Work packages and tasks

A work package groups tasks under an objective. It carries an owner, start and end dates, estimated hours and status. Each task has a title, assignee, priority, due date, estimate, actual hours and percent complete. The task can also link directly to the objective. Work package totals and hours variance give the manager a place to compare the plan with recorded work.

The work package gives a manager a stable boundary for reviewing several tasks together. When an assignee changes task status, the board reflects the new state. The manager can then compare due dates and assigned hours without copying the task into a separate tracker or losing the objective link.

• Plan the package. The Project Manager gives the work an objective, owner, dates and estimate.
• Assign the task. The assignee sees its priority, due date and place in the package.
• Review on the board. The manager compares blocked and in-review tasks with their source records.

Agree how tasks move through backlog, in progress, in review, blocked and done. Define who sets estimates, who may revise due dates and how work packages are closed. Review the relation between task, work package and objective for imported work. Rehearse one task in progress and one blocked task under the same package. Have the manager check the package estimate, each assignee and the blocker owner before revising dates.

A project manager creates a work package for an active objective and assigns a high-priority task. The assignee moves the task from backlog to in progress, then to in review. If a dependency stops work, the assignee marks it blocked. The manager sees that task on the board and in Blocked Tasks, then follows the related blocker record before moving the task again. The assignee records the next task status on the source task. If the due date changes, the Project Manager checks the package end date and asks whether the key result target date still gives the team enough time. The manager checks that the package and objective still reflect the delivery schedule.

• Task Board by Status — Assigned work grouped by its current task status.
• Blocked Tasks — Tasks that need an owner and a next action.

Follow the process and inspect the data model.