Weighted Milestone Method is a method of estimating earned value in which the budget value of a work package is divided into measurable segments, each ending with a milestone that is assigned a weighted budget value.
This method allows for more accurate performance tracking in long-duration or complex work packages by assigning earned value incrementally as milestones are completed, rather than all at once.
Key Characteristics
- Milestone-Based – Tied to physical, measurable completion points
- Incremental Earned Value – EV increases with each milestone achieved
- Weight-Driven – Each milestone has a predefined percentage of the total budget
- Improves Progress Visibility – Especially effective for multi-phase or high-value tasks
Example Scenarios
- A construction work package broken into milestones: site prep, foundation, framing, and roofing
- A software feature with milestones for design, development, testing, and deployment
- A research task with defined phases like literature review, analysis, and reporting
Example Table: Weighted Milestone Breakdown
| Milestone | Description | Weight (%) | Budget Value ($) | Cumulative EV When Complete ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | Design Complete | 20% | 2,000 | 2,000 |
| M2 | Development Complete | 40% | 4,000 | 6,000 |
| M3 | Testing Complete | 30% | 3,000 | 9,000 |
| M4 | Deployment Complete | 10% | 1,000 | 10,000 |
Example Weighted Milestone Method
gantt title Weighted Milestone Method Example dateFormat YYYY-MM-DD axisFormat %b %d section Work Package: Feature Delivery Design Complete :milestone, m1, 2025-04-10, 0d Development Complete :milestone, m2, 2025-04-20, 0d Testing Complete :milestone, m3, 2025-04-28, 0d Deployment Complete :milestone, m4, 2025-05-03, 0d
Role in Earned Value Management
- Improves Accuracy – More realistic progress measurement for staged work
- Strengthens Cost Forecasting – Better input to EAC, VAC, and CPI calculations
- Enhances Oversight – Enables visibility of partial completion in lengthy activities
- Reduces Risk of Overstatement – Prevents claiming full value before actual delivery
See also: Fixed Formula Method, Earned Value (EV), Estimate at Completion (EAC), Work Package, Milestone.