Following are some suggested formats for status reporting. You are invited to share with us a format you are using that you have found particularly useful. We may include your format, with slight modification, in this collection of examples.
Format # 1
The simplest format is to have employees list their results expectations on one side of the page and then, each month, enter the status of each item on the right side of the page. The status notes the employee enters should cover both the results achieved to date and any issues concerning the items. The advantage of this format is that it is simple and it ties the reporting directly to the employee’s results expectations.
Results Expectations
Status
Format #2
The following format is more activity-based, focusing on what the employee has done during the reporting period. To tie the reporting to results expectations, each entry should be linked to a particular goal or result expectation.
Results Expectation 1
Results Expectation
Task
Expected Completion
Actual Completion
Results Expectation 2
Results Expectation
Task
Expected Completion
Actual Completion
Results Expectation 3
Results Expectation
Task
Expected Completion
Actual Completion
Results Expectation 4
Results Expectation
Task
Expected Completion
Actual Completion
Format #3
This format recognizes that employees engage in various activities and carry out various projects in order to produce the results expected. The format is organized around results expectations, but asks employees to list the major tasks and projects they engaged in during the month to produce those expected outcomes. If the outcomes themselves are trackable from month to month, updated results data can also be included. This format also enables employees to list what they will do in the next month, as well as what they did in the preceding month. Additional sections, at the bottom of the form, provide space to identify issues and to list other tasks that consumed employees’ time during the past month, but did not contribute to achieving results expectations.
Goal #1
Activities last month that contributed to goal achievement
Activities planned this month that contribute to goal achievement
Major activities engaged in last month that contributed to goal achievement
Issues that pose a risk to achieving goals and that need to be addressed
Goal 2
Activities last month that contributed to goal achievement
Activities planned this month that contribute to goal achievement
Major activities engaged in last month that contributed to goal achievement
Issues that pose a risk to achieving goals and that need to be addressed
Goal 3
Activities last month that contributed to goal achievement
Activities planned this month that contribute to goal achievement
Major activities engaged in last month that contributed to goal achievement
Issues that pose a risk to achieving goals and that need to be addressed
Format #4
The following format organizes the status information by separating what has been achieved from what has yet to be done.
Accomplishments
Briefly describe what has been accomplished since the last status report. Include only the significant achievements.
Issues
Briefly describe any problems or obstacles encountered. Include only those that need to be escalated, that is, that the supervisor receiving the report needs to get involved in.
Next
Significant results to be achieved before the next report
.
Format #5
Here is a suggested structure for a status report for projects. Note that usually each major project requires a separate status report .
