Analyze
The Analyze process enables you to drill down through any code file assigned to the project, such as the work breakdown structure (WBS) or by control account. This view of project costs highlights variances that exceed the thresholds defined on the code file selected.
Cobra also uses the Analyze process to enter the explanation of the variance, corrective action, impact, and monthly summary. Cobra uses this information in the IPMR/CPR Format 5 reports.
The color coding enables you to easily pinpoint areas that need management attention.
This management technique is often called management by exception, or looking for areas not performing as planned. This is a proven method used to quickly identify problems in time to apply effective corrective action.
Values displayed for code include:
- Cost Variance (CV)
- Schedule Variance (SV)
- Budget
- Actuals
- Progress
- BAC
- SPI
- CPI
- EAC
- VAC
When you click Analyze on the Reporting menu, Cobra displays the Analyze Project dialog box, prompts for the name of the project and breakdown structure, and then displays the information you requested on the Analyze form.
Variances that exceed either the value or the percentage of the specified thresholds for a given code are highlighted. Cost and schedule variances that exceed the defined thresholds are displayed using contrasting colors. You can also collapse or expand code structure and resource file codes so that you can drill down to any level defined in the structure.
The Analyze process uses threshold logic in evaluating the favorable and unfavorable thresholds for cost and schedule variances of codes.