Project Management Logs
As part of both the mid-year written report and final written report, each capstone team is required to submit a Project Management Log (PML).
Some relevant language from a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Sustainability program: “Teams may create PMLs in various formats, as long as the end result is a cumulative written record of how the project progressed during the year, as evidenced by, e.g., dated progress reports, meeting minutes, task lists, scheduled action items, key strategic/procedural decisions, etc.”
In short: The mid-year and final written reports give snapshots of the project at its mid-point and end, respectively; the PML gives a longitudinal view (and a historical record) of how the project developed and evolved during the course of the year.
PMLs in various formats are acceptable. Teams are encouraged to choose a format that works for them, their project, and their faculty advisor.
Team members may decide to produce log
entries for various activities, including meetings among themselves. But the
expectation is that the PML entries will center upon meetings between teams
and their supervisors. At a minimum, there should be a log entry
for every meeting between teams and their faculty advisor.
A SAMPLE PML FORMAT (just one possibility)
Meeting Date: ______________
Participants: Prof. Jones; Jim Kenline; Rachel Russo; Roberto Lee.
A. Pre-meeting Status Report
1. Summary of project activities since prior team meeting with faculty advisor:
- [item 1]
- [item 2]
- [item 3] etc.
2. Issues, questions, concerns, proposals (can do double-duty as an informal “suggested agenda” for the meeting):
- [item 1]
- [item 2]
- [item 3] etc.
B. Meeting Minutes
(Minutes should be summaries of main points, and relatively brief, e.g., 1-2 pages. Should focus on action items, making clear who is expected to do what in advancing these action items.)