Monthly Review

Conduct a monthly review of project alignment and progress toward aims.

When to Use

• First week of each month (RA will prompt)

• After completing a major milestone

• When feeling uncertain about direction

• Before reporting to PI/collaborators

Execution Steps

1. Gather Context

Read these files:

• .research/project_telos.md

• Aims and goals

• .research/phase_checklist.md

• Phase progress

• .research/logs/weekly/*.md

• All weekly reviews this month

• .research/logs/monthly/

• Previous monthly reviews

• manuscript/

• Manuscript progress

• Git log for the month

2. Generate Monthly Review

Monthly Review: [MONTH YEAR]

Executive Summary

Project: [Project name from project_telos.md] Current Phase: [PHASE] Overall Health: 🟢 On Track / 🟡 Needs Attention / 🔴 At Risk

Progress Against Aims

Aim 1: [Title]

• Status: [Not started / In progress / Complete]
• Progress this month:
  • [Specific accomplishment]
  • [Specific accomplishment]
• Blockers: [None / List]
• On track for completion?: [Yes/No - by when]

Aim 2: [Title]

• Status:
• Progress this month:
• Blockers:
• On track?:

Aim 3: [Title]

[Continue pattern]

Phase Progress

Manuscript Status

Key Metrics

Productivity Dashboard

Pipeline

• DVC stages defined: [N]
• Pipeline runs successfully: [Yes/No]
• Figures generated: [N]

Off-Track Indicators

Check for these warning signs:

• Behind schedule by >2 weeks on milestones
• Same blocker appearing across multiple weeks
• Scope expanding without adjustment
• Key decisions being deferred
• Documentation falling behind

Next Month Goals

Must Complete

1. [Critical goal]
2. [Critical goal]

Should Complete

1. [Important goal]
2. [Important goal]

Stretch Goals

1. [Ambitious goal]

Action Items

• [Specific action from this review]
• [Specific action]

Review completed: [TIMESTAMP] Next monthly review: [DATE]

3. Save Review

Save to .research/logs/monthly/YYYY-MM.md

4. Suggest Next Steps

Monthly review saved!

Based on your progress:

A) Adjust project timeline or scope [If off-track indicators detected]

B) Update aims or methodology [If direction has shifted]

C) Plan next month's priorities Run /plan_week for immediate focus

D) Continue with current work You're on track!

What would you like to focus on?

Related Skills

• weekly-review

• Tactical progress

• quarterly-review

• Strategic alignment

• next

• Get next suggestion