What is the difference between an action item and a project issue?
Short answer
An action item records work someone must complete, usually with an owner and due date. A project issue records an existing problem requiring resolution, with an opened date, target resolution date, and resolution record. One issue can generate several actions. Keep the issue’s age separate from an action’s overdue days so the two measures retain their meaning.
For an issue opened October 1 with an October 10 target, the October 12 review shows 11 days of age and 2 days late. An action due October 5 is 7 days overdue on that same review date.
When should project records be closed?
Record closure according to the team’s agreed acceptance rule. A date field is evidence of recorded workflow status; it does not independently verify deliverable quality.