Change log template

Even the most well-planned projects evolve. Design updates, software patches, or new client requests can quickly multiply, and without documentation, those adjustments risk causing confusion for your team. That’s why a change log template is so valuable; it provides a structured record for tracking every change, no matter how small.

With this change control log template, you can capture, organize, and communicate updates in one shared workspace. If you’re managing IT projects, product development, or construction changes, Asana’s change management log template will help you document developments so your entire company can follow along.

Who benefits from change log templates?

At Asana, teams use change logs to organize evolving projects. But the real power of change logs is their flexibility. You can adapt them to any type of workflow or industry. Below are examples of when and how different professionals rely on change log templates.

Construction change log

This template documents and manages change orders, design changes, material substitutions, site condition changes, and scope shifts. It creates a paper trail that aligns contractors, clients, and architects on project scope and costs.

IT project change log

Technical teams use a change log template to track system modifications, security updates, and configuration changes. Whether it’s a firewall adjustment or an upgraded API, this log shows who made changes, when, and why.

Software development change log

Developers can use this template to monitor releases, patches, features, security updates, and code changes with timestamps and version history.

Manufacturing change log

Manufacturers use change order log templates to enforce consistency, compliance, and quality control by documenting changes in product design, materials, or assembly processes.

Project management change log

Project managers use change management log templates to track updates to the budgets, timelines, and deliverables. When a client requests additional features or changes deadlines, this template ensures every adjustment is logged and approved before implementation.

Why use Asana’s change log template

Here at Asana, we’ve seen that teams perform best when they can adapt quickly while still staying organized. A change control log template provides that balance by helping you log every modification in one place so everyone works from the same information.

Benefits of using a change log template include:

• Centralized visibility into all changes across projects and departments

• Improved accountability with automatic timestamps and approvals

• Reduced miscommunication between stakeholders and contributors

• Consistent documentation for compliance and audit purposes

• Real-time collaboration that supports adaptive planning and transparency

How to use a change log template

We designed this change log template to help your project team organize updates across different versions of your product. Use it as part of your larger change management process to keep releases consistent and transparent.

Each section in this template corresponds to a distinct phase or category of change. Follow the steps below to learn how to make the most of each component.

Step 1: Start with version information

Begin in the Version Information section. Add details about the version number, release date, and task owner. This step gives your stakeholders an at-a-glance understanding of what’s being released and when.

Include a short change description summarizing the purpose or scope of the update. You can also attach links to your project plan or release documentation so anyone reviewing the log can quickly find supporting context.

Step 2: Document added features

Use the Added Features section to log every new capability introduced in the release. Create a task for each feature and fill in the fields for the type of change, impact level, and component. These structured details make it easier to sort and filter updates later.

Add a brief note about how the new feature improves user experience or addresses customer feedback. This helps connect product improvements to user needs while keeping the document change history detailed and measurable.

Step 3: Record changed functionality

Whenever an existing feature or workflow is modified, document it in the Changed Functionality section. Describe the specific change so that teams and users can understand its purpose and impact. Use metrics like performance gains, error reductions, or usability improvements to quantify the update. These details help decision-makers assess whether a software change achieved the intended outcome.

Step 4: Log deprecated and removed features

As products evolve, certain features become outdated. In Deprecated Features, note which elements are being phased out, along with their replacement plans or timelines. Then, move fully retired items into Removed Features. Including the rationale for removal and any related dependencies helps developers and QA specialists maintain version integrity and track progress between releases.

Step 5: Capture fixed issues

Use the Fixed Issues section to document resolved bugs, security patches, or other maintenance updates. Each task should list the affected component, assigned owner, and QA status.

If your team tracks bugs in GitHub, link the relevant issue directly to the task. This makes it easier to cross-reference bug fixes between systems and keeps your Asana record complete.

Step 6: Review and share updates

Before publishing, review every entry for accuracy and completeness. Use Asana’s filters to review changes by category, component, or approval status, ensuring consistency across releases.

Once finalized, share the log with key stakeholders and archive the version for future reference. Doing this after each release helps preserve a reliable, auditable record of your change management process.

Asana documentation features

Asana features transform your change log template into a dynamic workspace that keeps every update, approval, and decision visible in real time. We included a few of our favorite documentation and logging features, but you’re not limited to these. Visit our features library for more ways to customize your template.

Custom fields

Track key details like change type, impact, and approval status. Custom fields make it easy to sort and filter updates across your change control log template, whether you’re managing IT requests, construction change orders, or software updates.

Rules

Automate routine steps such as assigning reviewers or notifying stakeholders when a change status updates from pending to approved. Rules save time and reduce manual follow-ups.

Timeline

Visualize approved changes and upcoming adjustments in a single view. The Timeline feature helps you see how change requests affect milestones and deadlines.

Attachments

Store all supporting files directly in Asana tasks. With attachments, every file is connected to its corresponding change entry for quick access during reviews or audits.

Portfolios

Monitor multiple projects or departments simultaneously using Portfolios. This feature helps leaders view the status of every change order log template in a single view.

Recommended integrations for your change log templates

Integrations help your Asana change log template connect seamlessly with the other tools you use for documentation, communication, and reporting. Find the platforms your team uses every day in our Asana integration hub.

Slack

Notify your team instantly when a change request is added, approved, or needs review. Slack keeps communication fast and reduces delays between decision-makers and implementers.

Google Drive

Attach design files, approval forms, and documentation directly to Asana tasks. With Drive, your change management log template becomes a single hub for all change-related files.

Jira Cloud

Sync technical or software-related change requests between Jira and Asana. This integration improves efficiency by bridging project tracking and engineering workflows.

Microsoft Teams

Collaborate on change discussions and share Asana updates without leaving Teams. This integration keeps your project conversations and documentation in one place.

Tableau

Create visual dashboards showing change frequency, approval times, and project impacts. 

Confluence

Link Confluence pages directly to Asana tasks for in-depth documentation and historical context. This helps teams maintain version history and compliance records in one connected system.

FAQs about change log templates