Progress Reports Form and Structure Shelley Thomas
Introduction Progress Reports give: your progress on one particular project the progress of your work on all of your projects
Topics of Discussion Readers’ concerns Report format Introduction Facts and Discussion Conclusions Recommendations Progress Report Superstructure
Readers’ Concerns Audience is primarily concerned with the future Report topic (refresh your readers’ memories) Purpose (why is this work important?) Time Schedule (is the project on schedule?) Problems (if so, explain ... if not, reassure)
Readers’ Concerns (con’t) Results (what have you found out so far?) Future Expectations (what do you expect to happen next?) Conclusions (what action should your readers take?)
Report Format Introduction Facts and Discussion What does the report cover? What is the purpose of the work? Facts and Discussion Past work--is your project progressing as planned? Explain results. Present work--where are you now? Update Gantt Chart (from Proposal) Update Budget (from Proposal)
Report Format (con’t) Future work Conclusions Recommendations What progress do you expect during the next reporting period? Conclusions How do things stand over all? Recommendations What should be done now? These two sections could be combined.
Progress Reports Keep information oriented toward the future. Discuss all sections included in the superstructure. Update the time schedule. Reassure your client that you will complete this project on time.