Memo
Write a memo to me describing the current status of your formal report. Even if you are directing your formal report to someone else, address your progress report to me.
Your progress report should contain at least one graphic. You may want to use a Gantt chart to describe your work completed, your task breakdown, your work remaining, and your time schedule. (Smartdraw.com, helpuplan.com, ganttchart.com, and conceptdraw.com are good resources for Gantt charts.) You also might want to use a graphic (such as a pie chart) in the budgetary section of your progress report.
Be sure to include the following sections in your progress report.
1.Project Description
Since you have already given a detailed description of your project in your proposal, include only a brief description (at least a paragraph). Be sure to mention the following elements:
- Purpose
- Audience
- Scope
- Format (manual, feasibility study, etc.)
2.Summary of Progress
- Summary of work completed
- Task breakdown
- Successes
- Difficulties and problems
- Unexpected developments and implications
- Budget analysis
- Summary of work remaining
- Task breakdown
- Time schedule
- Cost estimates
- Concerns
- Adjustments
3.Preliminary Outline of Text/First Draft of Table of Contents
4.Overall Appraisal of Work Completed
Preliminary findings
Concluding statement – End the progress report on a positive note, sounding persuasive and confident.
The organizational pattern for a progress report is discussed on page 321 of our textbook, and a sample progress report can be found on pages 323-330.
Your progress report and your formal report proposal both will be included as appendices in the Formal Report that you will submit on December 5, 2022.
