What is PRINCE2 ?

PRINCE2 (PRojects IN Controlled Environments) is a structured method for effective project management. It is a de facto standard used extensively by the UK Government and is widely recognised and used in the private sector, both in the UK and internationally. PRINCE2, the method, is in the public domain, offering non-proprietorial best-practice guidance on project management. PRINCE2 is a registered trademark of the Office of Government Commerce (OGC).

The key features of PRINCE2 are…

  • Its focus on the existence of a justified business case
  • A clear defined organisation structure for the project management team
  • A product-based planning approach
  • Its emphasis on manageable, controllable stages
  • Scalability and flexibility to be applied at a level appropriate to the project.

Benefits of using PRINCE2

A single, common, structured method for project management can bring:

  • A method that is repeatable
  • A method that is teachable
  • A method that builds on experience
  • Clarity for everyone on what to expect, where, how and when
  • An early warning of problems
  • A proactive approach to avoid reactive action to sudden or unexpected events

Managers using PRINCE2 are able to…

  • Establish terms of reference as a pre-requisite to the start of a project
  • Use a defined structure for delegation, authority and communication
  • Divide the project into manageable stages for more accurate planning
  • Ensure resource commitment from management is part of any approval to proceed
  • Provide regular but brief management reports
  • Keep meetings with management and stakeholders to a minimum but at the vital points in the project.

End users using the results of a project are able to…

  • Participate in all the decision-making on a project by representation in the project’s organisation structure.
  • If desired, be fully involved in day-to-day progress by getting involved with acceptance testing and receiving regular communications.
  • Provide quality checks throughout the project and ensure their requirements are being adequately satisfied.

For senior management, PRINCE2 uses ‘management by exception’. The Project Board are kept fully informed of the project and stage status without having to attend regular, time-consuming meetings by way of planned controls, regular reports and exception situations which are brought to the Boards attention at appropriate points.

They are also able to delegate some duties to Project Assurance who will act on their behalf to verify and check at predetermined points in the project.

PRINCE2 may be used for any type of project in any type of environment; however it remains flexible enough to be applied to all sizes of projects and can be tailored to suit a project dependent on the circumstances.

PRINCE2 projects are focussed on delivering specified products to a specified Business Case.

The Business Case is a key document which is reviewed constantly throughout the project and progress is measured against expected benefits.

2 Responses to “What is PRINCE2 ?”

  1. Hi, I am an MBA student and want to know something about the Pince course after MBA so if you can guide me then it will be well and good.

    Comment by: Sushil Joshi — September 18th, 2007 at 3:53 pm #

  2. You could take a Prince2 foundation course which is a 3 day course. There is a one hour examination on day three, which will give you a Prince2 Foundation qualification.

    The Prince2 Practitioner course is a five day course; it is basically the prince2 foundation course with additional material. There is an examination on the 5th day, which if you pass will give you a prince2 practitioner qualification.

    Both of these courses are offered by Silicon Beach Training in the North Laines in Brighton, 5 mins from Brighton railway station. A great place to visit with plenty of local attractions and accommodation.

    Comment by: admin — September 18th, 2007 at 4:03 pm #

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Prince2 Training Courses

Prince2 Foundation training uk

This is a 3 day Prince 2 Foundation course. The training will provide you with an understanding of PRINCE2 principals and it's approach. This training course should equip you to apply the method to your own working environment. The Prince2 Foundation course will prepare you for the Prince2 Foundation examination that is taken at the end of the third day.

Prince2 Practitioner training uk

This 5 day Prince2 Practitioner course is designed to provide clients with a detailed understanding of the PRINCE2 approach and the ability to apply the method to your their working environment. The Prince2 Practitioner training course prepares delegates for the practitioner examination.

PRINCE2 Practitioner Conversion Training

This is a 2 day Practitioner workshop course is designed to provide you with a detailed understanding of the Objective Practitioner Examination.It is suitable for delegates who have completed a PRINCE2 foundation course and wish to upgrade to a PRINCE2 Practitioner qualification. This will be achieved by a working through a sample paper covering 11 topics designed to prepare you for the practitioner examination.

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