Status Report
$12
Watch the walkthrough2:10
Watch the walkthrough2:10
- Word document
- 3 pages
- 1-page report
A status report is not a diary. It is a decision tool. Your sponsor and steering committee should be able to read it in two minutes and know three things: are we on track, what is at risk, and what do you need from me.
The most common failure is the report that is green until the week it turns red. This template pushes you to show the rating for each area, name the top risks, and ask for decisions early.
- Ratings by area. Overall, schedule, budget, scope, risks and resources, each Red, Amber or Green with one line.
- Accomplishments and next week. Three to five bullets each. Results, not activity.
- Top risks and issues. No more than five, each with owner, rating and next step.
- Decisions needed. Who decides, by when, and what slips if they do not.
- Milestones and budget summary. Baseline against forecast, and baseline, spent, percent spent, contingency left and any pending change.
Also included in Complete Toolkit ($99), Communication and Closeout Pack ($29), Executive Reporting Kit ($27).
Gray bracketed guidance shows what to write in each section. The Northwind example pages can be deleted. Licensed for use by the individual purchaser on their own projects.
See the Status Report in action
A quick tour of the document, narrated by Cassandra Taylor, PMP: what goes in each section and what the finished example looks like.
Read the transcript
Most status reports are green, green, green, and then suddenly red. Your sponsor never saw it coming. A status report is not a diary. It is a decision tool.
I'm Cassandra Taylor, and this is the Weekly Status Report. A one page Word template, plus a finished example, ready to send on Friday.
Rate each area honestly. Schedule, budget, scope, risks, and resources, then set the overall rating. Overall is never better than the worst area, unless you say why. In the Northwind example, five areas are amber, resources is green, and every rating comes with one line of proof.
Write results, not activity. Three to five accomplishments, with the person and the date. "Security sign off received February 5" beats "worked on security review." Then plan next week the same way, so every bullet can be checked next Friday.
Limit the lists. No more than five risks and issues, each with an owner, a rating, and a next step. Everything else belongs in the RAID log.
Then ask for decisions early. Say who decides, by when, and what slips if they wait. Here, steering must approve the change request by February 16, or the work orders cannot be built before testing starts March 22.
Close the page with milestones and the budget. Go live holds May 24. 47% is spent, $20,000 of contingency is left, and a $38,000 change is pending.
Send it every week, same day, same time, same people. Consistency builds trust. Add the Weekly Status Report to your cart, and make sure green never turns red by surprise.
What's inside
Pages
Cover and how to use, the blank template, and the Northwind example for the week ending Feb 5, 2027.
Send it every week
Same day, same time, same people. Keep it to a page: cut words, not facts.
Rating rule
Overall is never better than the worst area without a stated reason.