Action Item Tracking

Action items for projects should be tracked so that project managers do not lose track of them. Action items for action plans should also be tracked. Doing so ensures that action items will not be lost and that objectives should be met.Keeping action item tracking logs can help facilitate communication on large projects.

Whatever the reasons for tracking action items, it is important that they are tracked and if necessary, assigned or delegated to responsible parties. Unassigned action items are useless as they will most likely never be completed.

Action items can be tracked by a number of methods. The first method for tracking action items is the utilization of an action item log. With an action item log, anyone can record the action item as it presents itself. Action logs should allow team memebers to record:

• Action Item
• Date
• Date by Which Resolution Must Occur
• Description of the Action Item

Project managers will then need to go over the action item log daily in order to assign the action items so they can be completed.

A second method for tracking action items is to create a spreadsheet in Excel. The spreadsheet should contain columns:

• Date the Action Item was Created
• Information Concerning the Action Item
• Who the Action Item has been Assigned to
• Any Associated Deadline
• Action Item Status

A third method for tracking action items is to use project management software such as Microsoft Project 2007 or Central Desktop. By utilizing project management software to track action items, you can take advantage of features such as email notification when you assign action items to team members and checklists that mark action items as completed.

No system for tracking action items is complete without follow up. Some action items will only require that you check them off when they have been completed. Other action items may be recurring and require more follow up.

Make sure that action items are monitored closely, because if they aren't being assigned, they aren't being completed. If they aren't being completed, there is no reason that they should be tracked.