An action item is an instruction from one person to another to do something by a specific date. An instruction that cannot be ignored, lost, or forgotten.

"Isn't that exactly what you have always wanted?"

Creating an action item initiates a workflow which will notify and remind the assignee and keep the creator informed of progress and changes.

Action items are either done or not done. The assignee can add comments and report time spent, but must ultimately mark the item as complete. If it cannot be completed, then it must be canceled by the creator to remove it from the system.

Requests. Action items can be created to implement requests. Completing the action item will complete the request and notify the requesting party.

Permanance Action items are tabulated as part of the project statistics. The due date of open action items can drive the finish date of the project. Unless canceled, every action item becomes a permanent part of the history of its project and will be archived when the project is completed.

Action Items in Context Action items are linked to the subject document from which they were orginated, as well as to the project. This implied context means that the creator can simply say "please fix this!" and know that the receipient will know the subject.

Action Item Cascades Action items themselves can be the starting point for new action items. In this way an instruction can trigger a chain reaction of actions as it passes through and across the layers of the organization.

Each action item has direct visibility to all of its offspring so that you can see when all of the secondary actions you have initiated have been completed.

Updating.

Notes users can access their action items with a single click from the system menu. Marking items done, or just updating status, can be done directly from this page.

Web users select "My Action Update" to review and update their all of their action items.

Users with advanced cellphones can update their action items using a special version of the action update designed for the small screen.

Reporting.

The system generates special Gantt style diagrams that show the relationships between action items, documents and projects.

The system also generates tabular reports for any project, program or individual.

Activity Pipelines presentations visualize action items in context.

Action items can be shown in portal panels, homepages, and RSS feeds.

Issues, Risks, and Scope Changes, and some Project Documents show associated action items as part of the form.

Transformation. You can transform an action item into a Issue, Risk, Scope Change, Discussion Topic, or Project while preserving the relevant information such as the due date and description.

The transformation process displays the new document in edit mode to allow your to add the additional details required for each form. When the transformation is completed the action item is removed.

An email is sent to the original creator of the action item to announce the transformation (and why the action item is no longer active).