## Thursday, April 16, 2009

### What is Effort Variance?

Effort Variance

Effort Variance = [(Actual Effort - Planned Effort) / Planned Effort] * 100

It provides variance of Actual Effort vs. Planned Effort.

As an example suppose the Quality Objective is that the Effort Variance should not exceed 5%.

Project X

Planned Effort = 80
Actual Effort = 95

Effort Variance = (95-80)/80 x 100 = 18.75

Project Y

Planned Effort = 110
Actual Effort = 115

Effort Variance = (115-110)/110 x 100 = 4.55

The effort variance may come out to be more than expected (e.g. we estimated that it will take 100 hours but in actual it took 110 hours, +10% effort variance)

Some of the causes why this variance might have occurred are:

Estimation parameters were wrong.
Scope was not understood in totality.
Inefficient process.
Someone changed the estimate without changing scope just to make the number match the preferred schedule
Added capability the customer did not request.

The effort variance may come out to be less than expected (e.g. we estimated that it will take 100 hours but in actual it took 90 hours, -10% effort variance)

Some of the causes why this variance might have occurred are:

Estimation parameters were wrong.
There was an improvement in the process and brilliant work was done.
We did not complete the task and probably missed on one or more requirements.
Missed out on some steps.

Also See:
Schedule Variance & Cost Variance with Example
Defect Density
Defect Removal Efficiency
Test Coverage
Test Effectiveness