←Module 5: Task & Project Management
Lesson

Hands-On: Build a Project Tracker

Apply everything from this module to build a complete, usable project tracker for a real team scenario.

📘 Reading Lesson

Lesson Notes

Read through the key concepts before you try the challenge.

Real-World Scenario

Your manager at TOR Tech says: "We have been losing track of who is doing what. Half our tasks have no owner and nobody knows what is overdue. Build us a project tracker we can actually use." This is your moment to demonstrate everything you have learned in this module.

Building a Tracker That Gets Used

A project tracker only works if people actually use it — and people only use it if it is clear, fast to update, and shows them exactly what they need to know. Here is how to build one that sticks:

  • Plan your columns before you build — think through what data the team needs: task name, owner, priority, due date, status, and notes are the essentials
  • Enter realistic tasks — add at least 10 tasks representing real work, spread across different owners and due dates
  • Assign owners — every task must have a single named owner so accountability is clear
  • Set priorities — use a dropdown (High / Medium / Low) or color-coding so the team can instantly see what needs attention first
  • Track status — use a consistent status vocabulary (Not Started, In Progress, Complete, Blocked) and update it regularly
  • Share with the team — in Google Sheets, use Share > Anyone with the link can view/comment to make the tracker accessible

AI Assist

💡 AI Task: Ask ChatGPT — "Build a project tracker template for a 5-person team managing 3 simultaneous projects." Review the column structure it suggests and decide which columns to keep, modify, or add based on what you have learned.

Knowledge Check

What makes a project tracker most effective for team accountability?

Challenge

Apply what you've learned in this lesson.

Build a complete project tracker in Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel. Your tracker must include at least 10 tasks with the following columns fully filled in: Task Name, Project (at least 2 different projects), Owner (at least 3 different people), Due Date, Priority (High / Medium / Low), and Status. Apply conditional formatting to the Priority or Status column to add color-coding.

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