In part one of this two-part column, we discussed the uses and occasional misapplications of the rolling action item list (RAIL). Now, let’s discuss some good practices and optional features that can help us make better use of this tool and become more efficient. The first and most important practice to address must be frequency of review.

Review the status and due date fields of the RAIL. How often do you expect the status to change? If it will change every few days, then a weekly review of the RAIL is prudent. If it will be changing every two of more weeks, then a monthly review is appropriate. That means a team review of the RAIL. The team leader and owner of the RAIL should review the RAIL more frequently and also check with team members to be sure that progress is being achieved.

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