Why did you do it that way?
A manager reads your plan. She points at the Gantt chart. "Why does the testing come last? Why did you give the Wi-Fi to Marcus?"
If you only say "because", you lose marks and trust. If you give clear reasons, she can say yes with confidence.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can write a reason for a planning decision that says what it does to time and cost.
Key words
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Rationale | the reasons for the choices in your plan | |
| Justify | to give a reason that shows a choice was right | |
| Factor | something that affects a decision | the deadline |
| Benefit | a good result of a choice | |
| Risk | something that might go wrong | |
| Impact | the effect a choice has on time or cost |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
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 rationale answers the real brief and uses the exam board's headings. This lesson uses an invented firm. Your teacher will tell you how much to write and how it is marked.
Point, because, so
A good reason has three short parts.
Point: what you decided. Because: why it is right. So: what it does to time or cost.
The so part is what many students forget. It shows the impact of your choice.
Worked example: four decisions
| Decision | Point and because | So (impact) |
|---|---|---|
| Order and timing | Cables go first, because nothing else can work without them. | So the other tasks can start on day 5, not later. |
| People | Marcus sets up the switch, because he is the strongest at that. | So it takes 3 days, not 5, and saves 320 pounds of pay. |
| Benefit and risk | We test last, because the tests need the whole system working. | So one spare day covers a late fault, with no extra cost. |
| Cost | We hire the patch panel, because we need it for one week only. | So we spend 55 pounds, not 140, and stay under budget. |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Check
Have a go
Check
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.