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Year 11

Introduction to project management

I can define the term project management and investigate different methods for project management.

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New
New
Year 11

Introduction to project management

I can define the term project management and investigate different methods for project management.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Project management will decide the success or failure of a project.
  2. The waterfall method is a linear, sequential approach: each phase must be completed before the next one begins.
  3. The agile method of project management is the opposite of the waterfall method.
  4. In the agile method, smaller parts of the project are completed in priority order before quickly moving on to the next.
  5. The hybrid approach combines the best of both the waterfall and agile methods.

Keywords

  • Waterfall - a linear, sequential approach: each phase must be completed before the next one begins

  • Agile - smaller parts of the project are completed in priority order before quickly moving on to the next (the opposite of the waterfall method)

  • Hybrid - starts like the waterfall method by analysing the requirements of the project, then uses the flexibility of the agile method focusing on sprints until the project is complete

  • Critical path - identifying the component parts of a project and assigning priority to each part

Common misconception

Project management will not alter the outcome of a project or make it a success.

Project management will not guarantee success of a project, but effective project management will increase the likelihood of a project being successful.


To help you plan your year 11 computing lesson on: Introduction to project management, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Task B introduces a number of scenarios. You may wish to group the class into smaller groups and assign a scenario to each group. Each group could then feed back their suggestion to the rest of the class.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What do you call the people who work together on a project?

Correct Answer: team, a team

Q2.
Which of the following is a benefit of working in a team on a project?

doing less work
Correct answer: sharing ideas
getting higher marks automatically
avoiding deadlines

Q3.
When planning a project, what is usually the first step?

testing the final product
gathering resources
Correct answer: setting objectives
presenting to an audience

Q4.
Why is it important to set deadlines during a project?

to make the project more difficult
Correct answer: to keep the project on track
to reduce teamwork
to avoid using resources

Q5.
Place these steps in the correct order for starting a school project:

1 - set objectives
2 - gather resources
3 - assign tasks
4 - begin work

Q6.
Match each example to the correct project skill:

Correct Answer:sharing ideas,communication

communication

Correct Answer:planning steps,organisation

organisation

Correct Answer:checking progress,monitoring

monitoring

Correct Answer:helping others,support

support

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the main purpose of project management?

to make projects longer
to avoid teamwork
to increase costs
Correct answer: to ensure a project’s success

Q2.
Put these steps of the waterfall method in the correct order:

1 - gather requirements
2 - design solution
3 - implement solution
4 - test solution

Q3.
Which method focuses on completing smaller parts in order of priority?

Correct Answer: agile, agile method

Q4.
Arrange these actions for using the agile method:

1 - plan sprint
2 - complete tasks
3 - review progress
4 - start next sprint

Q5.
Match each methodology to its description:

Correct Answer:waterfall,linear, sequential approach

linear, sequential approach

Correct Answer:agile,small parts completed in priority order

small parts completed in priority order

Correct Answer:hybrid,combines structure and flexibility

combines structure and flexibility

Correct Answer:critical path,prioritises tasks and their order

prioritises tasks and their order

Q6.
Which project management methodology did not originate from software development?

Correct Answer: critical path method, CPM, critical path