What is an Issue Log in Project Management?

What should an issue log include?

Project issue logs should include basic information that will help managers track and assess any roadblocks that are in danger of derailing the project or impacting its timeline. A simple project log template will help you record critical information about each issue. A project issue log should usually include: 

• The issue type and name
• A technical description of the issue
• The name of the person who reported the issue
• The name of the person responsible for solving the problem 
• The date or time of the issue
• The issue’s priority and status
• The date or time that the problem was resolved

Including these details in your project issue log will help ensure each issue is resolved quickly and efficiently, contributing to successful project completion.

What are the benefits of an issue log?

An issue log in project management is critical for keeping track of problems that might affect the deadline, budget, or even team morale for a project. Additionally, creating a register using a project management issue log template will allow a project manager to visualize the problems at a glance to ensure the quick resolution of the listed issues. Finally, an accurate and updated issue log in project management can help managers understand roadblocks and avoid them in the future. 

These project issue log details will also help the project manager address personnel concerns. Problems such as low employee morale or team conflicts, or even a team member leaving the project, can directly impact a project's success but might otherwise go unrecorded and unaddressed. Resolving these issues can directly impact the efficiency and success of a team and any of their assigned projects.

What is RAID in project management?

The information listed above is typically included in a standard project issue log, but there are other types of issue logs that include additional elements and categories. 

In project management, RAID refers to the risks, assumptions, issues, and dependencies that come up or are involved in a particular project. A RAID log is another type of project management log that offers a simple way to track each of these categories in order to keep stakeholders apprised of any obstacles your project might be facing currently or in the future. For a head start on setting up your own project management log, here’s how to produce a RAID log.