Keeping a project journal/logbook
My brother is a civil engineer and a certified project manager professional (PMP), and we both took a Masters-level course in Project Management while I did my MBA and he did his MEng. I have done project management in the past, and to this day, I continue to do some, but not in the engineering field (as I used to). However, I do firmly believe that keeping accurate notes of every project I undertake is good.
I don’t keep notes because the Project Management Institute or any of the certifying organizations (I’m an engineer, so if I conducted any engineering projects, the APEG of BC would probably be asking me for my Professional Engineer designation) will actually ask me to read it, but just because it allows me to keep track of the milestones and progress of each and every project I am carrying out.
The great thing about my 2009 logbook is that it has kept notes from various projects, including my interactions with coaching clients, meeting notes with consulting clients, handwritten scribbles of thoughts for our research projects, and a few musings about my students (current and graduating). In hindsight, having a look back at my 2009 logbook will give me a broad overview of what I have worked on without having to delve deeply into other registries.
Do you keep a logbook of your projects? I suggest that, in 2010, you should!
Related posts:
- Volunteer at the Molson Red Leaf Project Cleanup at English Bay (Nov 19th) and win tickets to Grey Cup Festival
- Review of 5pm (project management application)
- Breaking down a project in smaller tasks
- Blogging 201- Write your blog entry ideas on paper
- Collate the notes from your 2009 logbook
I will definitely be doing this as a grad student
Raul, I am so glad to read your blog today. I have become convinced that I wanted a project book for each of my writing projects, so often I only have a few words or sketches to add which get lost in a daily diary.
Also I have been thinking better not spend the money on several journals, but there are small 2Euro notebooks that will do great!
So at 5:30p.m. Greek time I’m off to do some office supply shopping. One of my favorite kinds of shopping!
Do you ever use color coding?
greetings! i am supposed to say “the netchick sent me”
about the project journal… i have returned to university to continue my education after many years… one of my favorite instructors got me in the habit of doing project journals on my school projects… its a huge help, and useful in future projects.
great idea!
This post is very timely as I plan for the new year
I’ve been looking back over 2009 and been somewhat frustrated by the gaps in my notes–mostly because I haven’t been good about keeping them all in one place. A question for you: What do you use to track and log project details? Any apps or just a good old fashioned notebook and pen? I love notebooks but I tend to scribble across several of them at any given time–so things become somewhat disjointed–and I haven’t yet found an app that I’ve become dedicated to updating, ie. Evernote. Thoughts or recommendations? Have you found anything interesting since you became a member of the iPhone tribe? 
@ everyone – I do use color coding and I use notebooks and pen. I use different color pens that I assign for different subjects and topics.
For example, for my coaching clients, I use red to indicate the time and day of the session – red for goal-setting, dark navy blue for milestones, etc.
@ Lynneux – I don’t use any online applications, I prefer to update my notes in a paper notebook!
@ Vicki – color coding allows you to establish guidelines on what belongs where.
@ Patricia and @ da-kind – use one notebook per subject instead of just one notebook to keep all your ideas. That way, the concepts are all compiled in one, chronological ordered place.