Distribution Curves

When entering data into the Financial Management page, you can use a distribution curve to automatically allocate the values instead of having to manually enter values for each period. If you want a linear distribution of budget for example, selecting a curve can significantly reduce the effort of entering budget values.

Distribution curves are configured under ADMIN | SYSTEM | BUDGET SETTINGS | DISTRIBUTION CURVES. The Distribution Curve tab is automatically enabled when Financial Management is turned on.

Once one or more curves have been defined, they are available for use in the Budget and Forecast tabs of the Financial Management page.

To apply a curve, click ‘Apply Curves’. This displays a standard PPM Editable grid from where you can apply a curve to lines individually (by clicking ‘Edit’) or to multiple rows at once by ticking the checkboxes for one or more rows and then clicking ‘Edit’.

Note: The Distribution Curve tab is automatically enabled when Financial Management is turned on.

In the example above 50,000 will be distributed across all periods of the project according to the distribution defined in the Bell Curve distribution curve.

Once saved, the data will be updated in the main grid and can then be further edited if required before saving.

Distribution Periods

Distributions are divided into 12 periods. These periods do not necessarily represent calendar months, but they can align with months depending on the duration of the task:

• 1-Year Task: The 12 periods align exactly with the 12 calendar months. For example, Period 3 corresponds to March.

• 6-Month Task: The 12 periods are compressed into the 6-month timeframe. Each period covers approximately half a month.

• 2-Year Task: The 12 periods are stretched across the 24-month duration. Each period spans approximately two months.

This flexible structure allows the distribution curve to adapt to the length of the task while maintaining a consistent 12-period format.

Note: Fiscal calendars also play a role in the calculations. Each month in this example has slightly different working hours, which is why you'll see some varying numbers. The sum of the values within each of the four clusters still totals 25%.

Fiscal Calendar

On the Task manager when changing from Linear to Custom distribution, the periods will be as per the fiscal calendar, initially spreading the demand equally across all periods. 

Cost Book Distribution Curve Logic

The Cost Book Distribution Curve logic takes into account the current position on the distribution curve selected per Cost Book Line, as well as the full duration of the period associated with a Cost Book Line.  

This is to ensure that forecasted values accurately reflect the current stage of the project and that remaining costs are proportionally distributed for future months. 

Additionally, values in the “Delta EAC Vs Actuals+Remaining Forecasted” column will now be highlighted in red when > 1 and < -1 to highlight any discrepancies between the Delta EAC and “Actuals+Remaining Forecasted” values. 

Custom Distribution for Facilities Costs

When loading facility costs into the Forecasting grid using Load from Schedule, the system will apply the assigned custom distribution curve to ensure costs are accurately allocated across forecast periods. 

If a facility cost is assigned a custom distribution under Full Task Details > Planned Resources > Facilities, the cost will be loaded into the forecast according to this distribution. This ensures financial forecasts align with the schedule and maintains consistency with the existing custom distribution functionality for Skills and Materials. 

Custom Distribution screen: 

Forecasting Screen after Load from Schedule:

Resource Demand - Work in Weeks

Resource Demand skill demand request enables project managers and resourcing teams to request and fill demand by Weeks. Working in Weeks works when Fiscal Calendars are enabled.

On the Gantt, if using Custom distribution curves, the data is split evenly across the number of weeks, with Edit option. 

On pushing to Resource Demand the data is split as per the periods set on the Gantt.