PRINCE2

PRINCE2
worldwide
PRINCE2 was launched in
1996 and has since become
the most widely used project
management method
worldwide. Its use extends
beyond Governments and
institutions as it has been
adopted by the private
sector.

All you need to know

PRINCE2 - PRojects IN Controlled Environment
project management best practice
PRINCE2 is a structured method for the effective and efficient management of
projects. It is a generic, best-practice approach for the management of all types
of projects and it has become the de facto standard for organising, managing
and controlling projects globally.
The latest version of the PRINCE method is PRINCE2, w h i c h w a s d r i v e n b y u s e r b a s e d
improvements, project management specialists, and a review panel of 150
public and private sector organisations.

PRINCE2 has also moved

beyond its IT origin and is
used for R&D projects,
product development
projects, marketing projects,
business transformation
projects and many more.

PROCESSES
Directing
a Project
Initiating
a Project

Starting Up a Project

Controlling a Stage

Managing Stage
Boundaries

Managing Product Delivery

Closing a Project

THEMES

Business
Case

PRINCE2 in your
environment
Companies are aware of the
benefits that a structured
approach to projects can
bring and the widespread
use of PRINCE2 shows the
growing interest for a
structured project management approach.
PRINCE2 is a flexible project
management method and
can be easily tailored to all
varieties of projects and
organisations.
PRINCE2 is a public domain
methodology which means
organizations do not have to
pay a license fee to use
PRINCE2.

Organisation

Risk

Plans

Change

Progress

Quality

Manage by
Exception

Focus on
Products

Tailor to
suit the
Project
environment

PRINCIPLES
Continuous
Business
Justification

Learn
from
Exprience

Define Roles
and
Responsibilities

Manage
by Stage

The 2009 version represents an evolution of the previous manuals. The

basic method remains, but by building on feedback from users, this new
manual aims to be more accessible and easier to tailor.
PRINCE2 Main key facts:
More than 450.000 certified managers
Used in more than 150 countries around the world
20,000 organizations already benefiting from its pioneering and
trusted approach
The number of people taking PRINCE2 qualifications increases by
around 20% year on year
Used by leading public and private organisations globally

QRP International is a PRINCE2/MSP Accredited Training Organization by the APM Group. PRINCE2 is a Registered Trade Mark of the Office of
Government Commerce in the United Kingdom and other countries. MSP is a Registered Trade Mark of the Office of Government Commerce in
the United Kingdom and other countries. ITIL is a Registered Trade Mark of the Office of Government Commerce in the United Kingdom and
other countries. The Swirl logo is a Trade Mark of the Office of Government Commerce.

PRINCE2

The Structure

Principles
PRINCE2 can be applied regardless of project scale, type
and organisation, because is principle -based. Principles
are:

Themes
The PRINCE2 Themes describe aspects of project
management that must be addressed continually and in
parallel throughout the project. Themes are:

Continued Business Justification

Business Case

Some projects proceed without alignment to the

business objectives. A project should represent value
for money and should have a continued strategic
justification, a reason to start, a reason that should
remain valid throughout the project and that should
be documented and approved.

Why should we start/continue/close a project ?

Before and during a project it is important to judge
wheter the investment in the project is still
worthwhile.

Learn from Experience

Who is accountable and responsible for the project ?

A defined organisational structure with roles and
responsibilities enable effective project governance
and decision making.

Projects are Unique by nature, this charcteristic

allows for best practices to be implemented and
continuosly improved. PRINCE2 promotes this
through the Learn from Experience principle by
which PMs are encouraged to record any lessons
which they learn during the project as well as
reviewing past projects for hints and tips which
might be helpfull. The lessons should be identified
and provoke change (applied).

Defined Roles and Responsibilities

Projects fail because people dont know what is
expected of them. A project should clearly define the
roles and responsibilities of the people involved,
focusing on the representation of the three primary
stakeholders, Business sponsors, Users, Suppliers.

Manage byStage
Projects fail because of bad planning, monitoring and
controlling. A project divided into a number of
management stages (shorter or longer according the
extent of senior management control over projects)
provides senior management with control points at
major intervals.

Organization

Quality
What is the product to deliver ?
An explicit common understanding of what the
project will deliver and how its fitness for purpose
will be assessed (quality criteria) ensures that final
products meet business expectation.

Plans
How and When should I deliver what is required ?
A plan developed (and mantained) provides all
personnel involved with information on how, when
and by whom a specific product is to be delivered.

Risk
What should I do if ?
A systemic identification, assessment and control of
risks improves the management of uncertainties and
allows for a more effective decision making.

Manage by Execption
Senior managers time burden could slow a project
development. A project with defined tolerances
(time, cost, quality, scope, risk, benefit) enables to
define an appropriate governance with distinct
responsibilities for Directing, managing and delivering.

Change
What whould be the impact of this issue ?
A systemic approach to the identification, assessment and control of any potential and approved
change ensures that every action is agreed by the
relevant authority before that it takes place.

Focus on Products
Projects are exposed to several major risks such as
acceptance disputes, rework, uncontrolled changes.
An output-oriented project focuses on the definition
and delivery of products and their quality requiremnts and as a reduced scope creep risk.

Tailor to suit the project Environment

Projects fail because methods are followed without
questions or not followed at all. A standard method
should be tailored to the specific needs of each
projects environment , projectss scale and complexity.

Progress
Are we in line with the plan? if so what next ?
The monitoring and controlling of progresses
againsts plans and agreed tolerances, ensure that an
effective decision making prices for approving plans,
the monitoring of actual performance and the
escalation process for any deviations from plans.

Processes
The PRINCE2 processes provide the set of activities
required to direct, manage and deliver a project successfully. Processes are:

Starting up a project
Is the project worthwhile ?
The main aim of this process is to ensure that there is
a clear business justification for the project, the scope
of the project is confirmed and that a valid project
approach has been selected.

Why should I adopt

PRINCE2
PRINCE2 embodies established and
proven best practices and governance
for project management. It can be
applied to any type of project - and can
easily be implemented alongside
specialist, industry-specific models
('engineering models' or 'development
lifecycles').

Directing a Project
Is the Project Board directing and controlling ?
The Project Board sets direction and makes key
decisions throughout the life of the project. This
Process is "owned" by the Project Board and provides
authorisation for work to be carried out and
resources to be committed.

PRINCE2 Benefits
An organised and controlled start,
making sure there is a valid reason for
the project and that all people and
resources have been organized and are
ready for the project.

Initiating a Project
Is there a common understanding of what needs to
be done ?
This process lays down the foundations of the
project, claryfying what the project is intended to
achieve, why this project has been authorised, how
the final outcome will be achived and who is responsible for what.

Controlling a Stage
What are the the basic day-to-day activities of a
project manager ?
With this process the project manager assigns and
monitors the work to be done, reports progress to
the project Board and escalates issues and risks.

Managing Product Delivery

What are the the basic day-to-day activities of a team
manager ?
With this process the team manager coordinates the
work needed for the delivery of one or more
products. The project manager will be able to place
formal requirements on accepting, executing and
delivering project work.

Managing a Stage Boundary

How is the Board kept informed of progresses ?
This process guarantees that the project manager
provides the project board with all the information
needed to assess the continued viability of the
project and that authorisation to the next stage is be
given.

Closing a Project
Is there a clear end to the Project ?
The Project Board has the authority to confirm if a
project product is accepted (or if a premature closure
is needed under some circumstances).

An organised and controlled middle,

once the project has been organized
and has started, making sure its
validity is maintained and the work
carried out is controlled throughout
the project life.
An organised and controlled end. A
controlled end is always better than
the natural tendency to drift into the
operational life of a projects product,
hence we need to make sure the
project deliverable is accepted by our
client before officially closing the
project.
Regular reviews of progress against
plan and against the Business Case.
Flexible decision points.
Controlled management of deviations
from the project plans thanks to the
Management By Exception principle.
The involvement of management and
stakeholders at the right time and
place during the project.
Good communication amongst the
project management team, the
stakeholders, and the rest of the
organization.

PRINCE2 Certification
PRINCE2 QUALIFICATION SCHEME
If you want to become a Registered Practitioner, you MUST sit
the Foundation Examination and then the Practitioner Examination, in that order.
You can sit both exams in the same week or even day, or you
can split them and sit them months (or even years!) apart.

Foundation

Acknowledgements
PRINCE2 is a Registered Trade
Mark of the Office of Government Commerce in the United
Kingdom and other countries.
The Swirl logo is a Trade Mark
of the Office of Government
Commerce.
This paper includes extracts
from TSOs Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2
For Further Information:
www.ogc.gov.uk
www.prince2.org.uk
www.prince-officialsite.com

Practitioner
PRINCE2 Foundation
The PRINCE2 Foundation Course covers the whole of the syllabus of
PRINCE2 Foundation level and prepares participants for the PRINCE2
Foundation examination.
The Foundation is the first of the two PRINCE2 Examinations you are
required to pass to become a PRINCE2 Practitioner. This level is aiming to
measure whether a candidate would be able to act as an informed member
of a project management team using the PRINCE2 method within a project
environment supporting PRINCE2

PRINCE2 Practitioner
The PRINCE2 Practitioner Course provides an opportunity to apply the
concepts of the PRINCE2 methodology to a scenario and prepares participants for the PRINCE2 Practitioner examination.
The Practitioner level is aiming to measure whether a candidate could apply
PRINCE2 to the running and managing of a non-complex project within an
environment supporting PRINCE2.

If you have any inquiries about

PRINCE2 please contact us
W. www.qrpinternational.com
E. info@qrpinternational.com