Encore Analytics has announced the release of Empower versions 4.8.6.137 (12/9) and 4.8.6.138 (1/27), featuring several exciting enhancements:

User Interface Enhancements

– Separate VAR thresholds for Positive Values – Empower now supports setting separate threshold values for positive variances when flagging elements for variance analysis narratives. This feature is particularly useful when a more lenient or wider threshold is desired for positive variances. By doing so, the number of variance analysis write-ups can be reduced when performance is favorable. However, even favorable variances that seem too good to be true (e.g., actuals not charged to the correct account) can still be flagged with the wider positive threshold.

– New calculated field for Most Likely VAC (VacML) Import Enhancements – Empower now imports the DOE CPP JSON DS11 Variances Other Minor Bug Fixes, Enhancements, and Documentation

Updates For a patch update, reach out to support@encore-analytics.com and include a screenshot of your ‘About’ box from the Empower help menu.

Samos Advisors is a proud sponsor of The College of Performance Management!

CPM’s mission is to share, promote, and advance the best of planning, control, and performance management for projects of all sizes and complexity.

Samos Advisors is a leading provider of EVMS services and solutions. We offer a broad range of services and solutions to Federal contractors and government agencies (e.g., DOE), including defense and civilian agencies (e.g., HHS/CMS) and the intelligence community.

Samos’s EVMS services extend to shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, and jet fighters. With our comprehensive EVMS support services, we deliver the results you need to capture new business and manage projects. We believe in collaboration, building on existing management processes and established systems with a focus on rightsizing and implementing user-friendly EVMS solutions.

We look forward to continuing the relationship for years to come!

On May 20- 21, 2024, Samos Advisors had the privilege of attending the inaugural DOE IP2M Maturity and Environment Total Risk Rating (METTR) Facilitator Certification Training Program in Destin, Florida. Barry Levy and Basil Soutos from the Samos Advisors team passed the culminating exam to become DOE IP2M METTR facilitator leaders or co-leaders on a future DOE EVMS Review.

The facilitator training program marked a significant milestone in DOE’s journey towards enhancing the application of Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS) in project management.

Over a period of two years, our team at Samos Advisors collaborated with DOE leadership, faculty from Arizona State University (ASU), and EVMS colleagues from industry and government agencies.  Together, DOE and a diverse group of EVMS Subject Matter Experts (SME) drafted the model’s content and tackled numerous challenges to complete this innovative approach for assessing EVMS maturity and the environment.

Use of EVMS as a Project Management Tool

For more than half a century, EVMS has been a trusted process in both industry and government for assessing a project’s cost and schedule performance information. A mature EVMS enables project teams to plan the work scope, develop an integrated project schedule, budget resources, apply a consistent methodology for assessing project performance, implement effective monitoring and control practices, and forecast the execution of contract/project cost, schedule, and technical performance objectives against the baseline plan.

IP2M METTR Training Objectives

The primary objective of the DOE I2PM METRR Facilitators Training Program is to certify DOE personnel and industry SME’s to use IP2M METTR on large DOE projects that utilize EVMS. ASU led the facilitation certification training course along with DOE PM-30, which focused on understanding the application of IP2M METTR, learning efficient facilitation and problem-solving techniques, and practicing IP2M facilitation skills in a group learning environment.

The IP2M METRR assessment model comprises two primary components: the “Environment” in which EVMS operates and the “Maturity” of the EVMS.

• The environment is the conditions and factors that enable or limit the ability to manage the project/program using EVMS.
• The maturity is the degree to which an implemented system is associated, and deliverables serve as the basis for an effective and compliant EVMS.

The training course concluded with a comprehensive exam. Successful candidates who passed the IP2M METR exam are eligible to lead or co-lead an actual IP2M METRR assessment and submit a final report within one year of the training course. Due to high demand, DOE leadership and ASU plan to schedule additional training courses in 2024 and 2025.

ASU IP2M METTR Information

More information about the IP2M METTR origin, environment, and maturity models, is available at the ASU Engineering website.

Samos Advisors Use of IP2M MET

We invite you to read our success stories about how Samos Advisors prepares DOE support contractors for DOE’s IP2M METTR environment and maturity assessment.

Samos Advisors has begun the design and development of how to apply IP2M METTR framework to non-EVMS programs. Since EVMS and project management principles are closely aligned, the IP2M METTR environment (culture people, practices, and resources) can be adopted to most types of projects.