Progress Report Writing - A Sample Technical Report attached

 

PROGRESS REPORT WRITING

After your proposal on a project stands successful, funding gets ready and you start working on the project, you stand liable to update your client (mentor or manager) on the progress of your project time after time. Progress reports do this intrinsically for you.

We observe frequent use of progress reports in the fields of pure sciences and engineering where, for the most often, projects run on the coordination of performing body with sponsoring body. This coordination means provision of satisfactory reports in succession. Presumably, if you are part of a research team working on a project funded by some sponsoring organization, you inform, over and over again, to that funding agency via report on the progress you make in order to ensure provision of funds.

However, progress reports in educational milieu address to teachers or supervisors who give feedback on the progress of research work being carried out in the field of interest. His interpretation affects the learner’s final report which determines his success or failure. Therefore, competence in the art of report writing seems inevitable for a successful continuum and completion of a project.

Hence, a satisfactory progress report presents data on the status, progress and immediate future of a particular project. In report, you address your commitment to the prescribed schedule, discuss the status of available sources, justify the utility of funds, and anticipate the results on the basis of current findings.

Although progress reports differ in their information from one another yet, all reports have the following content in common.

1.     THE TITLE

The title ‘Progress Report’ appears at the top of page followed by title of the project, right in the next line, enclosed in quotation marks. Next to that comes the name of author. 

2.     SCOPE AND PURPOSE

A supervisor or manager superintends several projects at a time. Therefore, he expects from the performer to introduce him with the nature, objectives and status of the project in the opening paragraph. In many ways, this paragraph is a satisfactory note for supervisor in that the project is making progress smoothly and likely to end by date. In some cases, he looks for the status of project at the time of last reporting.

3.     PROGRESS

This section includes a para to elaborate how many targets have been achieved in accordance with the proposed timescale over a certain period of time. It also incorporates information on what are the outcomes of those objectives achieved.

4.     ADDITIONAL WORK

In many ways, this section is written to familiarize the client with the part of work awaiting completion. It also includes a discussion on how the performer will meet rest of objectives and what will be their expected results.

5.     PROBLEMS

Though progress reports are written for the convenience of the client yet, very often, they benefit the performer also. In this section, the author discusses the problems that have arisen in the wake of non-availability of resources and proposes their solutions. However, the client is expected to take proper turns to solve the problem. In some unavoidable circumstances, he may ask for revision of objectives set in the proposal. This sort of coordination helps avoid the risks of failure of the project.

6.     ASSESSMENT OF HOW YOU WILL MEET THE OBJECTIVES

In this section, the performer solicits advice from the client or supervisor. Keeping in view the blockers or hardships, the performer may plan to change objectives of the project. In a very professional manner, he may ask for advice from the client on how to tackle with the problems and thus, tempting the latter to signal for change in objectives of the project.

A SAMPLE PROGRESS REPORT

PRPGRESS REPORT

“Construction of a Beam Bridge over the River Chenab near Gujrat

the Province of the Punjab, Pakistan”

By Muhammad Imran

1- SCOPE AND PURPOSE

Since the contract for building a beam bridge over the Chenab River near the city of Gujrat in the province of the Punjab, Pakistan has been finalized, we are working on the project with full zeal and zest. Its significance has become two-fold. On one hand, it will link Gujrat with the Southern part of the Punjab and on the other hand, it will change the entire landscape of the city. Its completion will ease the travelling and transportation from Gujrat to other parts of the country and vice versa.

2- PROGRESS

To date, out of eight, six solid pillars have been installed successfully to support the main beam of the bridge. Add to this, each column has been completed up to its predetermined height. Furthermore, special machinery has been imported from China to drill through the damp sand in the middle of the river and is on work on the site to lay foundations for the rest of two pillars, hopefully within time scale: six months.

3- ADDITIONAL WORK

Once the foundation of the last two pillars gets installed, the workers will build the piers to the determined height. It may take a couple of months. Later on, engineers will set iron girders on the piers to build beam. This will not take much time and will be completed within time schedule for ready-made girders have already reached the site. I have planned to hire maximum labour to build beams before time. Finally, barriers on the both sides of the bridge will be installed within a month.

4- PROBLEMS

However, the crank of drilling machine broke suddenly a week before causing insurmountable difficulty in the completion of work in time. The indigenous mechanics show their inability to work on the imported machinery. The only way out is to hire Chinese mechanics who will bring the spare part with them. On the whole, it’s a time taking process and may increase the cost of project.

5- ASSESSMENT OF HOW YOU WILL MEET THE OBJECTIVES

On contacting the Chinese mechanics, it was discovered that they may be available after a month due to their business in some other projects. The only possible loophole demands a cut in the number of pillars or an extension in the timeline of the project. If you see any other solution, your advice will be highly appreciated and adhered.