What is performance reporting? It’s an important activity in project communication management. It involves collecting and disseminating project information, communicating project progress, utilization of resources, and forecasting future progress and status to various stakeholders, as decided in the communication management plan.
During the process of performance reporting, the work results of other processes are also analyzed and combined into performance reports. They are typically done in tabular or graphical formats that may be text-based, visual-based (such as charts, graphs, or tables), or most often a combination of both.
Overall, the elaborate reports may include:
- Analysis of past performance.
- Summary of changes approved in the reporting period.
- Current status of risks and issues.
- Results of variance analysis.
- Work completed during the reporting period.
- Work to be completed during the next reporting period.
- Forecasted project completion.
- Other relevant information to be reviewed and asked by stakeholders.
Read more: Common Project Risks and How to Tackle Them?
Performance Report Types
Fundamentally, performance reports are comparisons of project performance to the project performance baseline, and can include:
Status Reports
This gives the current state of a project at any given time. This kind of report describes where the project stands at that moment with regard to the performance measurement baseline. Using this, managers can also get the current snapshot of the project with respect to the scope, time, cost, and quality parameters.
Progress Report
This type of report describes what has been accomplished since the last time/last report.
Forecasting Report
This report states what is expected to happen on a project, predicting future performance and expected status of the project in various parameters. This helps in tracking and allocation of resources for better utilization.
Trend Report
This report shows a comparison between the current performance of the project and the last performance of the project during the same time duration. For example, performance could be compared monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. This type of report examines project performance over time to see if it is improving or degrading.
Variance Report
This report shows a comparison between the planned progress and actual progress made.
Earned Value report
This report integrates project performance on scope, schedule, and cost measures using earned value management techniques. The components of this report are often merged into status reports.
What Goes into Performance Reporting?
Project Management Plan
The Project Management Plan provides information on project baselines. The project deviations, which are reported in performance reports, are compared against the project performance baseline. The performance measurement baseline typically integrates the scope, schedule, and cost parameters of the project, but may also include technical and quality parameters.
Work Performance Information (WPI)
This is the information that is obtained from project activities, which is then collected on performance results such as –
- Deliverables status
- Schedule progress
- Cost incurred
Work Performance Measurement
Work Performance Information is used to generate project activity metrics to evaluate actual progress compared to planned progress in Project Management. These metrics include –
- Planned versus actual schedule performance
- Planned versus actual cost performance
- Planned versus actual technical performance
Budget Performance Reports
Budget Forecasts provide information about the funds that are required to complete the remaining project work, as well as total fund estimates for the completion of project work.
Organizational Process Assets
The Organizational Process Assets that are used during the reporting of project performance includes, but is not limited to –
- Report Templates
- Policies and procedures that define the measurement indicators to be used
- Organizationally defined variance limits.
Choose the Right Program
Unlock your project management potential with Simplilearn's comprehensive training. Gain the skills and knowledge needed to lead successful projects, boost efficiency, and exceed goals. Choose the right project management course today and advance your career with confidence.
Program Name
PMP® Certification Training Course
PMP Plus
Post Graduate Program In Project Management
Geo All Geos All Geos All Geos University PMI Simplilearn University of Massachusetts Amherst Course Duration 90 Days of Flexible Access to Online Classes
36 Months 6 Months Coding experience reqd No No No Skills you wll learn 8+ PM skills including Work Breakdown Structure, Gantt Charts, Resource Allocation, Leadership and more. 6 courses including Project Management, Agile Scrum Master, Implementing a PMO, and More 9+ skills including
Project Management, Quality Management, Agile Management, Design Thinking and More.Additional Benefits Experiential learning through case studies
Global Teaching Assistance
35PDUsLearn by working on real-world problems
24x7 Learning support from mentorsEarn 60+ PDU’s
3 year course accessCost $$ $$$$ $$$$ Explore Program Explore Program Explore Program
Conclusion
If you are working toward your PMP exam, Simplilearn offers a variety of Project Management courses that will help you pass, including the PMP® Certification and Post Graduate Program in Project Management. Our PMP training courses are conducted by certified, highly experienced professionals with at least 10 years of experience in multiple Project Management training courses and learning paths.
Courses are designed to help aspiring project managers get the education they need—not only to pass certification exams like the PMP® but also real-world knowledge useful for any project management career.
Interested in learning more? View the video “Introduction to PMP® Certification Training” below.
