What is an Exception Report? ...and How to Prepare One. And what's an Exception?

Exception reports document incidents that deviate from project plans, requiring immediate action to stabilize the situation before formal reporting. They include a summary, implications, options, and recommendations. The goal is to facilitate informed, prompt decisions by governance bodies, ensuring proper documentation and audit trails. Exception reports can be presented in various formats, emphasizing the need for robust decision-making based on evidence and timely responses.

What is the primary purpose of an exception report?

• To document every minor issue in a project

• To delay project timelines

• To generate a robust decision

• To replace regular project reports

Which of the following is NOT a critical element of an exception report?

• Detailed project budget

• Analysis of options

• Assessment of implications

• Summary of the incident

Who typically prepares the exception report?

• The steering committee

• The project sponsor

• The project manager

• The client

What should be the first response when an exception occurs?

• Notify the media

• Ignore the incident

• Investigate and stabilize the situation

• Start writing the exception report

What is the role of the governance tier in handling exception reports?

• To delay the decision-making process

• To ignore the report

• To assess the report and make a decision

• To rewrite the report

Which of the following is a criterion for a robust decision?

• It should be delayed as much as possible

• It should be informed by good evidence and data

• It should be made by a single individual

• It should be made without any evidence

Why is promptness important in making decisions based on exception reports?

• To avoid making any decision

• To ensure the situation doesn't worsen

• To delay project completion

• To increase project costs