityconstructionproject.Althoughyouhavehadsomeweatherdelaysandsomeofyourmaterialexpenseswerelargerthanplanned,youthinkyouaredoingokay.Youaregoingtotakesomeworkperformanceinformationforyourcurrentproject.YouknowthatPV=450,AC=500andEV=375.WhataretheCPIandSPI,respectively?CPI=.90SPI=1.2CPI=.75SPI=.83CPI=1.2SPI=.90CPI=.83SPI=.75StudyingforthePMPExam?PracticeQuestionsforPMPFormulasAnswers1.D.Thisquestiontriestointegratealotofinformationandtestyourabilitytodiscernwhatinformationisrelevanttothequestion.Thoughsomefigurestocalculatefloatareprovided(ChoiceA),thereisnoinformationtosaythatthefloatisaproblem.Mostprojectshavehard-to-getresources(ChoiceB). Thequestiondoesnotgiveanindicationthathavinghard-to-getresourcesisaproblem. CPI(ChoiceC)isgreaterthan1,socostisnotsomethingtoworryabout.SPIislessthan1,sochoiceDisthebestanswer.2.B.CPIiscalculatedasfollows:EV/AC.SPIiscalculatedasfollows:EV/PV.Therefore,CPIis375/500=.75,andSPIis375/450=.83.ConclusionTheSPIisarelativelysimplemathematicalformula.Theaccuracyofthedatausedfortheformula,includingallworkonascheduleforexamplenotjustcertainparts,hasadirectimpactonthevalueoftheSPIcalculation.TheSPIispartoftheEarnedValueManagementtoolkitandapowerfulmeasureoftheamountofworkactuallycompletedonaproject.ThePMP®credentialholder,thePMP®examtaker,andanyoneinaprojectmanagementroleshouldknownotonlytheSPIformulabuthowtodeterminewhatactionsareneededfromtheinterpretationoftheSPIcalculation.UpcomingPMPCertificationTraining–Live&OnlineClassesNameDatePlacePMPCertificationTrainingJan24,25,26,278:30am-6:00pmBoston,MAViewDetailsPMPCertificationTrainingFeb12,13&19,208:30am-6:00pmBoston,MAViewDetailsPMPCertificationTrainingJan3-6&10-131:00pm-5:30pmOnline-UK/Ireland(GMT)ViewDetailsAbouttheauthorRelatedpostsMeganBellProjectManager&WriteratProjectManagementAcademyMeganBell#molongui-disabled-linkTheRiskReportinProjectManagementMeganBell#molongui-disabled-linkIntroductiontoEventandNon-EventRiskonthePMPExamMeganBell#molongui-disabled-linkIntrotoRiskAuditsinProjectManagementMeganBell#molongui-disabled-linkProbabilityofOccurrenceMeganBellPostnavigationBenefit-CostRatioPMP®ExamGuideEarnedValue(EV)forthePMP®ExamReceiveournewslettertostayontopofthelatestpostsSearchfor:CategoriesAgileContinuingEducationCorporateTrainingDisciplinedAgileLeanSixSigmaPMBOKGuidePMI-ACPPMPCertificationPMPExamPrepPMPFormulasPMPQualityProfessionalDevelopmentProjectManagementRiskManagementScaledAgileFrameworkTrainingandDevelopment©2008-2021ProjectManagementAcademy®.Allrightsreserved.TermsofUsePoliciesPrivacyStatementContactUsPMI,PMBOK,PMP,CAPM,PMI-ACP,PMI-RMP,PMI-SP,PMI-PBA,ThePMITALENTTRIANGLEandthePMITalentTrianglelogo,andthePMIRegisteredEducationProviderlogoareregisteredmarksoftheProjectManagementInstitute,Inc.|PMIATPProviderID#3348ThePMIATPsealisaregisteredmarkoftheProjectManagementInstitute,Inc.IIBA®,BABOK®GuideandBusinessAnalysisBodyofKnowledge®areregisteredtrademarksownedbyInternationalInstituteofBusinessAnalysis.CBAP®andCCBA®areregisteredcertificationmarksownedbyInternationalInstituteofBusinessAnalysis.ThesetrademarksareusedwiththeexpresspermissionofInternationalInstituteofBusinessAnalysis.ITIL®isaRegisteredTrademarkofAXELOSLimited.TheSwirllogo™isatrademarkofAXELOSLimited.ProjectManagementAcademy®,PMA®,themosttrustednameinprojectmanagementtraining®,andSeniorCertifiedProjectManager®areregisteredmarksofEducate360,LLC.