Handout for module 11 of a course on project management, Project Supporting Plans. Progress reporting

1. Progress Reporting
Progress reporting is an important part of project management.
The Project Manager should write reports and send them to all stakeholders regularly.
This includes the funder, senior managers and team members. It may also go to the
target group.
The report should be brief (1-2 pages) and sum up the key points in the project. Include:
1. Date
2. Project summary and current status
3. Important issues
4. Any known Risks
5. Current tasks and next steps
6. Decisions Required
7. Upcoming key dates
8. Budget and spending to date.
Good reports keep people informed, involved and committed.
Regular communication is essential to any project. Common mistakes are:
· Poor lines of communication
· Lack of honest communication / unwillingness to communicate bad news
Regular progress reports create a valuable written record of the project through its life.
This can be used later to look back and decide how future projects can be improved.