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PPP

Past-Present-Proposal

A status update that asks for nothing is a diary entry.

Strategy & Planning Pro Framework 3 Steps

What is PPP?

PPP is three slots: Past, Present and Proposal. It is a status-reporting structure, and its value is almost entirely in the two slots that people skip — because left to itself, every status update ever written is all Present.

An update made only of Present tells the reader what is happening and gives them nothing to do with it. The other two slots are what make it worth someone's Monday morning. Past supplies the trend — not what happened, but what happened against what you said would happen, which is the only way a reader can tell whether things are improving or you are simply reporting again. Proposal supplies the ask, and without one the update is information with no request attached, which is a diary entry. The structural test of a PPP update is whether anyone has to do anything after reading it.

Best used for
Business proposals consulting recommendations change management strategic planning

Where PPP Came From

A management convention with no author of record

PPP has no documented inventor. It circulates as a standing-meeting and weekly-report convention, close cousin to the "yesterday, today, blockers" of a daily stand-up — the same shape, longer cadence, and one important difference: stand-ups report a blocker, PPP proposes a resolution. Pages naming a founder are inventing one.

Note the third P is Proposal, not Plans

A distinction worth defending, because the widely-circulated variant "Progress, Plans, Problems" is a genuinely different framework and a weaker one. Plans is what you intend to do, which requires nothing from the reader. Proposal is what you are asking them to decide. One is broadcasting; the other is management. If your organisation uses the Plans variant, the ask has to be smuggled in somewhere, and it usually is not.

Why Past comes first when everyone wants to start with Present

The order fights an instinct. The instinct is to lead with where things stand, because that is what feels most current — but a reader cannot judge "read-path cutover complete" without knowing it was due last week. Past is short and it is what makes the Present section legible: it turns a state into a trajectory.

The 3 Slots, One at a Time

Each slot is a decision. Leave it out and the model still makes it — just without you.

P
Past
What you committed to last time, and what actually happened.

Not a summary of activity — a comparison. Name the commitment and the outcome side by side, including the parts that did not happen. An update where Past is a list of things achieved, with no reference to what was promised, has removed the only mechanism a reader has for calibrating the next section.

Weak We made good progress on several fronts this week.
Strong We committed to finishing the read-path cutover and starting write-path testing. The cutover finished on Wednesday, two days late. Write-path testing has not started.
P
Present
Where things stand now, including the judgement you have formed.

Facts first, then the assessment — and the assessment is the part with value. "We are eight days from the go-live date and I now think that date is not achievable" is worth the whole update. Reporting only the facts and letting the reader infer the conclusion is how bad news arrives too late to act on.

Weak Things are progressing, currently amber status.
Strong Read traffic is 100% on the new platform with error rates unchanged. Write path is blocked on a schema decision. Two of five regions have completed smoke tests. We are eight working days from go-live and I now think that date is not achievable.
P
Proposal
The ask, with a decision date.

The slot that separates a report from a request. Say precisely what you want decided, by whom, and by when — and prefer one or two asks over five, because a reader who has to prioritise your asks will usually decide none of them. If you genuinely need nothing, say that explicitly rather than leaving the slot to fade out.

Weak We will keep monitoring the situation and update next week.
Strong Move go-live from the 14th to the 28th, and get 90 minutes with the data team before Thursday's freeze ends rather than after it. I need a decision on both this week.

One Task, Before and After

The task: A weekly steering-group update on a platform migration that has slipped. Both prompts below are scored by our free prompt checker — paste either in and you will get the same number, because the scoring is deterministic.

24 Without PPP · weak
Write a status update for my project.

Seven words. You get three cheerful paragraphs, an amber status label, the phrase "we are closely monitoring", and no indication that anybody needs to decide anything.

92 With PPP · strong
Write the weekly status update for a platform migration project.

Past - what we said last week and what actually happened: we committed to finishing the read-path cutover and starting write-path testing. The read-path cutover finished on Wednesday, two days late. Write-path testing has not started.

Present - where things stand right now: read traffic is 100% on the new platform with error rates unchanged. Write path is blocked on a schema decision that needs the data team, who are in a freeze until Thursday. Two of five regions have completed their smoke tests. We are eight working days from the original go-live date and I now think that date is not achievable.

Proposal - what I am asking for: move go-live from the 14th to the 28th, and get 90 minutes with the data team before Thursday's freeze ends rather than after it. I need a decision on both this week.

Write 300 to 400 words for a steering group of four who read this on a phone on Monday morning, already know the project exists, and have twice heard that it is on track. The tone is plain and unhedged.

Work out the lead before you write: a slipped date buried in paragraph three is how a steering group learns to distrust an update. The Proposal section must contain an explicit ask with a decision date - a status update that asks for nothing is a diary entry. Put the slipped date in the first two sentences rather than at the end; burying it is what makes the next update harder. For example, the opening should read like this:
```
The read-path cutover landed on Wednesday, two days late, and I am asking you to move go-live from the 14th to the 28th.
```
Ensure every claim of progress is stated against what was committed last week, not in the abstract. Do not use amber or green status labels, do not say we are monitoring the situation, and do not add any risk or dependency that is not in the three sections above.

Ninety-two. The instruction that changes the output most is the one about the lead: models put bad news third, in the middle of the Present section, where a steering group reading on a phone will not reach it.

Ninety-two, and no scorer can tell whether it asks for anything

One check is out of reach, and the two properties that make a status update useful are unmeasured:

Role0 / 8

No persona slot, and correctly so — this update is from you, to people who know you and will hold you to it next week. A persona writes commitments you did not make.

Whether there is an askunscored

The single thing that separates a report from a request, and completely invisible. "We will continue to monitor and update next week" scores identically to "move go-live to the 28th, decision needed this week". Only one of them is management.

Where the bad news sitsunscored

A slipped date in the first sentence and the same date in paragraph three score the same. The second is how a steering group learns, over about two months, to stop believing your updates.

The habit worth taking into any update regardless of framework: state progress against what you committed last time, not in the abstract. "Cutover complete" is a fact. "Cutover complete, two days later than we said" is a trend — and the trend is the only thing that lets anyone judge the estimate you are about to give them.

Copy-Paste Prompt Template

Replace the bracketed placeholders with your specific details.

Past: [What we COMMITTED to last time, and what actually happened — including what did not. A comparison, not a list of activity]

Present: [Where things stand now, then the judgement you have formed. The judgement is the valuable half]

Proposal: [The explicit ask, who decides it, and by when. One or two, not five]
[If you genuinely need nothing, say so in one line]

[Length and reader. Put the bad news in the first two sentences]
[No status labels, no "monitoring the situation". State progress against commitments, never in the abstract]

When PPP Fits — and When It Does Not

Reach for it
  • Weekly and monthly project updates to a group that has to decide things.
  • Client updates, especially when something has slipped.
  • Personal updates to a manager, where the ask is usually the point.
  • Board and investor updates, which live or die on the honesty of the Past section.
  • Handover reports, where the Proposal is what the next person should do first.
  • Any recurring report where readers have stopped reading carefully.
Use something else
  • One-off communications with no previous commitment to measure against.
  • Formal post-mortems. Use 5W1H — PPP is a forward-looking format.
  • Analysis and recommendations. Use SCQA; PPP reports, it does not argue.
  • Marketing and external copy of any kind.
  • Updates where you genuinely need nothing — say so in one line rather than using the framework.

10 Ready-Made PPP Prompts

Every prompt below was produced by the Frompting generator with PPP selected — not written by hand for this page. Each is scored by our prompt checker; the median is 84/100. Click one to open it, then copy.

A weekly project status update 86
You are a concise project communications specialist.
Write a weekly status update for a project, organized to first recap recent progress, then describe the current situation, and finally outline the next actions and any requests for support.

The update will be read by [AUDIENCE: specify the stakeholder group, e.g., senior management, client, or team members]. Include the following elements, each in a brief paragraph:

1. A summary of the key accomplishments and milestones achieved over the past week, referencing the project name [PROJECT NAME: provide the official project title].
2. An overview of the present state, covering any ongoing tasks, current metrics, and notable issues or risks that have emerged.
3. A clear proposal of the upcoming week’s focus, including specific deliverables, required decisions, and any assistance needed from the audience.

Write the update in 550-720 words, using a professional yet approachable tone. Ensure the content is factual, action-oriented, and free of jargon. Highlight any critical dates or deadlines in bold.

If any of the placeholders above are unknown, state your assumption and proceed, or ask up to three clarifying questions before completing the update.

**Quality criteria:**
- Accuracy of reported progress and metrics.
- Clarity of next steps and required actions.
- Concise, readable format suitable for quick stakeholder review.
210 words · scores 86/100 strong
A monthly report for leadership 75
You are a senior business analyst tasked with drafting a concise monthly report for the leadership team.

The report should first recap the most significant outcomes and trends from the previous month, then describe the current performance indicators and any notable developments, and finally outline actionable recommendations and priorities for the upcoming month.

Produce a single document of approximately 250 words, formatted as three short paragraphs that flow naturally without headings. Ensure the writing is clear, data‑driven, and focused on strategic impact.

- Include only information that directly supports leadership decision‑making.
- Use concrete figures where available and qualify any estimates as approximate.
- End with a brief, specific call‑to‑action for the leadership team.

[REPORTING PERIOD: specify the month and year]
[KEY METRICS: list the top 3‑5 performance indicators to be highlighted]
[CURRENT INITIATIVES: identify any major projects or issues that should be mentioned]

State any assumptions you make about the missing details, and ask up to three clarifying questions before finalizing the report.

Do not include background explanations, unrelated data, or promotional language.
176 words · scores 75/100 solid
A sprint review summary 85
You are a Scrum Master drafting a concise sprint review summary for stakeholders.

Summarize the work completed in the most recent sprint, highlight any deviations from the original sprint goals, and outline actionable next steps or recommendations for the upcoming sprint.

Focus the summary on:

1. What was planned and actually delivered in the sprint, noting any completed, partially completed, or omitted items.
2. The current status of the product increment, including any feedback received, metrics observed, and impediments resolved or still open.
3. Clear proposals for the next sprint, such as priority adjustments, risk mitigations, or process improvements.

Write the summary for [AUDIENCE: specify the stakeholder group, e.g., product owners, development team, executives] and reference the sprint identified as [SPRINT ID: provide sprint number or date range]. Keep the total length between 200 and 300 words.

Ensure the tone is professional yet approachable, use bullet points for clarity where appropriate, and conclude with a brief call‑to‑action directing readers to the upcoming sprint planning meeting.

If any of the required details are unknown, state your assumption and ask up to three clarifying questions before finalizing the summary.

Before writing the final answer, work through the problem step by step and weigh the main trade-offs; present only the reasoned conclusion, not your working notes.
211 words · scores 85/100 strong
A client update on a delayed deliverable 81
You are a professional communications specialist tasked with drafting a concise client update regarding a delayed deliverable.

First, reference the original schedule and context of the project, mentioning the specific deliverable and its initial deadline.
Next, describe the current situation, clearly explaining the reason for the delay and the impact on the timeline.
Finally, propose the revised plan, including the new expected delivery date, any interim actions you will take, and how you will keep the client informed.

Write the update for [CLIENT_NAME: the name of the client] and address it to the appropriate contact person. Mention the deliverable “[DELIVERABLE_TITLE: title or description of the deliverable]” and its original due date “[ORIGINAL_DEADLINE: original deadline date]”. Explain the cause of the delay as “[DELAY_REASON: brief reason for the delay]”. Propose a new delivery date “[NEW_DEADLINE: revised deadline date]” and outline any mitigation steps “[MITIGATION_ACTIONS: actions you will take to address the delay]”.

The response should be 180–250 words, use a professional yet empathetic tone, be clear and actionable, and avoid assigning blame to external parties. State any assumptions you are making and, if needed, ask up to three clarifying questions before finalizing the message.

Write this for [AUDIENCE: who will read the output, and how much they already know]. Match the depth, vocabulary and examples to that reader.
222 words · scores 81/100 solid
A quarterly business review 92
You are a senior account manager tasked with drafting a concise quarterly business review for a key client.

Prepare a structured document that first summarizes the account’s performance and major initiatives over the past quarter, then outlines the current status, including recent results, ongoing projects, and any emerging issues. Conclude with clear, actionable recommendations and next-step proposals for the upcoming quarter.

The review is intended for [AUDIENCE: e.g., the client’s executive sponsor and your internal leadership team] and should be under 1180 words.

**Output requirements**
- Begin with a brief executive summary (≈50 words).
- Follow with three sections in logical order:
  1. Historical overview of the last quarter’s key activities and outcomes.
  2. Current snapshot of performance metrics, project health, and stakeholder feedback.
  3. Forward-looking proposals that address identified gaps and capitalize on opportunities.
- Use bullet points for metrics and recommendations; keep prose concise and business-focused.
- Include a short table (markdown) that lists the top three performance indicators with their prior-quarter values and current values.

**Quality criteria**
1. Accuracy: reflect only the data you are given or explicitly assume.
2. Clarity: each section should be easy to scan, with headings and bullet points.
3. Actionability: proposals must be specific, measurable, and time-bound.

**Boundary** - Do not add speculative market analysis or unrelated product details.

If any essential details are missing (e.g., specific metrics, key initiatives, or stakeholder names), state your assumptions clearly and ask up to three targeted clarifying questions before finalizing the review.

Before writing the final answer, work through the problem step by step and weigh the main trade-offs; present only the reasoned conclusion, not your working notes.
270 words · scores 92/100 strong
A personal weekly update for a manager 77
You are a professional who drafts concise weekly updates for supervisors.

Your task is to compose a brief written update that your manager will read on a regular basis.

The update should flow in three logical sections: first, summarize the most important outcomes and learnings from the previous week; second, describe the current status of ongoing work, including any obstacles or notable progress; third, outline concrete actions or goals you plan to pursue in the upcoming week.

Write the update in plain, professional language, using short paragraphs (under 585 words total). Include a clear opening sentence that states the purpose of the note.

**Quality criteria**
1. Each section is distinct and ordered as described, with smooth transitions.
2. Information is specific, measurable where possible, and relevant to your manager’s priorities.
3. The tone is proactive and solution-focused.

**Boundary** - Do not add personal anecdotes unrelated to work, and omit any confidential details that should not be shared with your manager.

If any essential detail is missing, state your assumption and ask up to three clarifying questions before finalizing the update.

[MANAGER_NAME: provide the manager’s name]
[KEY_ACHIEVEMENTS_LAST_WEEK: list the top 2-3 results or deliverables]
[CURRENT_PROJECTS: name the main projects you are working on now]
[BLOCKERS_OR_ISSUES: describe any significant obstacles]
[UPCOMING_GOALS: specify 2-3 concrete objectives for the next week]

Write this for [AUDIENCE: who will read the output, and how much they already know]. Match the depth, vocabulary and examples to that reader.
247 words · scores 77/100 solid
A board update for a startup 83
You are a senior executive communications specialist tasked with drafting a concise board update for a startup.

The update should flow logically from historical context, through the current situation, to forward‑looking recommendations.

**Audience:** [BOARD MEMBERS: specify titles or roles, e.g., CEO, CFO, investors]
**Key historical highlights to include:** [PAST ACHIEVEMENTS: list major milestones, product launches, funding rounds, or growth metrics]
**Current status details needed:** [CURRENT METRICS: revenue, user growth, cash runway, major risks]
**Proposed actions or decisions required:** [PROPOSAL ITEMS: strategic initiatives, resource requests, policy changes]

**Output:** a single document of 250–350 words, written in a professional yet clear tone, using short paragraphs and bullet points where appropriate.

**Quality criteria:**
1. Accurately reflects the supplied past achievements, present metrics, and proposed actions.
2. Prioritizes the most critical information for board decision‑making.
3. Maintains a logical progression from context to current state to recommendations without explicit section headings.

**Boundary:** Do not include any speculative financial forecasts beyond what is provided, and omit unrelated company background.

If any of the placeholders above are unknown, state your assumption clearly or ask up to three clarifying questions before completing the draft.
186 words · scores 83/100 solid
A handover report before leave 85
You are a professional who prepares concise handover status reports for colleagues covering ongoing work before a leave of absence.

Your task is to produce a clear, well‑structured handover document that:

1. Summarizes the most important activities and outcomes that have been completed up to the start of the leave.
2. Describes the current state of each active project, including any pending tasks, blockers, and upcoming deadlines.
3. Outlines concrete next steps, recommended actions, and any decisions that need to be made while you are away.

The report is for [RECIPIENT: name or role of the person who will receive the handover]. It should cover the following projects or work streams: [PROJECT LIST: brief titles of the key initiatives]. Include the expected return date: [RETURN DATE: month and day].

Deliver the handover as a markdown document with three sections in the order described above. Keep the total length between 250 and 350 words.

Quality criteria:
- Accuracy: all dates, deliverables, and responsibilities are correct.
- Clarity: each section is easy to scan, with bullet points for tasks and decisions.
- Actionability: the proposed next steps are specific, assignable, and include any required resources.

Exclude any personal anecdotes or unrelated background information.

If any of the required details are unknown, state your assumption and proceed, or ask up to three clarifying questions before completing the report.

Write this for [AUDIENCE: who will read the output, and how much they already know]. Match the depth, vocabulary and examples to that reader.
245 words · scores 85/100 strong
An update on a hiring process 83
You are a concise business communications specialist.
Your task is to draft a brief update on the status of a hiring process.

The update should:
- Summarize the recent history of the hiring effort, including any completed steps and outcomes.
- Describe the current situation, covering open positions, candidate pipeline status, and any obstacles or delays.
- Offer clear next steps or recommendations to move the process forward, specifying actions, owners, and target dates.

Write the update for [AUDIENCE: e.g., senior leadership, hiring manager, HR team] and keep it within 305-405 words.

Quality criteria:
1. Use a professional yet approachable tone appropriate for the audience.
2. Present information in a logical flow that naturally moves from past actions to present status to future proposals.
3. Highlight key metrics (e.g., number of applicants, interview stages completed) and any critical dates.

Exclude any unrelated background information or detailed procedural guidelines.

If any essential details are missing, state your assumptions clearly and ask up to three clarifying questions before finalizing the draft.
168 words · scores 83/100 solid
A programme report across workstreams 84
You are a senior program manager tasked with drafting a concise programme status report for multiple workstreams.

The report will be read by [AUDIENCE: e.g., senior leadership, steering committee, or project sponsors] and must cover the reporting period of [REPORTING PERIOD: e.g., Q1 2024, month‑end, or specific dates].

Structure the report in three sequential sections:

1. Summarize the historical background and key milestones achieved to date for each workstream.
2. Describe the current state, including progress against the plan, any variances, risks, and issues observed during the reporting period.
3. Offer forward‑looking recommendations and next steps to address identified gaps and advance the programme toward its objectives.

Deliver the report in plain text, limited to **300 words** total. Ensure the following quality criteria:
- Clarity: each workstream’s information is easy to scan and understand.
- Accuracy: only include facts you are certain of; flag any assumptions explicitly.
- Actionability: proposals are specific, realistic, and tied to the current context.

Exclude any detailed technical specifications, budget tables, or unrelated project history.

If any essential details (e.g., workstream names, specific metrics, stakeholder expectations) are missing, state your assumptions and ask up to three clarifying questions before completing the report.
198 words · scores 84/100 solid

Scores range from 75 to 92. They are shown as generated rather than cherry-picked — a library where every entry scores in the nineties tells you it was curated, not measured.

PPP vs the Alternatives

SCQA Situation, Complication, Question, Answer

What to use when the update has to persuade rather than inform. SCQA builds an argument for a recommendation; PPP reports against commitments and attaches an ask.

SMART Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound

The other end of the same cycle. SMART sets the commitments; PPP is how you report against them, which is exactly what its Past slot is for.

PREP Point, Reason, Example, Point

For the spoken version. If you have to deliver the update out loud in ninety seconds, PREP handles it better — lead with the ask, then the reason.

5W1H Who, What, When, Where, Why, How

For the retrospective document. 5W1H establishes what happened for the record; PPP asks someone to do something about it now.

STAR Situation, Task, Action, Result

For your own achievements rather than a project's state. STAR is backward-looking and personal; PPP is forward-looking and organisational.

Five Ways People Get PPP Wrong

1
An update that is all Present

The defining PPP failure and the default state of most status reporting. Without Past there is no trend, and without Proposal there is nothing to decide — you have written a paragraph of facts and called it a report.

2
Past as a list of achievements

Progress reported in the abstract cannot be judged. State it against what was committed last time, including the commitments that were missed, or the reader has no way to calibrate anything you say next.

3
Burying the bad news

Models and people both put the slipped date in the middle. On a phone, on a Monday, the middle is where things go unread — and a steering group that discovers a slip late learns to distrust the whole series.

4
A Proposal with no decision date

"We would like to discuss moving the date" is not an ask. Name the decision, the decider and the deadline, or it will roll to next week's update unchanged.

5
Status labels instead of judgement

Amber tells a reader nothing they can act on and is chosen to avoid committing. "I now think that date is not achievable" is the sentence the update exists to deliver.

6
Five asks

A reader who has to prioritise your requests will usually decide none of them. One or two, clearly the most important.

PPP Questions

What does PPP stand for?

Past, Present and Proposal — a three-part structure for a status update: what you committed to and what happened, where things stand, and what you are asking for.

Is it Proposal or Plans?

Both variants circulate, and the difference matters. Plans states what you intend to do and asks nothing of the reader; Proposal asks them to decide something. The Proposal version is the one that makes an update worth sending.

Why does Past come before Present?

Because a state is not judgeable without a trajectory. "Cutover complete" means one thing if it was due last month and another if it was due yesterday, and only the Past section supplies that.

What if I do not need anything from the reader?

Say so explicitly in one line. An empty Proposal section that trails off into "we will keep monitoring" trains readers to skip the section permanently.

How is PPP different from a stand-up update?

Same shape, longer cadence, and one real difference: a stand-up reports a blocker, PPP proposes a resolution to it. The third slot is a request, not a status.

How long should a PPP update be?

Short enough to read on a phone — three or four hundred words is usually right for a weekly. Length is not what makes an update credible; stating progress against commitments is.

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