- Published
- 8 October 2026
- Last reviewed
- 8 October 2026
Goal and audience
Prepare a small coordination pack containing status, dependencies, risks, lessons and a capacity estimate.
This self-directed practice path is for learners who want an organised way to use existing Digest resources. It is not an enrolled course, a qualification or a certificate programme.
Before you start
A fictional project with several tasks and people; a notebook or spreadsheet. This path does not require a live project.
As an RDE planning estimate, allow around 30 to 60 minutes for each step, or roughly 2.5 to 5 hours in total. Your pace and prior experience will affect the time needed. Pause and repeat a step when its review question remains unanswered.
How to use the path
Follow the steps in order. Each resource opens in a new tab; keep this path open and return here for the activity and review question. Previous and next links move between steps on this page. Record your own notes and outputs privately. This page does not track, save or certify completion; account-based progress tracking is deferred.
Step 1 of 5: Write a decision-focused status report
Open resource: Write a Project Status Report That Supports Decisions Opens in a new tab.
Practice
Choose a fictional training launch. Describe its current position, the next milestone, one obstacle and a decision that needs an owner. Distinguish a fact from an estimate.
Produce
A one-page status report.
Review before moving on
Can the reader identify the decision, its owner and the consequence of delay?
Step 2 of 5: Map dependencies
Open resource: Map Project Dependencies: A Practical Workbook Opens in a new tab.
Practice
List five tasks and the inputs each needs. Use the workbook to record who supplies each input and when it is needed. Separate a dependency from a general task reminder.
Produce
A dependency map and two follow-up actions.
Review before moving on
Does each dependency have a specific input, provider and required date?
Step 3 of 5: Prepare a risk review
Open resource: Project Risk Review: A Practical Meeting Checklist Opens in a new tab.
Practice
Apply the checklist to two plausible uncertainties in your fictional project. Record possible effects, current responses and an owner to review each action.
Produce
A short risk-review agenda and action note.
Review before moving on
Are you reviewing uncertainty and responses rather than listing issues with no action owner?
Step 4 of 5: Turn a lesson into an action
Open resource: Capture Project Lessons That Lead to Action Opens in a new tab.
Practice
Select one fictional event from the project. Describe what happened, supporting evidence, a possible cause and a small change to test next time. Avoid blaming an individual without evidence.
Produce
One lesson record with a proposed test and review date.
Review before moving on
Is there an action someone can take and a way to check whether it helped?
Step 5 of 5: Check the capacity assumption
Open resource: Estimate Available Team Capacity for a Planning Period Opens in a new tab.
Practice
Run the calculator with fictional team values. Record gross hours, absence, allocation and project hours. Compare the result with your dependency plan without treating hours as a delivery guarantee.
Produce
A capacity note and one planning question.
Review before moving on
Have you kept task effort, skill availability and working capacity as separate planning considerations?
Review your practice pack
Bring the five outputs together. For each, record the date, what you produced, the evidence you checked and the next amendment. Ask a trusted reviewer for specific feedback where possible. Completing the sequence means you have attempted these practice activities; it does not establish job readiness, professional competence or accreditation.
- A one-page status report. Record: attempted, reviewed or needs further work.
- A dependency map and two follow-up actions. Record: attempted, reviewed or needs further work.
- A short risk-review agenda and action note. Record: attempted, reviewed or needs further work.
- One lesson record with a proposed test and review date. Record: attempted, reviewed or needs further work.
- A capacity note and one planning question. Record: attempted, reviewed or needs further work.
Select one improvement and set a realistic review date. Return to the relevant step when your evidence or understanding changes.