S – CURVE

An S-Curve is defined as:

“A display of cumulative costs, labour hours or other quantities plotted against time.
The name derives from the S – like shape of the curve, flatter at the beginning and
end and steeper in the middle, which is typical of most projects. The beginning
represents a slow, deliberate but accelerating start, while the end represents a
deceleration as the work runs out.”
An S-curve is a project management tool that tracks progress over time and allows
for a quick visual to determine project status. The S-curve is something (costs,
hours, etc...) over time. If two S-curves are compared together, such as planned
versus actual, that is called a comparison S-curve.
There are a variety of S – Curves that are applicable to project management
applications, including –
 Man Hours versus Time S – Curve
 Costs versus Time S – Curve
Man Hours versus Time S – Curve
The Man Hours versus Time S – Curve is appropriate for projects that are labour
intensive. It shows cumulative man-hours expended over time for the duration of
the project. As man-hours are a product of manpower and working hours, these
may be adjusted together or individually in an attempt to keep the project on
schedule. Projects may require additional man-hours to finish on time due to low
productivity, delays and disruptions, rework, variations etc.