Control Account
DE: Kontrollkonto
A management control point for integrating scope, budget, and schedule measurement.
Detailed Explanation
A control account integrates scope, budget, actual cost, and schedule and compares them to earned value for performance measurement. It sits at a WBS level where meaningful performance data can be collected.
Each control account is assigned to a single Control Account Manager (CAM) who plans, executes, and reports on the work packages within it. This makes it the primary unit of accountability in EVM.
Control accounts link the WBS (what work) to the OBS (who does it), creating clear accountability at a granularity that is neither too high-level nor too detailed to be practical.
Key Points
- Integration point for scope, budget, cost, and schedule
- Located at a meaningful WBS level
- Assigned to a single Control Account Manager
- Primary unit of measurement in EVM
- Links WBS to OBS for clear ownership
- Contains work packages and planning packages
Practical Example
A defense project has 25 control accounts at WBS Level 3. The 'Flight Software' account is assigned to a senior engineer as CAM, with EUR 800K budget over 8 months. She manages 12 work packages and reports CPI and SPI monthly to the PMO.
Tips for Learning and Applying
Set control accounts where performance data is meaningful
Assign each to exactly one CAM — shared accountability is no accountability
Integrate with your EVM system for automated tracking
Review performance monthly and escalate deviations
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