As a manager, you can likely count on one hand the number of projects you’ve launched without a hitch.
Challenges are inevitable when overseeing a new initiative. Luckily, having an issue monitoring tool helps your team circumnavigate obstacles to maintain timelines, deliverables, and morale.
One such resource is an issue log — either as a stand-alone document or a catalog using project management software. This record allows you to track and address problems as they arise, preventing minor hiccups from evolving into major crises.
In project management, an issue log or register is a tool for reporting issues (any events that negatively impact progress and performance), communicating corrective action, and monitoring resolutions. Unlike project risks, which managers can anticipate using a SWOT analysis or TOWS matrix and document in a risk register, issues are unforeseeable. Dealing with them requires fast thinking and establishing a resolution plan as they arise.
Issue logs can take a variety of forms. Your team can create a simple list, use an Excel spreadsheet, or implement a tracking function within project management software to document issues in real time and monitor solutions.
At their most basic, these records archive and track issues and resolution statuses. But including additional details and context creates a dynamic issue management tool for documenting vital data. A complete picture of project hurdles helps your team prioritize and manage challenges continuously while cataloging valuable knowledge for future planning.
Depending on your project, your issue log might contain:
To truly benefit stakeholders, a project’s issue log must be accessible and contain up-to-the-minute information. It’s a living document that provides status visibility so teams can adjust their workflows and expectations to accommodate problem-solving efforts.
Recording project management issues helps kickstart problem-solving and avoid disruption to progress, outcomes, and stakeholder expectations. Issue log documents:
Creating an issue log for one-off projects simply involves filling out an Excel spreadsheet. Designate columns across the top of the table with data categories and fill in the rows as necessary.
A straightforward example template might look like this:
| ID # | Description | Category | Status | Priority | Raised by | Assigned to | Open date | Progress | Completion date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-01 | Fault found in primary circuit | Hardware | Open | High | Kelly J. | Ingmar F. | 12-01-23 | 50% | Expected: 02-02-23 | Requires circuit board redesign |
| A-02 | Delivery of materials delayed | Third-party | Closed | Med | Jackson K. | Francis B. | 18-01-23 | 100% | 19-01-23 | Sourced parts from another supplier on a short-term contract |
| A-03 | Product documentation incomplete | Development | In- progress | Low | Marshall R. | Ayesha M. | 22-02-23 | 25% | Expected: 05-03-23 | The team has the required specs, but Dev needs to formally add them to the project file |
For more complex initiatives that involve multiple cross-functional teams, project management software like Jira can ensure visibility and accessibility for everyone involved. Integrated features like forms, automation, and customizable templates make maintaining your records seamless.
When you sync your project management application with visualization software like Tempo’s Roadmunk, you’ll have a roadmap to guide team solutions. And this visual representation of ongoing and completed tasks helps organize workflows for maximum efficiency.
Incorporating standard best practices into your issue management helps you and your team optimize your issue log. Here are some primary considerations for maintaining an effective record.
Every challenge has a unique context, so log entries should be as specific as possible to help team members jump right into problem-solving. Chronicling an issue’s fine details at the outset prevents wasting time hunting down background information.
When someone creates a new log entry, don’t just assume your team is actively addressing the problem. Assign research and resolution tasks to individuals and check in regularly to ensure team members have the necessary resources.
Ensure your log is current by regularly evaluating priorities, closing out resolved matters, and providing task-by-task status updates. This lets your teammates understand which issues are still open, adjust workflows and expectations, and offer their support.
For complex issues, especially those with dependencies, note milestones within the corrective action plan. These markers should be more significant than your routine updates, indicating the solution’s overall progress and making it easy for stakeholders to understand where the project stands.
Whether implementing a new strategy or managing IT matters, product roadmaps, or project development, Tempo’s Jira-enabled Roadmunk software provides audience-friendly management templates. Use these resources to track issues, align teams with solutions, and centralize collaboration. And because Roadmunk works hand-in-hand with Jira, tickets automatically sync to linked items in the roadmap, keeping your team continuously up to date.
