You are the new consultant to the project manager for a large chicken project. During your first meeting with the project manager he brings you up to speed on the project status by showing you these S-curves

Question

You glance at the graph, compose your thoughts, and make what comments on this project?

Answer 1

The solid line, representing the cumulative actual expenses, stops at the end of the 6th month, meaning that the project is probably at the end of the 6th month or in the 7th month with no figures yet reported. Another possibility is that the project was abandoned, but if you're having this meeting about it, chances are that it is still a viable concern. Finally, the project could be done, but again, this is unlikely if you're being brought in to consult at this stage.
The project has been performing poorly with respect to budget. From the beginning, the variance has been positive and seems to be increasing as the project progresses. This may be the result of every single activity costing more than estimated or a common thread such as labor or transportation costs that weaves through every activity that costs more than estimated. Other explanations include that the project was purposely underestimated so it would be approved or that the budget was cut by someone not closely associated with its planning or execution.
You can't reliably comment on when the project will finish; it may be performing badly on the time-phased budget because actual work is ahead of schedule. For this reason you can't say the project will end in an over-budget situation.