← VCE Software Development U4O1

Adjusting time frames in a project plan

Changing a task's start date or duration when work takes longer or shorter than planned, then moving any dependent tasks and deadlines to match.

Part of: VCE Software Development - U4O1 - development and evaluation — Module 193

Understanding Adjusting time frames in a project plan in VCE Software Development U4O1

What it does: A shorter duration frees up time, so the dependent Evaluation task can start earlier. Setting a new deadline records the effect of the longer durations on the end date of the plan. The plan should show what is really happening. Extending the duration keeps the plan accurate. Task B depends on Task A, so it cannot begin until A ends. Its start date moves to match. Critical path tasks have no spare time, so a delay pushes the end date back unless it is recovered. New deadlines should be based on real changes to the task durations, not on a whim.

Common mistakes: The duration is stored as a string, so adding the integer extra on line 3 causes a TypeError. It should be duration = 5 so the task length can be extended. A task's end date is its start date plus its duration. Subtracting gives a date before the task even begins. It should be end = start + duration.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 186–198) and word search (Modules 172–198).

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Learning
Duo
A task planned for 3 days takes 5 days. What is the correct adjustment to the plan?
Leave the plan as it is and hope to catch upExtend the task's duration to 5 days
Matches
Design: duration 4 days → 6 days (Coding start date left at 12 Mar)
↓
The dependent task was not moved. Coding depends on Design, so its start date must move later to match the longer duration.
Applying
Meanings
Term
Adjusting time frames
Meaning
Changing a task's start date or duration when work takes longer or shorter than planned, then moving any dependent tasks and deadlines to match.
Practice
Coding.duration ← Coding.duration + 3
Testing
Gaps
duration = duration 2
Check Answer
Spots
1duration = '5'
2extra = 2

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Quick Questions

1. A task planned for 3 days takes 5 days. What is the correct adjustment to the plan?
A. Extend the task's duration to 5 days ✓
B. Leave the plan as it is and hope to catch up
The plan should show what is really happening. Extending the duration keeps the plan accurate.
2. Task B cannot start until Task A finishes. Task A is extended by 2 days. What happens to Task B?
A. Task B's start date moves 2 days later ✓
B. Task B keeps its original start date
Task B depends on Task A, so it cannot begin until A ends. Its start date moves to match.
3. Which task needs its dates changed when an earlier task is extended?
A. A task that has already been completed
B. A dependent task that starts after it ✓
Dependent tasks follow the earlier task. Finished tasks are already done and do not need to move.
4. Testing finishes 2 days earlier than planned, and the next task depends on it. What can be done in the plan?
A. Shorten the duration and start the next task earlier ✓
B. Keep the original dates and leave the team idle
Adjusting for a shorter duration can bring dependent tasks forward and may save time overall.
5. A task on the critical path is extended by 3 days. What is the likely effect on the project?
A. The final deadline stays the same with no changes
B. The final deadline moves later unless time is made up ✓
Critical path tasks have no spare time, so a delay pushes the end date back unless it is recovered.

Match the Pairs

Task B: duration 3 days → 5 days → Extending a duration because the work is taking longer than planned
Task C start: 10 Mar → 14 Mar → Moving a dependent task's start date because the task before it finished later
When a task finishes earlier than planned, its duration is shortened and later tasks can start sooner → Testing: duration 5 days → 3 days; Evaluation start 20 Mar → 18 Mar
When a delay pushes work past a deadline, a new deadline is set for the final task → Final report due: 28 Mar → 2 Apr
Design: duration 4 days → 6 days (Coding start date left at 12 Mar) → The dependent task was not moved. Coding depends on Design, so its start date must move later to match the longer duration.
Testing finished 2 days late, so Testing duration changed to 2 days → The duration was changed to the number of days late instead of the new total. If Testing was planned for 4 days, it should now be 6 days.

Key Term

Adjusting time frames
Changing a task's start date or duration when work takes longer or shorter than planned, then moving any dependent tasks and deadlines to match.

Fill in the Blanks

1. duration = 5 duration = duration + 2
Hint: Type the arithmetic operator that adds extra days onto the existing duration when the task takes longer.
2. end = start + duration print(end)
Hint: Type the variable that holds how many days the task takes, so the end date moves when it changes.
3. delay = 3 testStart += delay
Hint: Type the operator that pushes a dependent task's start date later by the delay.
4. delay = actualDays - plannedDays newDeadline = deadline + delay
Hint: Type the arithmetic operator that works out how many days over the plan the task ran.
5. if actualDays > plannedDays: deadline += delay
Hint: Type the keyword that only pushes the deadline back when the task has taken longer than planned.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A duration = '5'
B extra = 2
C duration = duration + extra
D print(duration)
Line A — The duration is stored as a string, so adding the integer extra on line 3 causes a TypeError. It should be duration = 5 so the task length can be extended.
Question 2
A start = 10
B duration = 4
C end = start - duration
D print(end)
Line C — A task's end date is its start date plus its duration. Subtracting gives a date before the task even begins. It should be end = start + duration.
Question 3
A design_days = 6
B test_start = 7
C design_days = design_days + 3
D test_start = test_start - 3
Line D — Design was extended by 3 days, so the dependent testing task must start 3 days later, not earlier. It should be test_start = test_start + 3.
Question 4
A planned = 8
B delay = planned - 11
C new_end = 20 + delay
D print(new_end)
Line B — The delay is actual minus planned. Reversing it gives -3, which would move the end date earlier. It should be delay = 11 - planned.
Question 5
A starts = [3, 8, 12]
B shift = 2
C for i in range(1, 3):
D starts[i] = shift
E print(starts)
Line D — This overwrites each dependent start date with 2 instead of moving it later. It should add the shift: starts[i] += shift.

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