The work log is a notebook in which people make annotations, sketches or records of important or interesting data in the development of a work or project.
The work logbooks have their origin in the travel notebooks that the sailors used in their long sea trajectories.
In these notebooks, all the events occurred during navigation were recorded, such as the occurrence of storms or changes in sea currents, cartographic drawings, routes made or attacks suffered during the trip.
These notebooks were stored in a log, a kind of wooden chest, along with maps and other navigation instruments.
In this way it was avoided that the annotations were lost or suffered some kind of damage that could generate the loss of valuable information. Over time, the notebook was designated as a work log.
At present, the work log is a support material in which the chronological order of the progress of a project is followed.
In this, the annotations, sketches or records of information are carried out continuously to describe how the development of an activity or the progress of a particular design has been.
Likewise, the details of the advances, obstacles, observations, new ideas, among other information of interest that arise during a specific job are recorded in the work log.
That is to say, the exact conditions in which a work was carried out are made known, even if the errors are recorded and indicated, the page in question must not be deleted or torn off. The correct thing is to place a typo and clarify the information, because sometimes mistakes can be useful.
It is of the utmost importance that the development of the work or sketch be embodied in the work logbook as it was carried out and without altering its order.
Designers, artists and scientists, among others, make extensive use of work logs. In this way they record the progress of their work, and you can see more clearly and share how these processes were.
Parts of a work log
A work log contains enumerated pages and margins to place subsequent annotations observations or errata. A work log can be made up of the following parts:
Cover page
It is located on the first page of the notebook or notebook. In this, the name of the project or work and the name of the author or authors are placed.
Table of Contents
It refers to the activities to develop during the work. However, as in general it is not clear what all the activities will be carried out, this content will be written as the project progresses.
Procedures or workspace
It is the most extensive section of the work log and is composed of the pages where the annotations or sketches of the procedures carried out throughout the work are made.
These pages contain the date, the objectives, the methodology, the detailed information of the work carried out and the stage in which it is located, as well as the observations and results.
Bibliography or directory
The bibliographic references consulted are included, including the tools or instruments used according to the work done.
Example of work log
Below is a brief example of a work log:
- Monday, November 19, 2018: I received a new project from the company’s director to design a four-story building in a wooded area on the outskirts of the city. Once I read the objectives of the project I went to the construction site to observe and know the space.
- Errata for clarification: before heading to the place of future construction I had a brief meeting with the company director to clarify some points of the project.
- Tuesday, November 20, 2018: I contacted several suppliers of construction materials and a team of experienced and reputable workers.
- Wednesday, November 21, 2018: I began to draw the first lines of the sketch of the building to be built. I worked between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm, taking several breaks.
