Generate a Project Status Report

Periodic status: read artifacts → metrics → summary (accomplishments, blockers, next) → RAG health (sched/scope/budget/quality).

Use When

• End of sprint/period (wk/bi-wk/mo)
• Stakeholder health req
• Pre steering/governance meeting
• Health change (new blocker/risk)
• Checkpoint vs charter milestones

In

• Required: period (start, end)
• Required: ≥1 artifact (BACKLOG.md, SPRINT-PLAN.md, WBS.md, PROJECT-CHARTER.md)
• Optional: prior reports (trend)
• Optional: budget/resource data
• Optional: risk register updates

Do

Step 1: Read artifacts

Scan proj dir:

• PROJECT-CHARTER.md — milestones, success criteria
• BACKLOG.md — item counts, burn-down
• SPRINT-PLAN.md — goal, committed, task done
• WBS.md — work pkg %
• Prior STATUS-REPORT-*.md — trend

Adapt to what exists.

→ ≥1 read, key metrics extracted.

If err: no artifacts → can't generate. Create charter/backlog first via draft-project-charter or manage-backlog.

Step 2: Metrics

Agile (BACKLOG.md / SPRINT-PLAN.md):

• Velocity: pts this sprint
• Completion: done/committed
• Burn-down: remaining vs prev
• Cycle time: avg days In Progress → Done

Classic (WBS.md):

• % complete: pkgs done / total
• Schedule variance: planned vs actual
• Effort variance: est vs consumed

## Metrics
| Metric | Value | Previous | Trend |
|--------|-------|----------|-------|
| Velocity | [N] pts | [N] pts | ↑/↓/→ |
| Sprint Completion | [N]% | [N]% | ↑/↓/→ |
| Backlog Remaining | [N] pts | [N] pts | ↓ (good) |
| Schedule Variance | [+/-N days] | [+/-N days] | |

→ 3-5 metrics w/ prev comparison.

If err: no historical (first) → omit prev + trend cols. Incomplete → note gaps + track action items.

Step 3: Blockers, risks, issues

## Blockers & Risks
| ID | Type | Description | Severity | Owner | Status | Action Required |
|----|------|------------|----------|-------|--------|----------------|
| R-001 | Risk | [Description] | High | [Name] | Open | [Action] |
| B-001 | Blocker | [Description] | Critical | [Name] | Active | [Action by date] |
| I-001 | Issue | [Description] | Medium | [Name] | Investigating | [Action] |

Cross-ref charter risk register. Flag new.

→ All blockers + top risks w/ owners + actions.

If err: no blockers → explicit "No active blockers", don't leave empty. No owner → escalate to PM.

Step 4: Accomplishments + next plan

## Accomplishments (This Period)
- [Completed item/milestone with evidence]
- [Completed item/milestone with evidence]
- [Completed item/milestone with evidence]

## Planned (Next Period)
- [Planned item/milestone with target]
- [Planned item/milestone with target]
- [Planned item/milestone with target]

→ 3-5 accomplishments w/ evidence, 3-5 planned.

If err: no accomplishments → reason (blocked, replanning, unavail). Next unclear → "Planning session scheduled for [date]".

Step 5: RAG + write

Write:

# Status Report: [Project Name]
## Report Date: [YYYY-MM-DD]
## Reporting Period: [Start] to [End]
## Document ID: SR-[PROJECT]-[YYYY-MM-DD]

### Overall Health
| Dimension | Status | Notes |
|-----------|--------|-------|
| Schedule | 🟢/🟡/🔴 | [One-line explanation] |
| Scope | 🟢/🟡/🔴 | [One-line explanation] |
| Budget | 🟢/🟡/🔴 | [One-line explanation] |
| Quality | 🟢/🟡/🔴 | [One-line explanation] |

### Executive Summary
[2-3 sentences: overall status, key achievement, biggest risk]

### Metrics
[From Step 2]

### Accomplishments
[From Step 4]

### Blockers & Risks
[From Step 3]

### Planned Next Period
[From Step 4]

### Decisions Needed
- [Decision 1 — needed by date, from whom]

---
*Report prepared by: [Name/Agent]*

Save STATUS-REPORT-[YYYY-MM-DD].md.

→ Complete report w/ RAG + metrics + narrative.

If err: insufficient for RAG → ⚪ (Grey) "insufficient data" + list data needed next report.

Check

• Report file created, date-stamped
• RAG all 4 dims w/ justify
• ≥3 metrics from artifacts
• Blockers section present (even "No active")
• Accomplishments w/ evidence
• Next plan
• Exec summary 2-3 sentences
• Every blocker/risk has owner + action + deadline

Traps

• No data: evidence-based. Every claim → artifact/metric.
• All green always: no evidence = not honest. Challenge green.
• Blocker w/o owner: no owner → not resolved.
• Metric w/o context: "Velocity=18" meaningless alone. Always prev/target.
• Too long: 2 min scan. 1-2 pages.
• Missing decisions: explicit w/ deadlines.
• Stale data: verify artifact dates match period.
• Missing trends: first-time OK, later must compare.

→

• draft-project-charter — milestones + success criteria
• manage-backlog — backlog metrics feed report
• plan-sprint — sprint results: velocity + completion
• create-work-breakdown-structure — WBS % drives classic metrics
• conduct-retrospective — report data feeds retro