Managing your time

Module 3: Managing your time

Keeping project records and notes

When project managing it is essential to keep clear and concise notes about the process. These project notes are distinct from those you make when you are researching; research notes need different methods of referencing, recording, storage and retrieval. Here we are focusing on your project notes.

Click 'Play' to watch a student and three supervisors talk about the importance of keeping notes throughout the course of a project.

Project-management skills

It is important to keep clear and detailed notes as part of the project-management process, especially if you are working as part of a group and you need to share notes with others. If you are being assessed on how you project manage, there may be criteria relating to how and when you make notes.

Fill in the blanks to complete the suggestions on how to make useful project notes, then hover over the feedback button to see our thoughts.

For supervisory meetings, your notes should include what you planned to discuss, the discussion itself and agreed with deadlines. Send your notes to your supervisor after the meeting to check that they agree with them.

For group project meetings, take turns to be the note-taker. Take notes on what you planned to discuss, the discussion itself, agreed actions, named action-taker/s, and deadlines. After the meeting, the notes.

Stakeholder meeting notes should include what you planned to discuss, the discussion itself and agreed actions with named action-taker and deadlines. Follow up with a thank you and a of agreed actions and plans/dates for further meetings.

Always keep notes when you are reviewing your project. Record not just the decisions but also identify any and the stages of identifying a solution.

Write down any thoughts or ideas in a project diary. If you are having a problem, see if you can by writing about it.

Keeping a updated blog can be a great way of keeping your supervisor and other interested stakeholders up to date.

For supervisory meetings, your notes should include what you planned to discuss, the discussion itself and agreed __________ with deadlines. Send your notes to your supervisor after the meeting to check that they agree with them.

For group project meetings, take turns to be the note-taker. Take notes on what you planned to discuss, the discussion itself, agreed actions, named action-taker/s, and deadlines. After the meeting, __________ the notes.

Stakeholder meeting notes should include what you planned to discuss, the discussion itself and agreed actions with named action-taker and deadlines. Follow up with a thank you and a __________ of agreed actions and plans/dates for further meetings.

Always keep notes when you are reviewing your project. Record not just the decisions but also identify any __________ and the stages of identifying a solution.

Write down any thoughts or ideas in a project diary. If you are having a problem, see if you can __________ by writing about it.

Keeping a __________ updated blog can be a great way of keeping your supervisor and other interested stakeholders up to date.


Our thoughts:

For supervisory meetings, your notes should include what you planned to discuss, the discussion itself and agreed actions with deadlines. Send your notes to your supervisor after the meeting to check that they agree with them.

  • Feedback: By the end of a meeting you should have agreed what you and your supervisor will do next and have agreed deadlines.

For group project meetings, take turns to be the note-taker. Take notes on what you planned to discuss, the discussion itself, agreed actions, named action-taker/s, and deadlines. After the meeting, share the notes.

  • Feedback: Ensuring everyone can read and check they agree with the notes is a good way to avoid confusion and misunderstandings in the future.

Stakeholder meeting notes should include what you planned to discuss, the discussion itself and agreed actions with named action-taker and deadlines. Follow up with a thank you and a summary of agreed actions and plans/dates for further meetings.

  • Feedback: Adopting this type of professional approach to working with stakeholders will help ensure you get the most out of the relationship.

Always keep notes when you are reviewing your project. Record not just the decisions but also identify any issues and the stages of identifying a solution.

  • Feedback: Taking time to reflect on and make notes about problems will mean you are better prepared to deal with similar situations in the future.

Write down any thoughts or ideas in a project diary. If you are having a problem, see if you can find a solution by writing about it.

  • Feedback: Just like talking through a problem, writing about it can help you find a solution.

Keeping a regularly updated blog can be a great way of keeping your supervisor and other interested stakeholders up to date.

  • Feedback: You don't need to update your blog every day but updating it regularly is a good way to ensure your readers stay engaged.

Key points:

  • Store your notes carefully
  • Refer back to them if you encounter any problems or have forgotten why decisions were made
  • Date your notes
  • Record context such as who was present and why the meeting was held
  • Include enough information for you to understand your notes at a later date.

There are different methods and tools for notetaking and you need to identify those that will be most suitable for you and the task at hand – for example, if you need to share the notes online, or if other members of a group need to edit or add to them, an electronic solution would be best.

A good way to explore the range of tools and techniques available is to talk to friends and colleagues. Are they using methods you have not yet considered?

Download

Download these templates for planning and recording meetings.