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How to Adjust Schedule Performance Index (SPI) in Microsoft Project

Emma Brown Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to correct the Schedule Performance Index (SPI) in Microsoft Project, which is displaying incorrectly due to an outdated project baseline.

How to Adjust the Schedule Performance Index (SPI) in Microsoft Project

Product: Microsoft Project
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Tracking an agile project that was initially set up as a waterfall plan, causing a mismatch between actual delivery and planned value.
Observed behavior: The project falsely appears to be behind schedule because the SPI is being calculated against a baseline that no longer reflects the current agile delivery plan.

Before you start

Before adjusting your SPI and resetting the baseline, ensure that your project scope and schedule have been formally approved for a change to maintain accurate historical tracking.

Solution 1Recommended

Re-plan and Reset the Project Baseline

Update your project plan to reflect the current agile structure and reset the baseline so that earned value metrics are calculated correctly.

Earned value metrics, including SPI, are heavily driven by the project baseline. When an agile project is tracked against an outdated waterfall baseline, the planned value will misalign with actual work, falsely indicating that the project is behind schedule. To fix this, you must formally reset the baseline so performance is measured against the current, updated plan.

Re-plan the affected work

Adjust your task list and schedule using an agile structure so that it perfectly matches the newly approved project scope.

Open project options

Navigate to the top ribbon, click on the 'File' menu, and select 'Options' from the bottom left.

Access advanced settings

In the Project Options dialog box, click on the 'Advanced' tab on the left sidebar.

Update earned value options

Scroll down to find the 'Earned value options for this project' section.

Select the new baseline

Select the correct, newly established baseline from the drop-down menu and click 'OK' to ensure SPI is calculated correctly moving forward.

Baseline Best Practices: Only reset or replace a project baseline when the project plan or scope has undergone a formal change control process.

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Manage Your Projects Efficiently with WPS Office

While Microsoft Project is powerful, it can be overly complex and expensive for many teams. If you need a lightweight and cost-effective way to track project schedules, calculate SPI, and manage tasks, WPS Office offers a completely free, highly compatible alternative. You can easily build dynamic Gantt charts and track earned value metrics using WPS Spreadsheet.

1. Download WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for free from the official website to your device.
2. Open a Project Template: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and browse the extensive library for a free project management or Gantt chart template.
3. Track Your Metrics: Input your Planned Value (PV) and Earned Value (EV) to easily track your SPI using standard spreadsheet formulas.

100% compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) formats for seamless project template sharing.Free, lightweight, and fast-loading alternative to heavy project management software.Built-in advanced formulas to manually calculate Schedule Performance Index (SPI) and Cost Performance Index (CPI).Familiar, tabbed user interface makes it easy to switch from Microsoft Office.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Schedule Performance Index (SPI) in Microsoft Project?

SPI is an earned value metric that measures a project's schedule efficiency. It is calculated by dividing the Earned Value (EV) by the Planned Value (PV). An SPI of exactly 1.0 means the project is on schedule, while an SPI less than 1.0 indicates the project is behind schedule.

Why does my agile project show a poor SPI when tracked as a waterfall plan?

Agile projects are iterative and adaptive, while waterfall plans are linear. If you use a strict waterfall baseline for agile execution, the planned value timing will likely mismatch the actual work completed during sprints, causing the SPI calculation to falsely indicate a delay.

Does resetting the baseline delete my historical performance data?

If you overwrite your primary baseline (Baseline 0), the previous data in those fields is replaced. To preserve historical performance data, you should save the new baseline into one of the alternative baseline slots (such as Baseline 1 through Baseline 10).

Can I calculate SPI in a regular spreadsheet instead of Microsoft Project?

Yes. By tracking your project's Planned Value (PV) and Earned Value (EV) in adjacent columns, you can simply use the formula =EV/PV in a spreadsheet application like WPS Spreadsheet or Microsoft Excel to calculate your SPI manually.

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