When multiple teams, timelines, and tasks collide, it’s easy for deadlines to slip—unless you’re tracking them properly. A work in progress report template helps project managers and team leads document progress clearly, spot delays, and keep everyone on the same page. You can use this template to streamline weekly updates, track milestones, and report issues following a consistent format.
Key elements of the work in progress report template
A work in progress report goes beyond a quick update. It’s a tool that helps you track momentum and manage accountability. Here’s what you’ll find in the work in progress report template:
- Project overview: Start with the basics—project name, manager, phase, and status. This sets the context for anyone reading the report, whether they’re part of the team or an external stakeholder.
- Milestones and timelines: Instead of guessing where you are, use this section to compare planned vs actual progress. It helps you spot delays, manage expectations, and course-correct early.
- Risks and issues: Flag potential obstacles before they grow into real problems. You can outline current risks, mitigation strategies, and any unresolved blockers your team is working through.
- Resource tracking: See how your people and skills are being used. This section helps you identify bottlenecks, adjust workloads, and spot any training needs.
- Financial overview: Include budgeted vs actual spend, along with a forecast. A good report gives you financial clarity, not just numbers.
- Action items: Wrap up with the next steps, who’s responsible, and when things are due. This is where progress turns into accountability.
Customizing your work in progress report template
You can easily edit the work in progress report template depending on your industry or team size.
Feel free to rename fields to match your internal terminology. For example, if your team refers to “checkpoints” instead of “milestones” or uses “project owners” instead of “project managers,” update the labels accordingly.
You can also expand the responsible parties section to reflect how your organization operates. Instead of listing one name per task, add space for multiple contributors or entire departments. If both your design and engineering teams are accountable for different parts of a deliverable, they should both be visible in the report.
Another option is to customize the financials section to reflect your budgeting model. If you manage project finances using cost codes, resource-based billing, or phase-specific budgets, build those categories into the template.
Download Lumiform’s work in progress report template today
Keep your progress reports organized, consistent, and easy to share. With this template, you can track progress, flag issues, and assign action items without wasting time formatting a report from scratch. It’s already structured for clear communication—just tweak it to match your workflow and you’re set.