forProject Technology

Percent Complete (EV Method)

Percent Complete (EV Method)

EVM Terms Reviewed by forProject Technology - updated Sep 2026
Quick definition: Percent Complete (EV Method) is an earned value technique in which a Work Package earns credit based on an assessment of how much of its work is complete.

Also called the Manager's Assessment method, Percent Complete is the most widely used earning technique in practice. Rather than tying credit to fixed milestones or unit counts, it asks the responsible manager to assess how far the work has progressed. That flexibility is why it is applied so broadly — and its reliance on judgment is its weakness. The accepted best practice is therefore to require Quantifiable Backup Data wherever Percent Complete is used, so the figure claimed rests on documented evidence rather than opinion.

Why it matters

Because it can be applied to almost any kind of work, Percent Complete carries a large share of the earned value reported on most projects. That makes the quality of the underlying assessment a major factor in whether performance data can be trusted at all. Requiring Quantifiable Backup Data is what turns a judgment into something a reviewer can check.

Also known as
Manager's Assessment Method
Used in
BCWP calculation from an assessed percentage across a Work Package

FAQ

Why is this method also called "Manager's Assessment"?
Because the earned value claimed comes from a manager's subjective judgment about how much work is done, rather than an objective count or milestone.
Is the Percent Complete (EV Method) considered a reliable earning technique?
It is reliable when it is properly backed. The method rests on judgment, which is why the best practice standard is to require Quantifiable Backup Data wherever Percent Complete is used. Without that backing, the claimed figure is an opinion.
Definition maintained by forProject Technology.
© 2026 forProject Technology, Inc.
forProject