In a project, there is a lot of data and information generated, evaluated, and communicated throughout the project life cycle. This data and information range from initial observations and measurements to analyzed content and reports. Three different terms are used to identify the stages of this data and information.

Work Performance Data is comprised of the raw observations and measurements recognized during activities that were performed to carry out the project work. These raw observations and measurements are gathered during the direct and manage project work process in executing. 

Examples of work performance data are:

• Reported percent of work physically completed

• Quality and technical performance measures

• Start and finish dates of scheduled activities

• Number of change requests

• Number of defects

• Actual costs

• Actual durations

Work Performance Information takes work performance data and analyzes it for conformance with the project management plan. It is comprised of the data collected from various controlling processes, analyzed in context, and integrated based on relationships across areas.

Examples of work performance information are:

• Status of deliverables

• Implementation status for change requests

• Forecasted estimates to complete

Work Performance Reports are basically the output of the monitoring and controlling process group, specifically the monitor and control work process. Multiple work performance reports are generated based on the information needs of various stakeholders involved in the project who need to receive and possibly act on this information.

Examples of work performance reports are:

• Status reports

• Memos

• Justifications

• Information notes

• Electronic dashboards

• Recommendations

• Updates

Here's an example of how work performance data, information, and reports move throughout the project:

Stage 1: 

The project team performs their assigned work according to the project management plan. They provide information and data on their progress. A particular activity took 25 hours to complete and was completed on January 4th. This is an example of work performance data.

Stage 2:

The activity was estimated to take 30 hours to complete, with an estimated completion of January 6th. A project manager must now analyze why the project work was completed early and how this impacts the overall project. The result of this analysis is work performance information.

Stage 3:

The work performance information from stage 2 is organized into work performance reports and distributed to various stakeholders throughout the management communication process.