Control Account
A control account is a management control point where scope, budget, actual cost, and schedule are integrated and compared to earned value for performance measurement.
Explanation
A control account is a point in the WBS, typically above the work package level, where the project integrates scope, schedule, and cost data for earned value management (EVM). It serves as the intersection of the WBS and the organizational breakdown structure (OBS), linking a defined body of work to a single responsible manager or organizational unit.
Each control account includes one or more work packages and possibly planning packages (for work not yet decomposed). It has its own budget, schedule, and assigned responsibility, allowing the project manager to track earned value performance at a meaningful management level without needing to measure every individual work package separately.
Control accounts are essential for large projects using earned value management. They provide the structure needed to aggregate performance data, identify variances, and take corrective action at the right organizational level. The sum of all control account budgets equals the performance measurement baseline.
Key Points
- •Management control point for integrating scope, budget, and schedule
- •Intersection of the WBS and organizational breakdown structure
- •Contains work packages and possibly planning packages
- •Used for earned value performance measurement
Exam Tip
Control accounts are where EVM performance measurement happens. Each control account is assigned to a single manager and integrates scope, schedule, and cost data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Topics
Work Package
A work package is the lowest level of the work breakdown structure, representing a deliverable or project work component that can be estimated, scheduled, monitored, and controlled.
Planning Package
A planning package is a WBS component below the control account with known work content but without detailed schedule activities, used as a placeholder for future planning.
Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
A work breakdown structure (WBS) is a hierarchical decomposition of the total scope of work to be carried out by the project team to accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables.
Scope Baseline
The scope baseline is the approved version of the project scope statement, work breakdown structure (WBS), and its associated WBS dictionary, used as a reference for measuring project scope performance.
Most-studied PMP concepts
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Burndown Chart
A Burndown Chart is a graphical representation of work remaining versus time in a Sprint or release, showing whether the team is on track to complete the planned work.
Resource Leveling
Resource leveling is a resource optimization technique in which adjustments are made to the project schedule to keep resource usage at or below a defined limit, often resulting in a longer project duration.
Risk Register
The risk register is a project document that records the details of individual project risks, including their identification, analysis results, response plans, and current status.
Stakeholder Mapping
Stakeholder mapping is the visual representation of stakeholder relationships, influence, interest, or other attributes using grids, matrices, or diagrams to support analysis and engagement planning.
Relative Estimation
Relative Estimation is an agile technique where work items are sized in comparison to each other rather than in absolute units like hours or days, providing faster and more accurate estimates.
Cost Performance Index (CPI)
Cost Performance Index (CPI) is an EVM efficiency metric that measures cost performance as the ratio of earned value to actual cost: CPI = EV / AC.
Schedule Performance Index (SPI)
Schedule Performance Index (SPI) is an EVM efficiency metric that measures schedule performance as the ratio of earned value to planned value: SPI = EV / PV.
Earned Value Management (EVM)
Earned Value Management (EVM) is a methodology that integrates scope, schedule, and cost data to assess project performance and progress objectively.
Power/Influence Grid
The power/influence grid is a stakeholder classification model that groups stakeholders based on their level of authority (power) and their active involvement or ability to affect the project (influence).
Part of
Scope Management
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