Control Account Plan (CAP)
EVM Terms
Reviewed by forProject Technology - updated Sep 2026
Quick definition: A Control Account Plan (CAP) is a document or electronic plan that compiles a Control Account's scope, schedule, and budget information into a single, integrated plan of performance.
The CAP pulls together everything needed to define and control a piece of work at the Control Account level — what's in scope, what's the approved budget, and when it's scheduled. Once appropriate management personnel approve it, it becomes the formal go-ahead to start executing that work. The CAP identifies the Work Packages and/or Planning Packages that will be performed to accomplish the scope and other objectives of the Control Account.
What this means for you
Without an approved CAP, work at a Control Account shouldn't formally start — it's the checkpoint that confirms scope, budget, and schedule are all aligned before resources get committed. That upfront discipline is part of what keeps Earned Value Management (EVM) data meaningful later on.
Also known as
N/A
Used in
Work Authorization at the Control Account level
FAQ
What does approving a CAP actually authorize?
It authorizes the Control Account Manager (CAM) to proceed with executing the work described in the plan, once management has signed off on its scope, budget, and schedule.
Who prepares a CAP?
It's typically prepared and owned by the Control Account Manager responsible for that Control Account, then approved by appropriate management personnel. Sometimes schedule analysts and cost analysis (or Project Controls personnel) support the CAM in preparing the CAP.
Definition maintained by forProject Technology.
© 2026 forProject Technology, Inc.
© 2026 forProject Technology, Inc.
