How to Get a Job For Project Managers

Learn how to write resume and interview

Leadership for Project Managers

Learn how to lead and drive project success.

Project Management with AI

From a beginner to project management professional.

Agile Project Management and SCRUM with AI

Learn to run Scrum and Agile with AI.

Cost Variance (CV)

At a specific point in time, the difference between earned value (EV) and actual cost (AC), indicating whether the project has a budget surplus or shortfall.

Key Points

  • Formula: CV = EV - AC.
  • CV > 0 means under budget (surplus); CV < 0 means over budget (deficit); CV = 0 means on budget.
  • Reported at a point in time as part of earned value management (EVM).
  • Used with CPI, SV, and trend analysis to assess performance and refine forecasts like EAC/ETC.

Example

At the end of month 4, EV = $400,000 and AC = $450,000. CV = EV - AC = $400,000 - $450,000 = -$50,000, indicating the project is over budget by $50,000.

PMP Example Question

A project at month 3 reports EV = $120,000 and AC = $135,000. What is the cost variance and what does it mean?

  1. $15,000; the project is over budget
  2. -$15,000; the project is over budget
  3. -$15,000; the project is under budget
  4. $15,000; the project is under budget

Correct Answer: B - Negative $15,000 cost variance indicates over budget

Explanation: CV = EV - AC = 120,000 - 135,000 = -15,000. A negative CV means actual spending exceeds the earned value, so the project is over budget.

Agile Project Management & Scrum — With AI

Ship value sooner, cut busywork, and lead with confidence. Whether you’re new to Agile or scaling multiple teams, this course gives you a practical system to plan smarter, execute faster, and keep stakeholders aligned.

This isn’t theory—it’s a hands-on playbook for modern delivery. You’ll master Scrum roles, events, and artifacts; turn vision into a living roadmap; and use AI to refine backlogs, write clear user stories and acceptance criteria, forecast with velocity, and automate status updates and reports.

You’ll learn estimation, capacity and release planning, quality and risk management (including risk burndown), and Agile-friendly EVM—plus how to scale with Scrum of Scrums, LeSS, SAFe, and more. Downloadable templates and ready-to-use GPT prompts help you apply everything immediately.

Learn proven patterns from real projects and adopt workflows that reduce meetings, improve visibility, and boost throughput. Ready to level up your delivery and lead in the AI era? Enroll now and start building smarter sprints.



Lead with clarity, influence, and outcomes.

HK School of Management brings you a practical, no-fluff Leadership for Project Managers course—built for real projects, tight deadlines, and cross-functional teams. Learn to set direction, align stakeholders, and drive commitment without relying on title. For the price of a lunch, get proven playbooks, and downloadable templates. Backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee—zero risk, high impact.

Learn More