The plan stage contains detailed, logical steps describing the use of resources and timing. To ensure enough detail, one should create a Gantt chart showing the long-term plan and timeline for completing stages, with an explanation. One should also create a step-by-step plan describing exact steps, resources needed, and precise timings for each step. The plan stage critically evaluates and justifies any modifications to the original plan, showing reflection on how the work can be improved.

1. Plan Stage

3. “…contains a number of detailed,
logical steps…”
• This means DETAIL – exact tasks, planned
precisely
“…that describe the use of resources
and time.”
• This means you must clearly state, in detail, ALL the dates
and timings of your plans.
• It also means you must in detail list any resources you need
for a particular task, in order to complete it.

4. Ways of ensuring you have done a
detailed enough plan
1) Create a GANTT chart:
– The GANTT chart will show you have made a long
term plan, that shows how long you plan on
spending on the rest of the stages of the Design
Cycle.
– You should ensure you have a paragraph of text
with the GANTT chart explaining what it is
showing and why you have made it.

5. 2) Create a step-by-step plan:
- This should describe the exact steps you
need to take to create the product.
- It should give precise detail.
- It should include any resources you need to
use for all the steps.
- It should include precise timings (dates and
times) for all the steps.

6. “…critically evaluates the plan and
justifies any modifications…”
• This means you must be critical of your plans
– find things that could be improved.
• Explain why you changed your plans from your
original designs if you did this.
• It should show you are reflecting on your
work.
• As always, you get marks for criticism – don’t
praise the work saying ‘it doesn’t need
improvement’. We can always improve!