Reporting

Cobra features a complete set of standard cost/schedule reports, a number of which were designed to comply with EVMS guidelines.

Reporting at Different Levels

Normally, you are not required to provide earned value reports to customers at the work package level. Under most EVMS guidelines, the lowest level at which reporting is required is the control account level, one level above the work package level. In fact, you do not need to collect actual costs at the work package level as long as budgets are defined and earned value is calculated at the work package level.

Client reports often require data at a higher level than the control account level. For example, you might break a project down into just eight or ten line items that can be shown on a single page. But you can also produce lower level reports on an exception basis.

As an aid to exception reporting, Cobra lets you define hierarchical code files and specify variance thresholds, allowing you to trigger reports at each level. Typically, a project is defined so that it can be summarized at various levels in two different structures, such as the WBS and the OBS. However, Cobra supports the use of up to five different code files and nine code fields for a single project. This flexibility lets you produce exception reports from multiple project perspectives.

Standard Reports

Standard reports include:

• Required EVMS formats, such as IPMR Formats 1 through 5 and CSSR
• Tabular reports that can be used as planning sheets, checklists, and project logs
• Lists of important data files, such as fiscal calendars, rate sets, and code files
• Graphic reports, such as histograms and trend analysis curves
• Bar charts showing control account/work package schedules
• Variance analysis worksheets
• NASA 533 formats

Report Wizard

You can use the Report Wizard to create many of the standard Cobra reports. The Report wizard steps you through making decisions about the report's contents and format:

• Criteria: Select up to four subtotal criteria, including control account and work package keys, resources and resource assignments, user-defined code files, or code files assigned to the project.
• Calendars: Select which fiscal periods to report on, which calendar sets to use, and which periods are flagged.
• Cost Sets: Include the cost set (for example, budget, earned value, or a special-purpose user-defined reporting set in the report detail section).
• Report Styles: Predefine the report format, including the report header and footer.