Found this today and couldn’t resist reposting.
from ilovecharts.tumblr.com
I think I’ve written on project status report updates before.
You can totally over do them. Really.
Your status update should inform, yes, but it can — should? — also motivate.
Or de-motivate.
You may need to create multiple status updates for different audiences: really high-level for the sponsor and stakeholders; more detailed for project team.
But not too detailed, even for project team.
So how do you do that?
I really like the One-Page Project Manager (OPPM) as a communication and planning tool.
The whole friggin’ thing on one page.
With pictures.
Really.
Check it out at http://www.onepageprojectmanager.com.
And that’s not even an affiliate link.
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For me the golden rule of status reports is – never spend more than 5 minutes on them. If you do, then you’re providing too much information!
[Reply]
Max Reply:
April 8th, 2010 at 07:31
@Expert Program Management, Thanks for the idea! For me, I find that a typical rule of writing applies: it takes longer to write a short piece well. If I want the status report to be brief, say, just 1 page, then it takes me, the writer, more time to write it well. But the end goal is the same — a concise, revealing, accurate project report that’s quickly consummable by stakeholders and sponsors.
[Reply]
Expert Program Management Reply:
April 8th, 2010 at 09:29
Hi Max,
Thinking about this a little more… the way I keep myself to 5 minutes is to limit miself to:
- maximum 3 achievments in the period
- maximum 3 issues & risks faced + the approach being taken
Also – use a template so you just need to complete key details each week
[Reply]
Max Reply:
April 8th, 2010 at 13:15
@Expert Program Management, Good advice! Thanks for sharing that with me.