"Because" is the most useful word
Two students hand in the same plan. One says: "Test the data before fixing it." The other says: "Test first. We can not fix a fault we have not found. And a fix that is not tested can make it worse."
Only one of them has explained a decision.
Key words
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Rationale | the reasons for the choices you made in a plan | |
| Justify | give a reason that shows a choice was a good one | |
| Benefit | a good result of a choice | |
| Risk | something that might go wrong | |
| Impact | the effect a choice has on time or cost | |
| Factor | a fact that affects a choice | a short deadline |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can justify the order of tasks, who does them, the benefits and risks, and the effect on time and cost.
Starter
Have a go
Starter
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
This is practice
Important
The real task comes from the exam board. This lesson uses an invented organisation and its own made-up data. Your teacher tells you how the real tasks are set and what you may bring.
What to think about when planning
Plan around the factors that matter most in the brief. Think about the deadline, the budget and the skills in the team. Think about how messy the data is. Think about how much the client may change.
A short deadline pushes you to start the longest task first. A small budget pushes you to use fewer days.
Worked example: four things to justify
| Part of the plan | A question to answer | A reason that works |
|---|---|---|
| Order and timing | Why this order, and why this long? | Tests come before fixes, because we must know the faults first |
| Who does what | Why this person? | Asha is careful, so she writes the tests |
| Benefits and risks | What is gained? What could go wrong? | Clean data gives right totals. Risk: the data may be worse than we think |
| Effect on time and cost | What does it change? | A buffer day adds £170 but protects the deadline |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.