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4.6: Instructor Notes and Grading Rubric

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    Purpose of ThiSs Milestone (Instructor Perspective)

    Milestone 3 represents a pivotal transition in the practicum. It challenges students to evolve from strategic thinkers to execution planners.

    Where Milestone 2 focused on structure and alignment, this chapter demands:

    • Clear task decomposition
    • Rational and defendable time and effort estimates
    • Logical sequencing of work
    • Stakeholder-centered milestone design
    • A planning package that could be handed off to a real-world delivery team

    This milestone helps students:

    • Practice operational realism
    • Move beyond checklists and templates
    • Design for clarity, flow, and accountability
    • Integrate technical and team perspectives into one cohesive plan

    Instructor Guidance

    When reviewing submissions, focus on these five lenses:

    1. Integrity of Structure
      1. Is the WBS complete, traceable, and appropriately granular?
      2. Does the task decomposition reflect both deliverables and execution flow?
    2. Planning Logic
      1. Are task sequences rational and feasible?
      2. Are milestones placed where meaningful progress or handoffs occur?
    3. Estimation Maturity
      1. Are time and effort estimates realistic and explained?
      2. Do assumptions reflect real-world constraints?
    4. Execution Readiness
      1. Could a team use this plan as a foundation for resource allocation and kickoff?
      2. Are risks, blockers, or unknowns acknowledged in the Planning Readiness Review?
    5. Professional Presentation
      1. Is the submission client-ready in tone, format, and clarity?
      2. Is the documentation scannable and usable by someone outside the team?

    Grading Rubric (Total: 100 Points)

    Milestone 3 Grading Rubric
    Section Criteria Points
    Section 1: Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Task hierarchy is clear, complete, and aligned to deliverables; tasks are actionable and logically grouped 20 pts
    Section 2: Dependencies and Sequencing Each task has logical relationships; flow supports delivery model; external dependencies flagged 15 pts
    Section 3: Effort and Duration Estimation Estimates are realistic, reasoned, and clearly documented with assumptions 15 pts
    Section 4: Milestone Schedule Milestones are meaningful, well-placed, and align with stakeholder engagement 15 pts
    Section 5: Planning Readiness Review Internal consistency confirmed; open risks and assumptions surfaced transparently 15 pts
    Execution Readiness & Coherence Plan could realistically guide a delivery team or be handed off to stakeholders 10 pts
    Professionalism & Communication Tone, structure, formatting, and documentation are client-facing and scannable 10 pts

    Grading Scale

    Milestone 3 Performance Scale
    Score Range Grade Descriptor
    90–100 A Outstanding. Professional-grade planning package suitable for real execution. Clear structure, strong logic, and defensible thinking.
    80–89 B Strong planning. Mostly consistent and well-aligned; may include minor gaps or formatting issues.
    70–79 C Basic completion. Key elements are present but may lack realism, alignment, or readiness for use.
    60–69 D Incomplete or underdeveloped. Missing structure, low clarity, or major logic flaws.
    Below 60 F Not functional as a planning document. Cannot support delivery or be reviewed meaningfully.

    Feedback Prompts (For Instructor Comments)

    Use the following language when writing coaching-based feedback:

    • “Consider revisiting the sequencing logic—could any tasks run concurrently?”
    • “Milestones are clear, but consider adding a note on stakeholder involvement.”
    • “Estimates feel conservative—can you add assumptions to justify them?”
    • “Strong WBS structure—can you clarify how external dependencies are managed?”
    • “Planning review shows leadership—excellent attention to gaps and unknowns.”
    • “Try formatting your tables to make scanning easier for a real delivery lead.”

    Instructor Tips for In-Class Facilitation or Review Sessions

    • Have students peer-review each other’s WBS or sequencing maps and identify improvement opportunities
    • Conduct a group workshop on defending effort estimates with logic and constraints
    • Ask students to “pitch” their milestone schedule to a mock sponsor or executive panel
    • Use the Planning Readiness Review as a discussion tool: what would you change if this plan went live?

    This page titled 4.6: Instructor Notes and Grading Rubric was last modified on Wed, 02 Sep 2026 04:01:37 GMT and is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Sukhjit "Bob" Singh.

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