← VCE Data Analytics U4O1

Adjusting time frames in a project plan

Update start dates, durations and deadlines when a task runs long or short, then check the knock-on effect on dependent tasks and work out the revised finish date.

Part of: VCE Data Analytics - U4O1 - Development and Evaluation — Module 99

Understanding Adjusting time frames in a project plan in VCE Data Analytics U4O1

What it does: The two extra days flow along the chain of dependent tasks, so each later start date moves back by two days. The revised finish date is the original finish date plus the delay on the critical path. Weekends are skipped when counting working days. When a task runs long, update its duration in the plan, then check how later tasks are affected. Adjusting time frames works both ways. Shorter tasks can bring dates forward. If a deadline is fixed, adjust the remaining time frames. The plan must show a realistic finish date.

Common mistakes: Design ran 2 days longer than planned, so the extra days must be added (5 + 2), not subtracted. Extending a task increases its duration. The dependent build task can only start after the extended design task ends, so its start is design_days + 1. Subtracting 1 would make it start before design is finished.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 85–105) and word search (Modules 63–105).

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Learning

Duo

A data cleaning task planned for 3 days will take 5 days. What should you update in the project plan?

Leave the plan as it is and hope the later tasks catch upChange the task duration to 5 days and check later tasks

Matches

Task A extended by 3 days. Task B start date left unchanged.

↓

The dependent task's start date was not updated, so the plan now shows Task B starting before Task A has finished.

Applying

Meanings

Term

Adjust time frames

Meaning

Update start dates, durations and deadlines when a task runs long or short, then check the knock-on effect on dependent tasks and work out the revised finish date.

Practice

taskADuration ← 3 + 2

Testing

Gaps

=B2+

Check Answer

Spots

1design_days = 5 - 2

2build_start = design_days + 1

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Quick Questions

1. A data cleaning task planned for 3 days will take 5 days. What should you update in the project plan?

A. Leave the plan as it is and hope the later tasks catch up

B. Change the task duration to 5 days and check later tasks ✓

When a task runs long, update its duration in the plan, then check how later tasks are affected.

2. Task B cannot start until Task A finishes. Task A is extended by 2 days. What happens to Task B?

A. Its start date moves back by 2 days ✓

B. Its start date stays the same

Task B is a dependent task. If the task it depends on finishes later, it must start later.

3. Which sentence best describes the knock-on effect of extending a task?

A. Later tasks that depend on it may be delayed ✓

B. Only the extended task is ever affected

Knock-on effects flow through dependent tasks. That is why you check them after any change.

4. Task C is independent of the extended Task A and has plenty of float. Does its start date need to change?

A. Not necessarily, because it does not depend on Task A ✓

B. Yes, every task must move back by the same amount

Only dependent tasks are pushed back. Independent tasks can stay on their planned dates.

5. A project was due on 20 June. A task on the critical path is extended by 4 days with no time to catch up. What is the revised finish date?

A. 20 June

B. 24 June ✓

A delay on the critical path pushes the finish date back by the same amount: 20 June + 4 days = 24 June.

Match the Pairs

Task B duration: 3 days → 5 days → Extending a task because it is taking longer than planned

Task C start: Mon 10 → Wed 12 → Moving a dependent task's start date because the task before it finished late

When a task is extended, every task that depends on it may have to start later → Task A (+2 days) → Task B start +2 days → Task C start +2 days

Work out the revised finish date by adding the delay to the original finish date → Original finish: Fri 21 + 2 day delay = Tue 25 (revised finish)

Task A extended by 3 days. Task B start date left unchanged. → The dependent task's start date was not updated, so the plan now shows Task B starting before Task A has finished.

Task runs 2 days short. Project finish date stays the same, so no change is needed. → A shorter task may allow later tasks to start earlier and the finish date to be revised, but this was not checked.

Key Term

Adjust time frames

Update start dates, durations and deadlines when a task runs long or short, then check the knock-on effect on dependent tasks and work out the revised finish date.

Fill in the Blanks

1. =B2+C2

Hint: Finish date = start date (column B) + duration. Type the cell reference that holds the task's duration (column C).

2. =D2+1

Hint: Task 2 depends on task 1 and starts the day after it ends. Type the cell reference of task 1's finish date (column D).

3. duration ← duration + 3

Hint: The task is running 3 days longer than planned. Type the operator that extends the duration.

4. =MAX(D2:D6)

Hint: The revised project finish date is the latest finish date in the list. Type the function that returns the largest value.

5. newFinish ← oldFinish + delay

Hint: Add the extra days the task took to the old finish date. Type the variable named for the number of days of lateness.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A design_days = 5 - 2

B build_start = design_days + 1

C build_days = 4

D finish = build_start + build_days - 1

Line A — Design ran 2 days longer than planned, so the extra days must be added (5 + 2), not subtracted. Extending a task increases its duration.

Question 2

A design_days = 5

B delay = 2

C design_days = design_days + delay

D build_start = design_days - 1

Line D — The dependent build task can only start after the extended design task ends, so its start is design_days + 1. Subtracting 1 would make it start before design is finished.

Question 3

A planned_end = 10

B change = 3

C new_end = planned_end * change

D print(new_end)

Line C — A 3 day extension moves the finish date by adding 3 days to the planned end. Multiplying gives 30, which is not the revised finish date. It should be planned_end + change.

Question 4

A test_days = 6

B saved = 2

C test_days = test_days + saved

D print(test_days)

Line C — Testing finished 2 days early, so the saved days must be subtracted to shorten the duration. Adding them would wrongly lengthen the task.

Question 5

A a_days = 3 + 2

B b_days = 4

C c_days = 2

D finish = a_days + c_days

Line D — The revised finish date must include every dependent task in the chain. Task B was left out, so the knock-on effect is wrong. It should add a_days, b_days and c_days.

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