How to create a burndown chart?

Question

I'm taking a project management course in college and am completely new to it.

My professor asked us to create a burndown chart out of a project in Microsoft project.

The project is this:

The burndown chart template is this: How do I make them "work together"?

Answer 1

The S-curve is more consistent with this type of schedule. You can build it from the schedule using dollars, such as your BCWS up to your BAC, or you can build it using % complete. Here is an example of building it using % complete:

Start with a schedule that you construct ensuring that you have established your network logic, loaded your resources, scheduled your work packages, and establish a baseline. Once that is complete, save a second file and then establish 100% complete for all tasks, such as this:

Then, open your Task Usage page and change "Details" to Cumulative % Complete. (Here, you can also use BCWS or cumulative work if you want to show hours.)

Next, at whatever level you want to show your S curve, capture the % completes, such as the 3%, 7%, 10% at the Project level in my sample, and transfer to a spreadsheet and build a graph, like this:

The spreadsheet has a column ready for you to enter actual % completes and you will easily see whether you are ahead, on, or behind schedule. From this tool, you can also calculate Earned Schedule values and use those results to forecast.

This is essentially the same as a burn down chart but in reverse. Same logic and same use for forecasting.

This does not answer your question but IMHO is the right answer for the type of schedule you have.