Evaluation of Earned Value Management Application in Construction Projects in Kano State

Earned value management (EVM) is a project performance measurement technique that integrates scope, schedule, and cost data to provide objective assessments of project status. Despite its recognised value, EVM is rarely applied in Nigerian construction practice. This study evaluates the awareness and application of earned value management in building and civil engineering projects in Kano State. A descriptive survey design was adopted, with 80 respondents comprising quantity surveyors, project managers, and client representatives from public and private sector organisations. Structured questionnaires were administered and data analysed using descriptive statistics, mean item scores, and chi-square tests. Findings indicate that awareness of EVM principles is limited to approximately 28% of respondents, and actual application on live projects is confined to fewer than 15% of the sample. Barriers to EVM adoption include limited training, poor project baseline definition, inadequate cost reporting systems, and client indifference to performance metrics beyond expenditure tracking. Projects where EVM was partially applied demonstrated better cost and schedule predictability compared to those using only conventional cost monitoring. Recommendations include the introduction of EVM training as a mandatory component of the NIQS continuing professional development calendar, integration of EVM modules into postgraduate quantity surveying curricula, and piloting of EVM on federal building projects in Kano as demonstration cases. This research fills an important gap in performance measurement literature for construction in North West Nigeria. Keywords: earned value management, project performance, Kano State, construction management, quantity surveying