Escalation Report
AKA: Exception Report
Official Definition:
A description of the situation being escalated, its impact, and potential options for resolving it.
Layman’s Definition:
It’s the formal or informal report explaining what’s going wrong, why it matters, and what can be done to fix it.
Examples:
• IT: "The database vendor has withdrawn support. Here are three alternative platforms and the pros/cons of each."
• Construction: "Unexpected soil conditions will delay the project by four weeks unless we increase labour."
• Learning and Development: "The pilot programme is under-enrolled. Options: delay, merge, or adjust the curriculum."
When to Use:
As soon as a breach of tolerance is forecast — and before it becomes a crisis.
What It Might Look Like in Practice:
• Written or verbal depending on severity.
• Submitted to the Project Board or Sponsor.
• Used to trigger Corrective Action or Change Control.