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Clear Project Status Reports

Croagh Patrick

It’s March and we are beginning to see the better weather, beginning to shake off the winter blues. We think of St Patrick and that famous mountain Croagh Patrick.  Croagh Patrick, is one of Mayo's most famous landmarks and is located six miles west of Westport and its height is over 2500ft.  At the summit you have an exquisite view of Connemara, Clew bay, the Neiphin(check spelling) Beg mountain range, Achill and Clare Island.  On a clear day it appears that you can see forever.


Imagine if you could have a top down view of all your projects?  If you could see the up-to-date live status of each one?  We are not talking about electronic bulletin boards that you need a PHD to input and read, but simple Status Reports that give you the information you need.  A Status Report for each project that can be rolled up to a Programme Report is all you need to see the view.  Too much information is dangerous as the real issues get lost and too little information keeps you wondering what is really happening.

So what information is critical?  There are 4 essential items which should be included in your Status Report. Objectives, Schedule, Budget and Risks and Issues


1. Objectives – are you on track to deliver what you set out to do?  How many changes have been logged and approved?  Sometimes when we have a Change Process Control system in place the paperwork gets done and approved but the objectives and quality of the project gets lost and scope creep? sets in.  Always remind yourself of the original objective

2.Schedule – is the project on schedule or not?  How many man days is it behind?  How many days in duration is it late?  Work out the percentage and determine what you can live with.  

3. Budget – Once again work out the parameters.  What overruns can you live with?  Work out your cash flow and expenditure as per the project.  It could be heavy loaded at the beginning.  Don’t be an accountant and just divide by the period of time.  Report on accrued expenditure including scope change.  If you are extremely below budget there is something wrong.

4. Risks and Issues – Risks are Issues just waiting to happen.  All new risks deserve a special mention.   These could be recurring across the organisation.  Categorize your risks into amber and red – there is no such thing as a green risk.

To build a programme report all you need do is lift these 4 items from each project status report to see a clear view of all your projects.  

Let People4projects assist you in designing templates and a report system that suits your needs.