Value Methodology emphasizes applying VM early in a project or product lifecycle to maximize its impact on costs and outcomes, as taught in the VMF 1 course (Core Competency #1: Value Methodology Overview). According to SAVE International’s Value Methodology Standard, “the greatest opportunity to influence a project’s impacts and costs occurs during the planning phase, when decisions about design, scope, and requirements are made.” Early intervention allows the VM team to optimize functions and reduce costs before they are locked in by detailed design or implementation. This principle is often illustrated by the “cost influence curve,” which shows that the ability to influence costs decreases as the project progresses, while the cost to make changes increases.
Option A (Operating) is incorrect because, during operation, most costs are already incurred, and changes are costly and limited in impact.
Option B (Planning) is correct, as it is the phase where VM can most effectively influence design and cost decisions, per VM standards.
Option C (Organizing) is incorrect because organizing is a management function, not a distinct lifecycle phase for applying VM.
Option D (Maintaining) is incorrect because maintenance occurs late in the lifecycle, when cost influence is minimal.
[:, SAVE International, “Value Methodology Standard and Body of Knowledge,” available athttps://www.value-eng.org, emphasizing early application of VM in the planning phase., SAVE International, VMF 1 Core Competency #1 (Value Methodology Overview), highlighting the cost influence curve and the importance of early VM intervention., ]
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