Weighted Milestone Method
EVM Terms
Reviewed by forProject Technology - updated Sep 2026
Quick definition: The Weighted Milestone Method is an Earned Value technique in which Work Package Milestones are defined, with earned value credited on a discrete (0/100) basis as each milestone is completed.
Instead of earning value smoothly as work progresses, this method assigns a weighted budget value to each interim milestone within a work package, and that value is earned all at once when the milestone is achieved. It's also called the Discrete Milestone Method and suits work packages with clear, objective completion points.
Why it matters
Because credit is only taken when a milestone is actually finished, this method resists claiming partial progress based on optimism rather than evidence. That makes it one of the more objective ways to earn value on work with distinct deliverables.
Also known as
Discrete Milestone Method
Used in
Earned Value Method selection for work packages with discrete milestones
See also
FAQ
How does the Weighted Milestone Method differ from the 50/50 Method?
The 50/50 Method credits a fixed split at start and finish regardless of milestones, while the Weighted Milestone Method earns credit only as each defined milestone is actually completed.
Is the Weighted Milestone Method considered objective?
Yes -- because credit is tied to completing specific, defined milestones rather than a subjective estimate of progress.
Definition maintained by forProject Technology.
© 2026 forProject Technology, Inc.
© 2026 forProject Technology, Inc.
