Let's Talk EVM

Co-hosts: Amber Young and Barbara Phillips
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

A public service podcast to engage with the Earned Value Management (EVM) community

  1. Aug 21

    Episode 33: GAO PM Assessment Guide with Contributor Laura Bier

    What if the quality of your project data depends less on the system itself and more on whether people feel safe telling the truth? In Episode 33 – GAO PM Assessment Guide with Contributor Laura Bier, Amber and Barbara sit down with longtime EVM practitioner and GAO guide contributor Laura Bier to explore the GAO Project Management Assessment Guide and the bigger ideas behind effective project management. The guide brings together important practices across planning, cost, schedule, risk, performance measurement, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement. But Laura pushes the conversation beyond processes and guidance into something more fundamental: the human environment in which all of that work happens. Because good data does not appear simply because we have good systems. A schedule can be technically sound. A cost estimate can be rigorous. A reporting process can be perfectly defined. But if the people closest to the work do not feel comfortable saying that something is late, an assumption is wrong, a forecast has changed, or a decision needs to be challenged, how much confidence should we really place in the information moving through the system? That question leads Amber, Barbara, and Laura into a thoughtful discussion about psychological safety, leadership, culture, communication, and the responsibility to create environments where people can surface uncomfortable information early. Laura makes the connection directly: reliable project information depends on teams being able to speak candidly about what is actually happening. They also explore why lessons learned should be more than a postmortem at the end of a project. What if learning were continuous? What if teams were encouraged to experiment, adjust, and make small improvements as the work unfolds rather than waiting until the end to document what went wrong? Ultimately, this episode is not only about a GAO guide. It is about what has to exist around our project management processes for those processes to work. Because informed decision making requires credible information. And credible information requires something profoundly human: people who are willing, and able, to tell the truth about what they see.

    Episode 33: GAO PM Assessment Guide with Contributor Laura Bier

  2. Aug 14

    Episode 32: We Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident, Part 2

    Apparently, Amber and Barbara aren't the only ones with some EVM truths to tell. In Episode 32 – We Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident, Part 2, Amber and Barbara return to their growing collection of EVM aphorisms - but this time, the Let's Talk EVM community joins the conversation. After Part 1 sparked an extraordinary response on LinkedIn, listeners and practitioners shared their own hard-earned truths about Earned Value Management. And some of them were too good not to talk about. What follows is a rapid-fire conversation through ideas shaped not just by theory, but by years of actually trying to make EVM work. Amber and Barbara take on the community's submissions, compare them with their own thinking, challenge a few assumptions, find some unexpected connections, and occasionally discover that someone else has already said exactly what they were thinking. The discussion moves through what EVM really measures, the difference between producing data and actually using it, the role of judgment and communication, and what happens when we remember that the system is supposed to help people manage projects - not simply generate reports. But underneath the individual ideas is a bigger question: What have decades of collective experience taught the EVM community that deserves to be said out loud? Maybe these are aphorisms. Maybe they're axioms. Maybe they're maxims. Maybe they're the beginning of something the community builds together. Amber and Barbara aren't quite ready to put a label on it yet - and they're definitely not finished. The conversation started with a few truths of their own. Now it's becoming ours.

    Episode 32: We Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident, Part 2

  3. Aug 6

    Episode 31: We Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident

    After years of working with Earned Value Management, some lessons stop feeling like opinions. They become truths. In Episode 31 – We Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident, Barbara and Amber turn the microphones on each other for a different kind of conversation - no guest, no predetermined list to work through together, and neither knows exactly what the other is going to say. Instead, they bring their own EVM aphorisms: principles shaped by years of implementing, using, certifying, surveilling, and sometimes wrestling with Earned Value Management Systems. What follows is part technical discussion, part friendly debate, and part discovery as they unpack ideas that can sound deceptively simple until you start asking what they actually mean in practice. Why do some of the most fundamental concepts in EVM remain among the easiest to get wrong? What happens when the different pieces of an EVMS don't work together the way we think they do? Why can seemingly reasonable decisions undermine the very information the system is designed to provide? And how can the way we measure performance change the story we think our data is telling us? Along the way, the conversation moves through systems thinking, scope and budget, change control, performance measurement, the human side of implementation, and the sometimes uncomfortable difference between what our processes say we do and what actually happens on a project. Some truths are technical. Some come from experience. And some seem obvious only after someone finally says them out loud. Amber and Barbara have their lists. How many of their EVM truths would make yours?

    Episode 31: We Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident

  4. Jul 31

    Episode 30: Forward Leaning Self-Governance with Joe Venditti

    What separates organizations that simply maintain an Earned Value Management System from those that continuously improve it? In this episode, Amber and Barbara welcome Joe Venditti, a longtime project controls leader with decades of experience spanning the U.S. Air Force, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Energy, to explore the evolution of forward-leaning self-governance. Drawing on lessons learned over an extraordinary career, Joe shares how his organization transformed self-governance from an annual compliance exercise into a daily management discipline. He explains how a difficult certification process became the catalyst for a lasting cultural shift—one where leadership embraced accountability, success began to build upon itself, and continuous improvement became part of everyday operations rather than something reserved for formal reviews. The conversation dives into the practical side of making that vision a reality. Joe discusses building automated self-governance tools, creating authoritative data sources, leveraging software to identify issues before they become findings, and empowering a "shadow army" of technical experts to strengthen project performance across the enterprise. More importantly, he explains why the true measure of a mature EVMS isn't passing surveillance—it's using the system every day to make better decisions. Whether you're just beginning your EVMS journey or leading an established program, this episode offers practical ideas for moving beyond compliance and building a culture where governance becomes a competitive advantage. Join us as we explore why the strongest organizations don't wait for someone else to find their problems—they're already looking for them themselves.

    Episode 30: Forward Leaning Self-Governance with Joe Venditti

  5. Jul 23

    Episode 29: EVM is Ready. Is AI? with Craig Haseler

    Artificial intelligence is transforming nearly every profession, but is it ready for Earned Value Management? In this episode, Amber and Barbara welcome Craig Haseler, technical lead for the Department of Energy's Project Assessment and Reporting System (PARS), to explore one of the biggest questions facing project controls today: Can AI truly understand EVM? Craig shares the story behind developing one of the Department of Energy's first AI assistants, affectionately known as Walt, and explains why project management, and particularly EVM, is a surprisingly powerful environment for applying artificial intelligence. Together, they unpack how large language models actually work, why they're fundamentally different from traditional software, and why understanding those differences matters for anyone using AI professionally. The conversation explores everything from deterministic calculations and AI-assisted coding to prompt engineering, hallucinations, security, and the importance of pairing AI with trusted analytical tools rather than expecting it to replace them. Along the way, Craig offers practical insights into building AI responsibly inside government, discusses the safeguards needed when working with sensitive project data, and explains why the future isn't about replacing human judgment, it's about augmenting it. Whether you're AI-curious, already experimenting with large language models, or wondering how emerging technology will shape the future of project management, this episode provides a thoughtful, balanced perspective grounded in real-world experience. Join us as we explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and Earned Value Management—and ask the question: EVM is ready. Is AI?

    Episode 29: EVM is Ready. Is AI? with Craig Haseler

  6. Jul 17

    Episode 28-1: Situational Awareness with Astronaut Mike Fincke

    For the first time ever, Let's Talk EVM reaches orbit. Join us for an extraordinary conversation with ⁠NASA astronaut Mike Fincke⁠, whose remarkable career shows how the principles at the heart of Earned Value Management can help people deliver complex projects, understand reality, and prepare humans to explore space. This episode marks an exciting milestone for the podcast. Amber and Barbara sit down with astronaut Mike Fincke, who has served as a commander, pilot, and mission specialist. He has spent more than 549 days in space, completed nine spacewalks, flown aboard the Space Shuttle, Soyuz, and SpaceX Crew Dragon, and helped build the International Space Station. But what surprised us most was discovering that before becoming an astronaut, Mike was an Air Force acquisition officer who learned Earned Value Management early in his career and carried its principles with him through decades of flight testing, spacecraft development, and human spaceflight. In this extraordinary conversation, Mike reveals why situational awareness is a common thread between performing a spacewalk at 17,500 miles per hour and managing billion-dollar programs. Whether floating outside the International Space Station with limited oxygen or leading a complex acquisition effort, success depends on seeing reality clearly, understanding what matters most, and making informed decisions before small problems become catastrophic. His analogy connecting an EVA, the technical term for a spacewalk, with EVM is one of the most powerful explanations of Earned Value Management we have ever heard. The discussion goes far beyond spaceflight. Mike shares how great leaders create environments where people can tell the truth without fear, why “clarity is kindness” became a guiding principle for his crews, and how high-performing teams build trust, communicate openly, and maintain shared situational awareness under immense pressure. From spacecraft cockpits to executive dashboards, and from mission control to project control, this episode explores the timeless principles connecting leadership, culture, data, and decision-making. Whether you are an EVM practitioner, project manager, engineer, leader, or simply someone fascinated by space exploration, this is a conversation you will not want to miss. It is a rare opportunity to hear a NASA astronaut explain why the same principles that keep astronauts alive in orbit can also help organizations navigate complexity here on Earth. It is a masterclass in leadership, truth, and situational awareness from someone who has lived it. https://www.nasa.gov/people/edward-michael-mike-fincke/

    Episode 28-1: Situational Awareness with Astronaut Mike Fincke

  7. Jul 10

    Episode 27: The Birth of the IP2M METRR with Edd Gibson

    Every framework has a story. But few are born through years of research, spirited debate, rigorous testing, and collaboration across government, industry, and academia. In this episode, Amber and Barbara welcome Dr. Edd Gibson, President of the National Academy of Construction and former professor at Arizona State University, to share the remarkable story behind the creation of IP2M METRR—the Integrated Project and Program Management Maturity and Environment Total Risk Rating. From its earliest concept to a research-backed assessment framework, Dr. Gibson explains how one simple question evolved into a multi-year effort to better understand what makes project management systems truly effective. The conversation explores how the research team quickly discovered that even experienced practitioners struggled to agree on fundamental definitions of EVM and EVMS. Rather than forcing predetermined answers, the team embraced the scientific method, assembling nearly 30 experts from government, industry, and academia to challenge assumptions, debate terminology, and build consensus through evidence. What followed was an extensive effort involving literature reviews, international surveys, workshops with nearly one hundred organizations, and countless hours of analyzing feedback to ensure the final framework reflected the collective knowledge of the profession—not the opinion of any one individual. One of the study's most important discoveries was unexpected: technical excellence alone does not determine project success. The research revealed that organizational culture, leadership, and the environment in which project teams operate are just as critical as the technical maturity of the management system itself. Dr. Gibson explains why IP2M METRR intentionally measures both dimensions – maturity and environment, offering a more complete picture of project health than traditional assessments alone. The discussion also addresses critiques of the framework, the value of measuring maturity, and why rigorous research sometimes leads to answers no one initially expected. Whether you've heard of IP2M METRR or are discovering it for the first time, this episode offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how a major advancement in project management came to life. Join us as we explore the research, collaboration, and curiosity that gave birth to one of the profession's most innovative approaches to understanding—and improving—project management maturity. Links for IP2M METRR: ASU: https://ip2m.engineering.asu.edu/ DOE: https://www.energy.gov/projectmanagement/articles/ip2m-metrr-asu-evms-study Link to Measurable News referenced in the episode: coming soon

    Episode 27: The Birth of the IP2M METRR with Edd Gibson

  8. Jul 3

    Episode 26: Challenges Remain with Jim Henderson

    What can decades of Earned Value Management history teach us about the challenges we still face today? In this episode, Amber and Barbara are joined by Jim Henderson, a respected EVMS leader whose career spans the U.S. Air Force, Naval Air Systems Command, NASA, Defense Contract Management Agency, DOE, and years of consulting across government and industry. Drawing on more than four decades of experience, Jim shares a firsthand account of how EVMS has evolved—and why many of its biggest challenges remain. The conversation explores pivotal moments in EVMS history, including the lessons learned from the A-12 program and the organizational changes that reshaped oversight, surveillance, and system validation. Jim explains how inconsistent customer expectations, fragmented oversight, and the transition from validation to long-term surveillance influenced the development of today's EVMS practices. Along the way, he offers a rare insider's perspective on how government agencies, contractors, and review teams have worked to strengthen the discipline over time. But this episode isn't just about history. Jim argues that the greatest challenge today isn't simply producing compliant EVMS data—it's ensuring leaders actually use that information to make better technical, cost, and schedule decisions. The discussion highlights the continuing importance of effective surveillance, experienced reviewers, and maintaining a healthy management system long after initial validation. Whether you're new to EVMS or have spent years working in the field, this episode provides valuable historical context, practical lessons, and thoughtful perspectives on where the discipline has been—and where it still has room to grow. Join us as we explore why, despite decades of progress, the challenges remain.

    Episode 26: Challenges Remain with Jim Henderson
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

A public service podcast to engage with the Earned Value Management (EVM) community

Information

  • Creator
    Co-hosts: Amber Young and Barbara Phillips
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    35
  • Show Website
    Let's Talk EVM

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