Do you keep a issue log on your project? “Yes, for recording the issues to be resolved.” Most would say.This function of issue log was what I used on my previous project too.
But for PMP, the fact of knowing only the above function of issue log won’t let you answer correctly several questions during the exam. This was my experience while doing the practice exam in Communication Managment session of Rita.
Only while rereading the relevent paragraph in Human Resorce Management session, I underlined the “issue log”, which seamed such a common sense to me that I just went through without any attention the first time .
In project management, issue log is also a tool to manage the project team and stakeholders. Read this sentence again! Issue log shall also record the requirements of stakeholders, both professional and personal level, which tells people that their needs are considered. It becomes an important tool to comfort and motivate team, specially in matrix organaztion where team members don’t report to project manager.
Keep in mind, issue log has two functions, and for PMP exam the second one is mostly tested.