PROJECT PLANNING WORKSHEET
Science: Interdisciplinary project
Languages: Interdisciplinary project
Project planning worksheet
1.
What?
The first stage in planning the project is to identify the major tasks within your
project. The completion of each major task is usually refe rred to as a milestone.
For example, if your project involves carrying out a number of surveys, you may
identify the task as ‘Carry out surveys’. The milestone would be ‘Surveys
complete’.
Sometimes deliverables are associated with milestones. In real -life projects, a
deliverable is something that is handed over to the client. Often this takes the
form of a report. For example, it may be that the surveys are analysed and a
summary is produced. The deliverable associated with the milestone would then
be the survey report.
First, identify the major tasks that will make up your project. This is not an
insignificant task and you may find that it takes a while to get there. Some
people find that constructing a diagram such as a mind map helps them focus
their ideas. (Look up mind maps on the internet if you need a reminder of what
they are or how to construct them.)
Write down your major tasks on the next page. Don’t include planning as that is
what you are doing now, but identify the tasks that you will need to complete in
order to carry out and to review and evaluate your project. Identify the milestone
associated with each task. If there is a deliverable complete that column,
otherwise leave it blank. (You may wish to refer to the notes on marking and
grading your project to remind you what you must submit .)
Also, don’t worry about timing – just by listing tasks you are not saying that one
must be complete before the next one starts. You can consider dependencies in
the next section.
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PROJECT PLANNING WORKSHEET (SCOTTISH BACCALAUREATE)
© Learning and Teaching Scotland 2011
PROJECT PLANNING WORKSHEET
Major task
Milestone
Deliverable
(if appropriate)
The next stage is to break down the major tasks into subtasks. For example, some
subtasks of the ‘Carry out surveys’ task might be




ask head teacher for permission
make up survey
test survey on friends
etc.
For each major task, write down the subtasks using the table on the next page.
Again, you will not find this easy because you can not predict what is going to
happen when you actually carry out your project. Just give it your best attemp t at
this stage and, as before, do not worry about timing. Just because you write the
tasks down one under the other does not mean you are saying they have to be
carried out in that order.
If you used a mind map for the first stage, you may wish to devel op it further
before writing down the subtasks.
PROJECT PLANNING WORKSHEET (SCOTTISH BACCALAUREATE)
© Learning and Teaching Scotland 2011
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PROJECT PLANNING WORKSHEET
Major task
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Subtasks
PROJECT PLANNING WORKSHEET (SCOTTISH BACCALAUREATE)
© Learning and Teaching Scotland 2011
PROJECT PLANNING WORKSHEET
2.
When?
Once you have identified your tasks and subtasks you need to plan the timing of
your project. You have a set submission date, by which time all aspects of the
project must be completed, and obviously that must be taken into account when
deciding on timing.
Most people find that estimating how long something is going to take is difficult.
You need to decide what unit of measurement of time you are going to use to
give your estimate: hours, days, weeks, months? Think about that before
proceeding any further.
Try to put a rough time duration beside each of the subtasks you have listed
above.
You now need to decide how you are going to represent your tasks, subtasks and
durations. The most common way of doing this is to use a Gantt chart (see
example), which allows start and end dates to be clearly seen. It also shows task
dependencies (ie where a task or subtask needs to be completed before the next
one starts), and allows you to schedule and show tasks which can run
concurrently with each other.
If you wish to use a Gantt chart, download the template and enter your tasks and
subtasks. Wherever possible, list them with the earlier tasks at the top.
Now put in the durations. You will have to make decisions about task
dependencies and scheduling at this stage.
You do not have to use a Gantt chart. You can use other methods, such as a
diary.
3.
Risks
Now look at your task list and think about the risks to the success of your
project. For example, a project which has as a subtask ‘Ask the head teacher for
permission…’ is at risk from the head saying ‘No’.
Think about contingency plans, ie what can you do to overcome a problem
should it arise?
PROJECT PLANNING WORKSHEET (SCOTTISH BACCALAUREATE)
© Learning and Teaching Scotland 2011
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PROJECT PLANNING WORKSHEET
List risks and contingencies here:
Risk
4.
Contingency
Now complete the project plan form
Once you have completed the Risks and Contingency table you are ready to
download the project planning form and complete it using the work you have
done here.
If you have used a mind map, a Gantt chart, a diary or any other supplementary
evidence, include it when you hand in the project planning form.
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PROJECT PLANNING WORKSHEET (SCOTTISH BACCALAUREATE)
© Learning and Teaching Scotland 2011