A plan you can actually keep up to date
Project tools are powerful, but for a small project, a shared spreadsheet that everyone can open is often the plan that stays current. This one lists the tasks, who owns them, when they run and how far along they are, and works out the overall timeline for you.
Columns
Task, Owner, Start, End, Days, Status and % complete. Twenty rows are ready, four with an example project (kickoff, design, build, review and launch).
- Days = end date − start date + 1, counting calendar days including both ends.
- The Overall row shows the earliest start, the latest end, the total length in days, how many tasks have the status "Done" out of all tasks, and the average % complete.
Making it useful in meetings
- List tasks at a level where each one has a single owner and lasts days, not months.
- Update Status and % complete before each check-in.
- Look at the tasks whose end date has passed and whose status isn't Done — those are the conversation.
FAQ
Does "Days" count weekends?
Yes, it counts calendar days. For working days, replace the formula with your spreadsheet's NETWORKDAYS function.
Why does the Done count show the wrong number?
It counts cells whose status is exactly "Done". Use that exact word when a task is finished.
Can I make a Gantt chart from it?
Most spreadsheet apps can build one from the Start and Days columns with a stacked bar chart. The file doesn't include one.