Archetype 12: Progress tracking
This visual archetype is to communicate progress of activities. The editable PowerPoint files for the examples of this archetype are provided at the end of this chapter for you to use and adapt, along with annotated versions of the archetypes to show the key elements in their design.
Example A: Progress tracking
Example B: Progress tracking
Guidelines for tailoring the archetype
| Archetype | Progress tracking |
|---|---|
| Purpose | This visual archetype is to communicate progress of activities. This may include how: • a group of projects within a program are progressing • a group of activities within a project are progressing • a list of tasks such as implementing risk treatments are progressing Archetypes such as 4, 8, 9 and 12 can include annotations that indicate progress, however, in this archetype the primary purpose of the visual is to compare progress across activities. |
| Information you will need | • The activities you want to report upon • The progress compared to their start and planned finish • Any additional context/variables (e.g. name of responsible officer, or status indicator) you want to communicate |
| Tips | • You can annotate additional variables (e.g. risk level or budget status) using icons (you may need to use a legend to explain the icons) |
| Page layout | Either landscape or portrait is possible depending on the number of activities and amount of additional context/variables, for example: • many activities with few additional context/variables – suited to portrait • few activities with many additional context/variables – suited to landscape |
| Text | • Each activity will have a short description • Start and finish dates may also be noted as additional context |
| Imagery | • Use a box/boxes to indicate progress for each activity • The amount of shading of the box/boxes indicates the degree of progress - minimal shading indicates less progress, greater shading indicates more progress • Progress should be indicated as increasing from left to right |
| Colour | • Use dashboard (red, orange, green) colouring to indicate delays or schedule status |
| Legend | Use a legend for: • any icons/annotations you might use and to describe how status is represented |
| Notes | • A table can provide an efficient framework for this archetype and help in ensuring consistent alignment • This archetype could be combined with another archetype on a single page if there are only a few activities to include |
Example A: Progress tracking (with annotations)
Click the blue information buttons on the diagram below to see annotations explaining the reasons for choosing these visual elements.
Example B: Progress tracking (with annotations)
Click the blue information buttons on the diagram below to see annotations explaining the reasons for choosing these visual elements.
‘Progress tracking’ templates
The templates shown above are freely available for you to use and adapt. You can download them using the links below:
Please note: The icons in Example B are sourced from Noun Project and are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence:
- Tick by Kiran Shastry
- Hazard by Adrien Coquet
