What does a SPI value greater than 1.0 indicate?

Question

Options

• AMore work was completed than planned
• BLess work was completed than planned
• CCost overrun for completed work has occurred
• DCost underrun for completed work has occurred

• A
  79% (26)
• B
  6% (2)
• C
  12% (4)
• D
  3% (1)

Explanation

SPI (Schedule Performance Index) = Earned Value (EV) ÷ Planned Value (PV). When SPI > 1.0, Earned Value exceeds Planned Value, meaning the project has completed more work than was scheduled - you're ahead of schedule. Option A is correct because a higher numerator (EV) relative to the denominator (PV) produces a ratio above 1.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• B is the opposite - SPI < 1.0 indicates less work completed than planned (behind schedule).
• C and D both describe cost performance, which is measured by CPI (Cost Performance Index = EV/AC), not SPI. SPI is purely a schedule metric and says nothing about costs.

Memory tip: Think of SPI and CPI using the same rule - above 1.0 is good, below 1.0 is bad. For SPI specifically, remember "S = Schedule" and picture a race: SPI > 1.0 means you're ahead of the pack, SPI < 1.0 means you're behind. The letters C and D in the distractors are a trap to pull you toward cost thinking - stay in your lane (schedule).

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