1- 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.
1.1 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.
|
PRPGRESS REPORT “Construction of
Overhead Bridge over the Railway Track in Okara, Punjab, Pakistan” By Muhammad Imran |
1.2 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.
1.3 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.
1.4 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.
1.5 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.
1.6 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.
2- A SAMPLE PROGRESS REPORT
2.1 The Title
“Construction
of a Beam Bridge over the River Chenab near Gujrat
the
Province of the Punjab, Pakistan”
By Muhammad Imran
2.2 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.
2.3 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.
2.4 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.
2.5 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.
2.6 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.
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