Using Empower. Introduction. Things to Know Before You Begin

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1 Introduction Encore Analytics Empower is a web-based Earned Value Management (EVM) tool used by many organizations within the Department of Defense (DoD). Empower provides access to EVM data, charts, and reports that program managers and other EVM professionals can use as part of an integrated program management approach for complex programs and projects. This job aid addresses the following features and functionality for Empower: Part 1 Empower Overview o Standard screen layout o Trend views o Data structure views Part 2 Step-by-Step Instructions o Open Empower database and select a dataset o Edit sort window view o Sort data o Filter data o Combine filter and sort features o View charts o View reports Things to Know Before You Begin Access to Empower is provided by your individual organization. If you need access to Empower, you must request access from your organization's system administrator (or other appropriate contact) for a user name and/or password. Note: Your organization may use a different EVM tool than Empower, such as winsight or other software. Check with the appropriate contact within your organization to confirm which tool you should use. The Encore Analytics Empower User's Manual provides additional detailed instructions for all of Empower's features and functionality. You can access the User's Manual directly from Empower: 1. Select the Help button from the Empower Menu Bar. EVM 202 September

2 2. Select User's Manual from the Help drop-down menu. The User's Manual will open as a PDF file. Depending on your browser settings, it will open in a new tab, new browser window, or save as a download. Note: You must have Adobe Acrobat, or other PDF viewer, installed on your computer to view the User's Manual. EVM 202 September

3 PART 1 Empower Overview Using Empower Note: This job aid uses the EVM 202 LAR Vehicle scenario data to populate the Empower views. If your organization uses Empower, the views you see in your workplace will be different, and will be based on the selected dataset and customizations used for specific programs and projects. Standard Screen Layout The standard Empower tri-pane view displays three windows based on the selected dataset: 1. Sort window 2. Chart window 3. Report window The Menu Bar provides access to charts, reports, and other features. EVM 202 September

4 The Toolbar provides shortcuts to commonly used features. The Status Bar at the bottom of the screen indicates the selected contract, period of data, data structure, unit of measure, element, and the sort/filter status. All Element View The Empower standard view displays all elements in the Sort window. EVM 202 September

5 Trend Views Schedule Variance (SV), Cost Variance (CV), and Variance at Completion (VAC) Empower displays trend information for SV, CV, and VAC based on preset thresholds set by the Administrator, and whether performance is improving, declining, or has no significant change. You may view trend information in the Sort Window in two ways: color and symbol indicators; and text-only grid. Color and Symbol Indicators Text-Only Grid The preset thresholds are represented by stoplight colors or corresponding letter designators, and based on changes compared to the previous reporting period. Sample thresholds may be: Red or 'R' = Less than or equal to -10% change Yellow or 'Y' = Greater than -10% and less than or equal to -5% change Green or 'G' = Greater than -5% and less than or equal to 10% change Blue or 'B' = Greater than 10% change White or blank = no data Note: Threshold levels are set by the Empower Administrator. EVM 202 September

6 Performance trends are represented by arrows or corresponding letter designators, and based on changes compared to the previous reporting period. Performance trends include: Up arrow or 'U' = Improving Down arrow or 'D' = Declining Sideways arrow or 'F' = No significant change Variance Analysis Reporting (VAR) Threshold The VAR column indicates if an element has exceeded reporting thresholds for SV, CV, and VAC (e.g., + or - 10%). Exceeding one or more of these thresholds typically requires an explanation in the Integrated Program Management Report (IPMR) Format 5. Note: Threshold levels are set by the Empower Administrator. The exceeded thresholds are represented by letter designators: Lower case letters = current month breach Upper case letters = cumulative breach C/c = cost variance breach S/s = schedule variance breach V = variance at completion breach EVM 202 September

7 Data Structure Views You may review data in Empower in three different views: Work Breakdown Structure (WBS); Organizational Breakdown Structure (OBS); and Integrated Product Team (IPT). You can choose the desired view when opening a dataset (see instructions for Open Empower Dataset on page 9). The WBS Structure view displays IPMR Format 1 (WBS) elements: The OBS Structure view displays IPMR Format 2 (OBS) elements: EVM 202 September

8 The IPT Structure view displays IPT elements: EVM 202 September

9 Part 2 Step-By-Step Instructions Open Empower Dataset Open Empower 1. Open your browser and enter the URL for Empower (e.g., Note: Your organization's URL will follow this format: //[servername]/empower. The designator [servername] is your organization's server name. The Empower login window displays. 2. Select a database from the Data Source drop-down menu (e.g., DAU). 3. Enter your user name in the User Name data field (e.g., DAU). 4. Enter your password in the Password data field. Note: For EVM 202, your instructor will provide specific instructions for logging in to Empower. 5. Select OK. Empower opens in Standard View, a tri-pane layout with three windows: Sort (or Dataset); Chart; and Report. These panes are blank until you select a Dataset. EVM 202 September

10 Select a Dataset 1. Select File and Open Dataset; or select the Dataset button on the Toolbar: Using Empower The Open Dataset dialog box displays with five menus: Contract; Period of Data; Data Structures; Unit of Measure; and Prefilter. 2. Select a contract (e.g., LAR EMD 2016). 3. Select a period of data (e.g., DEC 16). 4. Select a data structure (e.g., WBS). 5. Select a unit of measure (e.g., Dollars). 6. Select a prefilter from the filter drop-down menu (e.g., All Elements). 7. Select OK. 8. Close the Open Dataset dialog box by selecting the X in the top right corner of the dialog box. The tri-pane windows display information based on the selected Dataset. See the earlier section, Standard Screen Layout, on page 3 for details about the tri-pane windows. EVM 202 September

11 Edit Sort Window View You may customize the Sort window view, by adding or deleting columns, reordering columns, and modifying how columns display. 1. Select the Views button on the Menu Bar. 2. Select Edit Sort View from the Views drop-down menu. The Edit View dialog box displays. The View Columns list includes the columns and their order as they are currently displayed in the Sort window. EVM 202 September

12 3. Add columns: a. Select the desired: i. Category from the Column Group list ii. Column from the Columns list The display box below the Column Group and Columns lists provides a description of the selected column. b. Select the Add button. The new column(s) display in the View Columns list. 4. Delete columns: a. Select the desired column from the View Columns list. b. Select the Remove button. 5. Reorder columns: a. Select the desired column from the View Columns list. b. Move the selected column up or down in the hierarchy by selecting the Up or Down button. 6. Rename columns by entering the desired name in the Title field. 7. Resize the column by entering the desired width in the Width field. Note: You can also resize columns in the Sort window by selecting the border between column headings, and dragging it to the desired width. 8. Change the column alignment by selecting the desired alignment from the Align dropdown menu. 9. Repeat steps 3 8 to create the desired Sort window view. 10. Save the updated view: a. Select the Save button to update the current view. b. Select the Save As button to create a new view: i. Enter the desired name for the new view. ii. Select OK. EVM 202 September

13 11. Reset the current view to its default by selecting the Reset button. 12. Select the X in the upper right corner to close the Edit View dialog box. Sort Data Sort Data on Columns You may sort data on any column in the Sort window. 1. Select the desired column header to sort the elements in the Sort window in ascending order. 2. Select the same column header again to sort the elements in the Sort window in descending order. Note: You can only sort on a single column at a time. Each new sort replaces the previous sort. The following sample is sorted by CV ascending. The Status Bar indicates how the data is sorted. In this case, CV ascending. Note: An up arrow indicates the data is sorted in ascending order. A down arrow indicates the data is sorted in descending order. EVM 202 September

14 Reset the Empower View Select the HIER column header to return to the default sort. Filter Data View Lowest Level Elements 1. Select the Lowest button on the Toolbar. Or, select X from the LL drop-down menu on the Filter Bar. EVM 202 September

15 The Sort window displays the lowest level 'children' (i.e., sub-elements) for each element. 2. Clear the Lowest Level filter by selecting the Clear Filter button on the Toolbar. Filter Column Data You may filter data for any column in the Sort window using the Filter Bar. You can apply multiple filters simultaneously. Empower's filter functionality applies an AND clause to multiple filters, which means the results return only elements that meet all of the applied filter criteria. 1. Enter or select the desired criteria in the column's filter box or drop-down menu. a. Freeform text columns (e.g., Description, CAM, etc.): Enter text corresponding to the first letters of the desired results (e.g., enter "Sta" if searching for control account managers (CAMs) named "Stadler" or "Stanwick"). b. Numerical columns (e.g., %CMP, SV, etc.): Enter a numeric comparison for the desired results using the following formats (where N=number value): i. Equal to: = N ii. Greater than: > N iii. Less than: < N iv. Greater than or equal to: > = N v. Less than or equal to: < = N vi. Range of values: N1... N2 Note: When entering number values, do not use comma separators (i.e., enter > 1000 not > 1,000). EVM 202 September

16 c. Other text-based columns (e.g., VAR, trend, DQI, etc.): Enter a letter designator corresponding to the desired results (e.g., for the SV trend column, enter D for down, F for flat, or U for up). 2. Repeat steps 1a, 1b, or 1c for each desired filter. 3. Clear all filters by selecting the Clear Filter button on the Toolbar. The following sample shows filters applied to % Cmp (between 0 and 25%), CV (f for Flat), and SPI (greater than 0.8). Drill Down and Up Empower allows you to navigate up and down through the WBS (OBS/IPT) element hierarchy to view only the 'children' (sub-elements) of a selected element. 1. Select the desired element ('parent') in the Sort window (e.g., Frame/Body/Cab) 2. Select the Drill button on the Toolbar. The Sort window displays the direct children for the selected element (e.g., Frame, and Body/Cab). Note: The Drill button now displays as three separate buttons: Down, Up, and Off: 3. Select the Up button to display the parent of the selected element, and all of its 'siblings' (i.e., all elements at the same level as the parent). 4. Select the Down button to display the direct children of the selected element. 5. Select the Off button to remove the Drill filter and display all elements in the Sort window. Note: The Drill button returns to its original state. EVM 202 September

17 Go to Element You may isolate a single WBS, OBS, or IPT element in the Sort window using the Filter Bar. 1. Enter the WBS (OBS/IPT) element number in the Description column's filter box. Note: You must enter the exact element number to get the desired result. The following sample shows WBS element , Body/Cab. Combine Filter and Sort Features You may combine filter and sort features in Empower to refine the view in the Sort window. 1. Apply the desired filter or combination of filters: a. Lowest level (see page 15) b. Column (see page 15) c. Drill down/up (see page 16) 2. Sort on the desired column (see page 13) Note: You may apply multiple filters, but you can only sort on a single column at a time. Each new sort replaces the previous sort. EVM 202 September

18 View Charts Empower provides several standard chart views, or you may create your own custom charts. 1. Select the desired element in the Sort window. 2. Select the Charts button on the Menu Bar. 3. Select the desired chart from the Charts drop-down menu. The Chart window displays the selected chart for the selected element. See the Encore Analytics Empower User's Manual to learn how to create custom charts. See the Earned Value Management (EVM) Chart Analysis job aid to learn more about reading and interpreting charts. EVM 202 September

19 View Reports Empower provides several standard report views, or you may create your own custom reports. 1. Select the desired element in the Sort window. 2. Select the Reports button on the Menu Bar. 3. Select the desired report from the Reports drop-down menu. The Report window displays the selected report for the selected element. See the Encore Analytics Empower User's Manual to learn how to create custom reports. EVM 202 September