Working with Cost Curves

Cost curves present budget, forecast, and actuals data in a time-phased format, enabling project managers, program managers, and budget planners to view and plan costs per time period. The various curves are visible and editable from different pages within the application. The following is a summary of where these curves are used.

Budget Curves

Target Budget

The target budget for the entire planning horizon for the budget plan. This value can be adjusted per budget plan scenario.

Editable: Budget Planning, Published Views

Viewable: Budget Planning, Published Views

Planned Budget

The planned or estimated lifetime cost of a project. Can be configured to show capital and expense sub-cost curves which are displayed as additional rows.

Editable: Cash Flow. This value can be entered manually, replaced with the Project Current Budget or a project cost field from the Cost Sheet, or brought in through a connection with P6 EPPM.

Viewable: Cash Flow, Budget Planning, Published Views, Spending, Scorecard

Portfolio Proposed Budget

The proposed budget allocation for a project or a budget plan scenario spanning the portfolio's planning horizon, entered by the budget planner. The proposed budget allocation for a project is the budget value that the project or program manager and budget planner negotiate on. The Portfolio Proposed Budget is a standard curve on the Cash Flow page at the budget plan level, but not at the project level.

Editable: Budget Planning, Published Views

Viewable: Cash Flow

Portfolio Approved Budget

The multi-year approved budget assigned to the project or budget plan scenario by the budget planner for the current planning year. The Portfolio Proposed Budget becomes the Portfolio Approved Budget after a budget plan scenario is approved.

Editable: This value can only be populated through the approval of a new proposed budget.

Viewable: Cash Flow, Budget Planning, Published Views, Spending, Scorecard

Forecast Curves

Forecast

The remaining or forecast cost of the project. Forecast typically equals the Planned Budget before a project begins.

After a project begins, the Forecast is updated periodically throughout the life of the project, as the remaining cost estimates change and money is spent.

This is a time-phased Forecast for the life of the project, which could span multiple years. Can be configured to show capital and expense sub-cost curves which are displayed as additional rows.

Editable: Cash Flow. This value can be entered manually, replaced with a project cost field from the Cost Sheet, or brought in through a connection with P6 EPPM.

Viewable: Cash Flow, Budget Planning, Published Views, Spending, Scorecard

At Completion

The At Completion Total Cost from a cost-loaded P6 EPPM schedule.

This cost curve will only appear if the application is connected with P6 EPPM. This value can be copied into the Forecast curve by the project manager on the Cash Flow page.

Editable: Cannot be edited.

Viewable: Cash Flow

Actuals Curves

Actuals

The actual costs incurred for the project (such as invoices, payments, and accruals). Can be configured to show capital and expense sub-cost curves which are displayed as additional rows.

Editable: Cash Flow, Cost Sheet. This value can be entered manually on the Cash Flow page, replaced with Project Current Actuals value or project cost field from the Cost Sheet, or brought in through a connection with P6 EPPM. When connected with P6 EPPM, the Actuals from P6 EPPM are always brought into the Actual Cost from P6 curve, and then can either be copied in, or set as the source of the Actuals curve.

Viewable: Cash Flow, Cost Sheet, Budget Planning, Published Views, Spending, Scorecard

Actual Cost from P6

The actual total cost from a cost-loaded P6 EPPM schedule.

This cost curve will only appear if the application is connected with P6 EPPM. This value can be copied into the Actuals curve by the project manager, or set as the source of the Actuals curve on the Cash Flow page.

Editable: Cannot be edited.

Viewable: Cash Flow

Benefits Curves

Benefits

The anticipated income or positive cash flow from which all charges, costs, and expenses are subtracted to arrive at the net income for the project or program. Used to calculate Net Present Value (NPV), Return on Investment (ROI), and Internal Rate of Return (IRR).

Editable: Cash Flow. This value can be entered manually on the Cash Flow page or replaced with a project cost field from the Cost Sheet.

Viewable: Cash Flow, Budget Planning, Published Views, Scorecard