The Budgeted Cost of Work Scheduled (BCWS) is a key concept in project management and cost accounting, particularly in the Earned Value Management (EVM) framework. BCWS represents the cumulative planned costs of work scheduled to be completed up to a specific point in time. It serves as a baseline for measuring performance and comparing actual progress against planned progress.
Explanation of Options:
Option A: Total costs incurred in accomplishing work in a given-time period This option is incorrect because BCWS does not represent the actual costs incurred; rather, it reflects the planned or budgeted costs for the work scheduled to be done. The actual costs incurred would be tracked under the Actual Cost of Work Performed (ACWP).
Option B: Baseline for performance measurement
This is a correct description of BCWS. It is used as a baseline to compare the budgeted costs with the actual costs and earned value, enabling performance measurement and variance analysis.
Option C: Sum of the budgets for work scheduled
This is also correct. BCWS is essentially the sum of the budgeted costs for all scheduled work up to a certain date.
Option D: Includes portion of the budget for level-of-effort work
This is correct as well. BCWS can include portions of the budget allocated to level-of-effort (LOE) tasks, which are support tasks that don't directly contribute to the completion of specific project deliverables but are necessary for the overall project.
Therefore, the correct answer is A, as it inaccurately describes BCWS by confusing it with actual costs incurred, which are instead captured by ACWP.