4Logs and Registers
Logs and registers are very helpful in keeping track of changing information. They are dynamic documents that are started at the beginning of the project and are kept up to date throughout the project.
Most of the templates in this chapter are useful for waterfall as well as adaptive projects. Examples include an assumption log, decision log, and issue log – though the issue log may be known as an impediment log in projects that use an Agile methodology. A backlog is used primarily for Agile projects, and a change log is used primarily for predictive projects. There are eight log/register templates:
- Assumption log
- Backlog
- Change log
- Decision log
- Issue log
- Stakeholder register
- Risk register
- Lessons learned register
Several of the templates in this section can be combined into one document, especially if you create the templates in a spreadsheet, with each worksheet containing information for one log. For example, a RAID log contains:
- Risk log
- Assumption log
- Issue log
- Decision log
You may find that several of the logs interact, for example, an assumption that is not validated may become a risk. A risk that occurs may be considered an issue. In these cases, it is best to close the item in one log with a notation that it has moved to a different log. In the notes section of the new log it is useful to note if the item came from a different log or register.
4.1 ASSUMPTION LOG
Assumptions are factors that are considered to be true but without proof. Constraints ...
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