Phil Druker/Department of English/ University of Idaho

English 317 / Phil Druker

THE PROGRESS REPORT

When you have a job with a company or any organization, your bosses will want you to keep track of the progress you are making on your work. One way for them to do this is to ask you to write a progress report. They may have a form for this, or they may expect you to complete a memo.

In your progress reports you should answer these three main questions:

1. What progress have you made (what did you accomplish) during the time period?

2. What problems have you encountered, and how will you solve those problems?

3. Are you on schedule (if not what will you do to get back on schedule)?

The following is a general outline for a progress report memo.  (Also see the sample below.)

SUBJECT: Progress Report: (title of project plus the period covered)

I. Introduction/Purpose

--Purpose of the report: Very briefly explain the project.

Briefly explain what this progress report is for.

--Time period covered. Usually this will be from the date of the last progress report you submitted to the present date.

 

II. Work completed before this report. (dates)

Provide a brief summary of what your previous progress reports contained. Briefly explain the work you have completed before the time period that this report covers.

III. Work completed during this time period. (dates)

Explain what you have accomplished. Provide details. In some cases, you will even want to provide some of the important data you have obtained through your recent work by summarizing your results.

 

IV. Work you need to complete before you finish the project.

--What is the next step?

--When do you expect to complete the next step?

--What do you still need to do?

--When do you expect to complete the project?

 

V. Problems you have encountered/Conclusion.

--Explain any unexpected developments.

--Explain what you plan to do to correct these problems.

--State whether the project is on schedule.

--If not, why not?

--How do you plan to correct these problems?

--When will you be back on schedule?