As a project manager, you can use various control tools (numeric, tabular, or graphic, depending on the individual project or project manager preference) to keep team members apprised of the progress of the project. Wysocki discusses several reporting tools and processes in Chapter 9.

A project reporting system should have several features in place:

• Provides timely, complete, and accurate status information
• Does not add too much overhead time and hence become counterproductive
• Is readily acceptable to the project team and management
• Warns of pending problems in time to take action
• Is easily understood by those who have a need to know

For this component, prepare documentation on how you will track and report the project progress. Your plan should include the following:

• Timing of information: How often the information is communicated
• Content of information: What content is communicated and who receives that information
• Process reporting tools: Which tools you will use
• Communication channels: How you will communicate. This can include face-to-face meetings, videoconferencing, teleconferencing, email, written materials, phone calls, etc.