A Highlight Report is a crucial communication tool within the PRINCE2 7 framework that serves as a time-driven progress report from the Project Manager to the Project Board. This report provides a summary of the project's status during a specific reporting period, typically aligned with the stage b…A Highlight Report is a crucial communication tool within the PRINCE2 7 framework that serves as a time-driven progress report from the Project Manager to the Project Board. This report provides a summary of the project's status during a specific reporting period, typically aligned with the stage boundaries or at regular intervals as defined in the Communication Management approach.
The primary purpose of the Highlight Report is to keep the Project Board informed about how the project is progressing against the approved plans. It enables the board to exercise their governance responsibilities by monitoring performance and making informed decisions about the project's continuation.
Key elements typically included in a Highlight Report are: a summary of the current period's achievements, work planned for the next reporting period, any issues or risks that have emerged, the status of products being developed, budget and schedule performance against tolerances, and any requests for guidance or decisions from the Project Board.
The frequency of Highlight Reports is determined during the Initiating a Project process and documented in the Project Initiation Documentation. This ensures all stakeholders understand when to expect updates and can plan their oversight activities accordingly.
Highlight Reports support the PRINCE2 principle of managing by exception. By providing regular snapshots of progress, the Project Board can identify early warning signs of potential problems before tolerances are exceeded. This allows for proactive management rather than reactive crisis handling.
The Progress practice within PRINCE2 7 emphasizes the importance of these reports in maintaining transparency and accountability throughout the project lifecycle. They create an audit trail of project performance and decisions, which is valuable for lessons learned and organizational process improvement.
Effective Highlight Reports are concise, factual, and focused on information that supports decision-making at the board level.
Highlight Report - PRINCE2 Foundation V7 Complete Guide
What is a Highlight Report?
A Highlight Report is a time-driven report produced by the Project Manager to provide the Project Board with a summary of the project's status at regular intervals. It is the primary means of communication between the Project Manager and the Project Board during each management stage.
Purpose of the Highlight Report
The Highlight Report serves several key purposes:
• To keep the Project Board informed of progress within the current management stage • To report on the status of work packages and tolerances • To highlight any issues, risks, or exceptions that need attention • To provide a summary of achievements since the last report • To outline planned activities for the next reporting period
Why is the Highlight Report Important?
The Highlight Report is essential because it:
• Enables the Project Board to exercise management by exception - they can monitor progress and only intervene when necessary • Provides regular, consistent updates that keep stakeholders informed • Creates an audit trail of project progress throughout each stage • Allows early identification of potential problems before they escalate • Supports governance by maintaining transparency and accountability
When is the Highlight Report Produced?
The frequency of Highlight Reports is defined in the Project Initiation Documentation (PID) and is typically agreed between the Project Manager and the Project Board. Common frequencies include weekly, fortnightly, or monthly reporting, depending on project complexity and risk.
Who is Responsible?
• Produced by: The Project Manager • Sent to: The Project Board • May also be shared with: Other stakeholders as defined in the Communication Management Approach
Key Contents of a Highlight Report
A typical Highlight Report includes:
• Date and reporting period covered • Status summary (RAG status or similar) • Work completed during the period • Work planned for the next period • Current stage tolerance status • Issues and risks summary • Products completed and approved • Lessons identified
How the Highlight Report Fits into PRINCE2 Processes
The Highlight Report is created during the Controlling a Stage process. It forms part of the regular communication cycle that allows the Project Board to maintain oversight while delegating day-to-day management to the Project Manager.
Relationship to Other Reports
• Checkpoint Reports: Team Managers send these to the Project Manager, who uses the information to compile the Highlight Report • Exception Reports: These are produced when tolerances are forecast to be exceeded and require escalation beyond the normal Highlight Report • End Stage Reports: These are more comprehensive reports produced at stage boundaries
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Highlight Report
Key facts to remember:
1. The Highlight Report is time-driven, not event-driven - it is produced at regular, predetermined intervals
2. It is produced by the Project Manager for the Project Board
3. It is associated with the Progress practice in PRINCE2
4. The frequency is defined in the Project Initiation Documentation
5. It is created during the Controlling a Stage process
Common exam question types:
• Questions asking who produces the report (Answer: Project Manager) • Questions about the audience (Answer: Project Board) • Questions about when it is produced (Answer: Regular intervals during stages) • Questions distinguishing between Highlight and Checkpoint Reports • Questions about what triggers the report (Answer: Time-based schedule, not specific events)
Avoid these common mistakes:
• Confusing Highlight Reports with Checkpoint Reports - remember Checkpoint Reports go up to the Project Manager from Team Managers • Thinking the report is event-driven - it follows a regular schedule • Mixing up the Highlight Report with the End Stage Report - they serve different purposes
Quick Reference Summary
• Type: Time-driven management report • Producer: Project Manager • Recipient: Project Board • Process: Controlling a Stage • Practice: Progress • Frequency: As defined in the PID