The PRINCE2® method is owned by the UK Government and can be used free of charge in the public domain. PRINCE2® is simply a structured project management method designed for use on a wide range of projects, from a 'programme' of related large projects down to a single, small project. Although the approach to managing a large, expensive, high-profile, business-critical project will be very different to that of managing a small, low-risk project, the PRINCE2® method is extremely flexible and can be tailored to suit projects of different size and complexity. With its process model-driven approach to project management, the PRINCE2® method forms part of any organisation's progress towards achieving ISO9001:2000 accreditation. Furthermore, PRINCE2® provides a clear break between where the project is managed and where its products are being delivered. The products may be delivered by external supplying companies which may be using their own project management approach. Thus, PRINCE2® comfortably allows this interface between project management methods whilst ensuring the 'customer' (or sponsoring) organisation uses the PRINCE2® process-driven project management method. PRINCE2® adopts good project management principles including:Recognition that a project is a finite process with a defined start and end. | Projects need to be well directed and managed in order to be successful. |
All interested parties should maintain genuine commitment to the project, and must be clear about: - Why the project is needed
- What is intended to achieve
- How the outcome is to be achieved
- Individual role responsibility to achieve the desired outcome
The key features of PRINCE2® are as follows: Its focus on business justification - known as the Business Case. | A defined Organisation structure for the Project Management Team. | The concept of 'management by exception' - by giving delegated limits of authority to a Project Manager, it enables senior managers to be kept fully informed of the project status without their having to attend regular, time-consuming meetings. |  | Its focus on WHAT, WHY, WHEN, WHERE and for WHOM a project is to deliver. | Its emphasis on being process-driven in a controlled manner. | Its emphasis on splitting the project into manageable stages. | Its product-based planning technique. | Early identification and management of risk. | Its flexibility to be applied at a level appropriate to the specific project. |
The PRINCE2® structure comprises: PRINCIPLESThe principles on which PRINCE2® originates from lessons learned from projects that have gone both well and poorly. They provide a framework of good practice for anyone participating in the project. The 7 principles are: -
Continued business justification: A PRINCE2® project has a justifiable recorded reason to start that remains valid throughout the project. -
Learn from experience: The project team seeks out, records and acts upon lessons throughout the project's lifetime. -
Defined roles and responsibilities: There is a clear project organization structure engaging the business, user and supplier interests in the project and containing agreed roles and responsibilities. -
Manage by stages: The project is planned, monitored and controlled stage-by-stage. -
Manage by exception: Each project objective is defined with a tolerance so as to establish limits of delegated authority. -
Focus on products: There is a focus on defining and delivering products, especially the quality requirements of those products. Tailor to suit the project environment: PRINCE2® is used in a way that fits with the specific environment, size, importance, complexity, capability and risk of the project.
| THEMESThe themes describe how the aspects of the project to be governed and continually addressed throughout its lifetime. They comprise the major elements of a project plan and represent a 'contract' for good project management. | PROCESSESProcesses, through the PRINCE2® process model, explain what has to be done to direct and manage the project by applying the 'contract' in an appropriate manner specific to your project. | TECHNIQUESPRINCE2® includes hints about the individual techniques that can be applied within a project, expecting the reader to explore these techniques further for themselves. However, PRINCE2® particularly takes the effort to explain the Product-Based Planning and Quality Review techniques. |
TEMPLATESThe PRINCE2® method also offers you a set of standard templates for drafting paper-based products to assist with management and delivery of quality. These include plans, reports, product descriptions and others. |
In order to be able to apply the PRINCE2® method, it is necessary to be clear about the definition of a project. PRINCE2® defines a project as: "a temporary organization that is created for the purpose of delivering one or more business products according to an agreed Business Case" (PRINCE2® text - ©Crown Copyright 2009 Reproduced under licence from OGC) A PRINCE2® project, therefore, has the following characteristics: 1. A defined life span and amount of resources. 2. Defined and measurable business products. 3. An organisation to direct and manage the project.
As we have identified, a project is undertaken to create a product(s), so by nature, a project lifecycle is a temporary structure which plans, develops and hands over a product. During the life of a product, it may be subject to several projects from an initial feasibility study, through to production and possibly many modifications until, after many months or years of its use, the product is scrapped. For any one project, the PRINCE2® method starts with some pre-project preparation before work starts on the product.
It is important to re-emphasise that PRINCE® is a method that is entirely flexible and can be tailored to fit different types and size of project. The PRINCE2® method fits neatly into a business and project environment. It was not intended to, nor does it, cover all aspects relevant to project management. Techniques and tools needed will vary according to project type and size. | Many aspects of project management are covered by other proven methods, so it is probably useful to identify some aspects which are outside the scope of the PRINCE2® method: | 
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Human resource management skills, such as motivation, delegation and team leadership. -
Information Technology individual skills. -
Time management techniques. -
Generic planning techniques (e.g Gantt charts, Activity network, etc.). -
Risk management techniques and tools. -
Creation and management of Quality Management and Assurance System. -
Contract and tendering procedures. -
Budget control and Business Case management procedures.
 | PRINCE2® covers the management of the project and the resources required to carry out the activities to create the product(s). It is compataible with in-house procedures and techniques where a company has ISO9001:2000 accreditation for a quality management system and/or a corporate risk management strategy. Fit the PRINCE® method to your project, never the other way around. But remember, the PRINCE2® method is not a magic recipe for success (working with us at Scoll Methods could be!). Used properly, it will help you to run controlled and successful projects. |
Introduction to PRINCE2® - Multiple-choice questionsTo conclude this introduction, we invite you to have a go at answering the following multiple-choice questions to confirm your understanding of the PRINCE® method so far. Note your answers and then select the link to the answers. Which of the following is a key feature of PRINCE2®? - Free of charge
- Owned by the UK Government
- Taught by Scoll Methods
- Invokes Management by Exception
Which one of the following is not specifically part of the PRINCE2® structure? - Themes
- Processes
- Elements
- Principles
- Templates
Which of the following is NOT a technique described in some detail by PRINCE2®? - Product-based planning
- Gantt charts
- Quality Reviews
PRINCE2® defines a project as "a temporary organization that is created for the purpose of delivering one or more business products according to..." - an agreed Business Case
- the customer's requirement
- the supplier's ability to deliver
- an agreed budget and timescale
How well did you do? Here are the answers.
Answers to the Introduction multiple-choice questionsWhich of the following is a key feature of PRINCE2®? - Free of charge
- Owned by the UK Government
- Taught by Scoll Methods
- Invokes Management by Exception
All are correct - they are all key features of PRINCE2®. Which one of the following is not specifically part of the PRINCE2® structure? - Themes
- Processes
- Elements
- Principles
- Templates
3. is correct. The PRINCE® method is very much Principle-, Theme- and Process-driven, and offers various techniques and templates to assist the planning and general management of the project. PRINCE2® does not refer to Elements as part of the structure of the method. Which of the following is NOT a technique described in some detail by PRINCE2®? - Product-based planning
- Gantt charts
- Quality Reviews
2. is correct. Gantt charts are a long-established technique concerned with planning Activities which have to take place in order to create the products. however, it is the Product-based Planning and Quality Review techniques that PRINCE2® especially takes efforts to explain. PRINCE2® defines a project as "a temporary organization that is created for the purpose of delivering one or more business products according to..." - an agreed Business Case
- the customer's requirement
- the supplier's ability to deliver
- an agreed budget and timescale
1. is correct. As we have already seen, it is the Business Case which justifies the setting up and continuation of the project that exists to create products and beneficial change within an organisation. Move on now to the next section for a brief overview of The PRINCE2® Themes and Processes.
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