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Discrete Milestone Method

Discrete Milestone Method

EVM Terms Reviewed by forProject Technology - updated Sep 2026
Quick definition: The Discrete Milestone Method is a way of applying the Weighted Milestone Method in which each milestone is all or nothing — its full weight is earned when it's complete, and nothing is earned before.

Under the Weighted Milestone Method, a Work Package is broken into milestones that each carry a share of the budget. Discrete Milestone is one of two ways to take credit at those milestones: no partial progress is recognized, so a milestone earns its full weight the moment it's achieved and nothing until then. The alternative is Measured Milestone, which allows partial progress within a milestone. Discrete is the stricter of the two and suits milestones with a clear, verifiable completion point.

Why it matters

Because credit is only taken on completion of a defined milestone, this method reduces the subjectivity involved in claiming progress compared to methods based on estimated percent complete. That makes it a popular choice for work with clear, verifiable completion points.

Also known as
0/100 Milestone
Used in
BCWP calculation where each weighted milestone earns its full value on completion

FAQ

Is the Discrete Milestone Method the same as the 0/100 Method?
Sort of — Discrete Milestone can be thought of as the 0/100 Method applied to each individual milestone.
What's the difference between Discrete and Measured Milestone?
Both divide a Work Package into weighted milestones. Discrete earns a milestone's full weight only on completion; Measured allows partial progress to be claimed within a milestone before it's finished.
Definition maintained by forProject Technology.
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