Schedule Variance (SV)
An indicator of schedule performance calculated as earned value (EV) minus planned value (PV).
Key Points
- Formula: SV = EV - PV; positive SV means ahead of schedule, negative SV means behind, zero means on plan.
- SV uses the same units as EV and PV (e.g., dollars, labor hours), not time units.
- Use with SPI (EV/PV) and trend analysis for better context; SV alone does not reveal critical path status.
- At project completion SV = 0 because EV equals PV; early fluctuations can reflect baseline distribution.
Example
At month 4, PV = $200,000 and EV = $180,000. SV = 180,000 - 200,000 = -$20,000, indicating the project is behind schedule by $20,000 worth of planned work.
PMP Example Question
At the end of month 3, EV = $750,000, PV = $600,000, and AC = $800,000. What does the schedule status indicate based on SV?
- SV = -$150,000; the project is behind schedule.
- SV = +$150,000; the project is ahead of schedule.
- SV = -$200,000; the project has a cost overrun.
- Schedule status cannot be determined without the BAC.
Correct Answer: B — SV = EV - PV = +$150,000; ahead of schedule
Explanation: SV compares earned value to planned value. Since EV exceeds PV by $150,000, the project is ahead of schedule.
