31 Jan The word “report”

Module 3 Discussion

“Do it, or write about it?”

The word “report” has six letters, yet for many project managers, it falls into the category of “four letter words” – an epithet uttered in anger, derision, or disgust. A common sentiment concerning reports is, “Do you want me to actually DO my job, or spend my time WRITING about it? Just go away!”

In many instances, such as the corporate annual report to stockholders, or the military efficiency report, writing the report is a required exercise. Everyone knows how the game is played; what is to be taken seriously, and what is mere boilerplate. But project reports are a bit different. In most cases, they’re optional – which makes them an even greater nuisance, when they’re seen to be performing no useful function. Please see Wideman’s article, “Is it time to scrap project status reports?” (Wideman, 2014; link below).

Please reflect upon your own experience as a producer of reports. It would be a project report, an efficiency report, or something as mundane as writing report cards for a class of schoolchildren. Does Wideman’s (2014) critique resonate with your experience? Why or why not?