Degree of completion in Project Management – Definition and Meaning
The degree of completion (often referred to as % complete or POC – Percent of Completion) indicates the percentage of a task, work package, or entire project that has been completed at a given point in time. It is used to measure and communicate work progress. The POC is typically used in status reports and progress tracking to show the current state of completion in comparison to the planned total scope.
Example, best practice and further information
In a software development project, a task may have a Percent of completion of 50% when half of the planned development work for that task has been completed. A best practice is to update the POC regularly based on defined criteria (e.g., completed subtasks, hours worked in relation to total effort). This aligns with progress measurement according to the PMBOK Guide and agile tools such as burndown charts. A realistic assessment of the POC allows for accurate project status evaluation and better forecasting of remaining work.