CORE AREA 2 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND CONSUMER STUDIES
Throughputs
This is the active or ‘doing’ stage. Throughputs involve the processes of planning, organising and implementing.
Planning
• Identify the goal: ensure that Colm and Jane attend work for the full day in order to earn money. Ensure that Yvonne and David get to their lessons: à a joint swimming lesson from 16.30 to 17.30 à a guitar lesson for Yvonne at 18.30.
• Identify available resources: how much money and time and what equipment and human skills are available to Colm and Jane?
• Collect relevant information: at what time does each lesson start? Where is each lesson located? How much does each lesson cost?
• Consider the alternatives: à OPTION A
Would it be best for Jane to drive both children to the swimming lesson and then drop David home and continue on to the guitar lesson with Yvonne?
à OPTION B
Would it be best if they divided up the driving, with Jane taking both of the children to the swimming lesson then coming home and Colm taking Yvonne to guitar?
• Consider the consequences of each alternative: à OPTION A
Positive: Colm can get dinner or some household chores done if he does not need to leave the house after returning from work.
Negative: does this option put too much pressure on Jane all evening dropping/ collecting her children to/from their lessons?
à OPTION B Positive: neither of the parents is under pressure to do all the driving and collecting. Negative: what if Colm gets delayed at work and is late getting home so he cannot take Yvonne to her guitar lesson?
• Make a decision: decide between OPTION A or OPTION B. In-depth discussion should be completed between Jane and Colm before making a decision. Chosen option: OPTION A.
• Design a logical plan: Jane is to drive both children to the swimming lesson and then drop David home and continue on to the guitar lesson with Yvonne.
Organising
• Appoint appropriate individuals to tasks: ensure that Jane knows she is bringing both children to their swimming lesson and Yvonne to her guitar lesson.
• Allocate available resources: ensure that money is available for Jane to pay for the swimming and guitar lessons. The car needs to be made available, fuelled and ready to drive.
