Weekly Project Status Report Template [Excel, Word, PDF]

A weekly project status report template is a beneficial document required by the people who have to provide the raw materials and other demands of the project in certain weeks. This document is commonly used by the project managers, the project team, the clients of the project, and the suppliers. It is used to record and present the weekly status of projects. Furthermore, it informs the stakeholders whether or not the project is progressing with the project’s timeline and standards of quality.

Functions of a Weekly Project Status Report:

There are important factors that should be considered while creating a weekly project status report. All the information regarding plans and process should be aligned, evaluated, and polished. This will make it easier for all the members involved in the project to provide their deliverable. It also helps in achieving the project objectives. Below are some functions of a weekly project status report;

• It defines the constraints that are faced by the project team. Constraints may include the project schedule, budget, workforce, and other deliverable. This allows the stakeholders to come up with simple plans that, make sure the scope of the project will not be affected by threats.
• It promotes a step-by-step and continuous manner of understanding of the current project. Along with the current project, it also informs the required changes when it comes to its requirements and demands. So, depending on the success and failures of the current week, the objectives of the next week period can be explained.
• This report provides detailed information of all the weekly achievements of the project team. These details act as reference for evaluating the level of development.

Significance of a Weekly Project Status Report:

The weekly project status report is used to keep all stakeholders are on the same page for the project’s current condition as well as the next steps. In this way, a better understanding can be developed between all the parties involved in the project. Moreover, this report is made to present not just the general status of the project, but also all the weekly updates such as;

• The project team,
• The suppliers of the project,
• Situation of the project stocks and inventory,
• Necessary calls to actions that should be done in order to face project constraints in an effective way.

The importance of developing the weekly project status report is listed below;

• With the help of this report, the project team can display the constraints that may affect the project and its development. Hence, the project team must be prepared for these constraints in order to minimize or eliminate that impact.
• A comprehensive report can minimize the evaluation scope of the project. You can easily determine the weak areas of the project. By knowing them, you can build up the dynamics, efficiency, productivity, and effectiveness of the project team.

What is the purpose of a status report in project management?

Keeping your team and stakeholders up-to-date about the current status of the project is the main purpose of this report in project management. The report enables you to share details of your project on a regular basis. In addition, by delivering status reports and conducting regular status meetings, you make sure that the expectations you built at the start of your project are consistently reviewed with a well-made plan. Also, it reaffirms that you are proceeding to the delivery of your final product.

You, your stakeholders, and the internal team by using the project status report template remain honest about their work and issues. It also makes your relationship with your team and clients stronger.

What to include in a weekly project status report?

A weekly project status report should include the following essential elements;

Introductory note

Your weekly project status report should give a brief introduction to the main topics. It will give your readers instructions about the most important parts of the project status report. Furthermore, it also prepares them for the follow-up discussion about these topics.

Summary

In the summary section of the report, specify all the things that happened on your project in the previous week and the things that you will achieve in the coming week. Use bullets to provide details about;

• The status of tasks
• Deliverables
• Meetings
• Communications
• Decisions
• Any other pertinent details

Completion of project timeline

You need to specify the overall completion percentage for your whole project and each project phase in this section of the report.

Budget status

When it comes to your remaining project budget, don’t keep your stakeholders in the dark. You need to share the overall budget of tasks you are working on. To determine how transparent you should be in the weekly status report, discuss the budget status with your team or leadership.

Expected tasks and milestones

List important milestones as well as upcoming holidays and events here. It would be recommended to provide more details about the tasks and milestones. In the report, use a table to outline specific items that you call out each time you send an update to your team.

Action items

Track the number of to-dos or action items that you have to perform to meet the milestones. Each action item is assigned to every team member so that they understand exactly what’s expected of them.

Project risks and mitigation plans

It would be possible that things go wrong on projects so keep an eye on issues and risks associated with your project.

How to create your own Weekly Status Project Report?

Here are some of the useful tips on making your own weekly project status report;

• Your project report should be aligned with the actual requirements and the condition of the project. It must contain accurate and precise information because on the basis of this report you may take next decision.
• Next, take credible and firsthand information. There are point persons that can provide you all information that you require.
• Outline the content of the report on a template given by the project head or the client. Furthermore, all the details should be presented in an organized and understandable way. In the end, summarize your findings to give an overview of the project condition. You may also see the expense report excel template.

How to write a weekly project status report?

Consider the following steps to write a great project status report;

Create your report where work lives

You should track your work information in a project management tool before creating your project status report. With a project management tool, you can easily grab dependencies and note upcoming tasks.

Name your report

Using the project name is a great option to eliminate confusion. Also, include a date or timestamp if you have to report on the project daily.

Specify project health

The current status of the project is the project’s health. It may vary from report to report. You should use a project management tool to track and communicate the project’s status.

Summarize the project status report

Keep the summary of your report brief; not more than 2-3 sentences. This report provides the goal of the entire report. It is specially created for readers who may not have time to read the report. Additionally, include the following details;

• Highlights
• Major blockers
• Unexpected project risks

Include a high-level overview of every key area

Keep in mind that your key areas may vary from report to report or may stay consistent. Add a few bullet points for each key area in the report. It should provide an update on progress, accomplishments, and upcoming work.

Add links to other resources

Provide links to documents or resources for stakeholders who want to look for more in-depth information. This may include more specific project details such as;

• Specific project milestones
• The broader impacts of the project
• A reference to the business goals

Mention the next steps

Here, you need to mention the next steps and anything else you want to highlight.

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Conclusion:

In conclusion, a weekly project status report template helps the entities involved in the project about their pending call to action and the future responsibilities that they will be assigned to. It presents the weekly general status of the project and all updates.

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