← VCE Software Development U4O1

Recording progress: actual versus expected durations

Progress is tracked by recording how long each task really took, comparing it with the planned time, and noting any milestone achieved.

Part of: VCE Software Development - U4O1 - development and evaluation — Module 191

Understanding Recording progress: actual versus expected durations in VCE Software Development U4O1

What it does: Actual minus expected gives the number of days over (positive) or under (negative) the plan, which is the comparison recorded in a progress log. When the actual duration matches the expected duration, the task is on schedule. A milestone is a significant point in the project, such as client approval. Hours spent on a task are a duration, not a milestone. Noting a milestone achieved, with its date, shows the project has reached an important stage and can be compared with the plan.

Common mistakes: A single = stores the actual duration in the variable. == compares two values, so actual is never assigned and the next lines fail. It should be actual = 7. An if statement must end with a colon. If actual is greater than expected, the task took longer than planned. It should be if actual > expected:.

Class: _____________________ · Name: _____________________ · Date: _________

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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

Which entry in a project log records progress on a task?

Task A: expected 3 days, to be started soonTask A: expected 3 days, actual 5 days

Matches

Task: Build GUI | Actual: 6 days (no expected duration recorded)

↓

Only the actual duration was recorded. Without the expected duration there is nothing to compare it with, so you cannot tell if the task is on track.

Applying

Meanings

Term

actual vs expected duration

Meaning

Progress is tracked by recording how long each task really took, comparing it with the planned time, and noting any milestone achieved.

Practice

expected_days = 5

Testing

Gaps

variance = actual expected

Check Answer

Spots

1expected = 5

2actual == 7

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Quick Questions

1. Which entry in a project log records progress on a task?

A. Task A: expected 3 days, to be started soon

B. Task A: expected 3 days, actual 5 days ✓

Progress is recorded by comparing the actual duration with the expected duration. A plan with no actual time recorded shows no progress.

2. A task was planned to take 4 days and took 4 days. What does this show?

A. The task finished on schedule ✓

B. The task finished late

When the actual duration matches the expected duration, the task is on schedule.

3. A task was expected to take 2 days but took 6 days. Which statement is correct?

A. The actual duration was 4 days longer than expected ✓

B. The expected duration was 4 days longer than actual

Actual minus expected = 6 - 2 = 4 days over. The task overran its planned time.

4. Which is a milestone achieved?

A. Spent 3 hours writing the login code

B. Prototype approved by the client on 12 May ✓

A milestone is a significant point in the project, such as client approval. Hours spent on a task are a duration, not a milestone.

5. Which duration should be written in the 'actual' column of a progress record?

A. The time the task really took ✓

B. The time the team originally planned

The planned time is the expected duration. The actual duration is what really happened.

Match the Pairs

Task 3: Expected 5 days | Actual 8 days → The task took 3 days longer than planned, so the progress record shows it ran over its expected duration.

Milestone: Prototype approved | Achieved 14 Mar → A key checkpoint was reached and its completion date was noted in the progress record.

Variance is found by subtracting the expected duration from the actual duration; a positive result means the task ran late. → variance = actual_days - expected_days

A progress record entry lists the task, its expected duration, its actual duration and whether a milestone was achieved. → Task: Test login | Exp: 2d | Act: 2d | Milestone: Yes

Task: Build GUI | Actual: 6 days (no expected duration recorded) → Only the actual duration was recorded. Without the expected duration there is nothing to compare it with, so you cannot tell if the task is on track.

Task: Design database | Expected: 4 days | Actual: 4 days | Milestone: not noted although the design was signed off → The milestone achieved was left out. Completing and signing off the design is a milestone and should be recorded with its date.

Key Term

actual vs expected duration

Progress is tracked by recording how long each task really took, comparing it with the planned time, and noting any milestone achieved.

Fill in the Blanks

1. variance = actual - expected

Hint: Type the arithmetic operator that works out how much longer or shorter a task took than planned.

2. if actual > expected: print("Task ran late")

Hint: Type the comparison operator that checks whether the task took longer than the planned time.

3. variance = actual - expected print("Late by", variance, "days")

Hint: Type the variable that holds the difference between actual and expected duration.

4. milestone = False if actual <= expected: milestone = True

Hint: Type the Boolean value that records the milestone was reached on time.

5. actual = [5, 3, 6] total = sum(actual)

Hint: Type the built-in function that adds up every duration in a list.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A expected = 5

B actual == 7

C diff = actual - expected

D print(diff, 'days over')

Line B — A single = stores the actual duration in the variable. == compares two values, so actual is never assigned and the next lines fail. It should be actual = 7.

Question 2

A expected = 4

B actual = 6

C if actual > expected

D print('Behind schedule')

Line C — An if statement must end with a colon. If actual is greater than expected, the task took longer than planned. It should be if actual > expected:

Question 3

A expected = [3, 5, 2]

B actual = [4, 5, 3]

C total = sum[actual]

D print(total)

Line C — sum() is a function, so it is called with round brackets, not square brackets. It should be total = sum(actual).

Question 4

A expected = '6'

B actual = 4

C saved = expected - actual

D print(saved, 'days early')

Line A — Quotes make 6 a string, so expected - actual causes a TypeError. The planned duration must be a number: expected = 6.

Question 5

A milestone_done = True

B actual = 8

C if milestone_done = True:

D print('Milestone met')

Line C — A condition can't use = (assignment). Use the variable alone, or compare with ==. It should be if milestone_done: or if milestone_done == True:

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