Brief introduction to the milestones trend analysis tool. Listen to the related podcast: http://www.ricardo-vargas.com/podcasts/understading-the-milestone-trend-analysis-mta-part-1-of-2

1. © BY RICARDO VIANA VARGAS. TODOS OS DIREITOS RESERVADOS
MTA – Milestones Trend Analysis

2. © BY RICARDO VIANA VARGAS. TODOS OS DIREITOS RESERVADOS
MTA Concept
MTA
is
a
management
tool
that
aims
to
show
the
milestones
evolu3on
using
a
simple
and
unique
graph.
The
milestones
are
displayed
ver3cally
and
the
dates
of
execu3on
of
the
milestones
are
reported
in
the
horizontal
lines.
Each
milestone
is
represented
by
a
different
color
or
paAern.
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3. © BY RICARDO VIANA VARGAS. TODOS OS DIREITOS RESERVADOS
Analysis
a)
Normal
Line
• When
the
proposed
dates
are
respected,
the
line
is
displayed
as
an
horizontal
line
with
only
small
devia3ons.
b)
Rising
Line
• When
the
proposed
dates
are
late,
the
line
that
represent
the
evolu3on
of
the
milestone
goes
up
in
the
graph.
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4. © BY RICARDO VIANA VARGAS. TODOS OS DIREITOS RESERVADOS
Analysis
c)
Turn
of
Trend
Lines
• Un3l
close
to
the
end,
the
lines
seems
to
be
under
control
(normal
lines).
When
the
deadline
is
approaching
the
lines
suddenly
change
to
rising
lines.
Usually
this
is
an
evidence
of
the
Syndrom
of
99%.
d)
Diverging
Lines
• When
interdependent
milestones
diverge
strongly
in
the
forecast.
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5. © BY RICARDO VIANA VARGAS. TODOS OS DIREITOS RESERVADOS
Análise
e)
Falling
Lines
• When
the
milestones
are
reported
to
be
an3cipated.
Maybe
this
could
suggest
a
very
conserva3ve
planning
(risk
averse).
f)
Zig
Zag
Lines
• If
the
lines
are
displayed
in
a
zig
zag
format
this
could
suggest
that
the
plan
is
not
reliable
to
suggest
any
kind
of
forecast.
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6. © BY RICARDO VIANA VARGAS. TODOS OS DIREITOS RESERVADOS
MTA Using Microsoft Project
Suggested
SoMware
–
TPG
MTA
Client
–
www.theprojectgroup.com
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7. © BY RICARDO VIANA VARGAS. TODOS OS DIREITOS RESERVADOS
MTA
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