PRINCE2 7 Organisational Practice Demystified
Hey there, you ambitious project manager! You’re likely someone who’s geared up for the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam. Or you’re a visionary entrepreneur aiming to integrate robust project management structures into your business empire.
Well, my friend, park your browser right here! Because today, we’re about to unfold the complexities of the “Organizational Theme” in PRINCE2. But remember, in my world, we keep things simple yet insightful!
Unmasking the PRINCE2 Organisational Practice
You’ve heard of the saying, “Too many cooks spoil the broth?” Now, translate that to a project scenario. A project with unclear roles, overlapping responsibilities, or perhaps missing key roles can turn more chaotic than a potluck with a dozen potato salads (Remember those?)
The PRINCE2 Organisational practice is your playbook on who’s in the zoo! It defines the structure, assigns roles, and ensures everyone knows their place in the grand scheme of the project.
Your PRINCE2 7 Dream Team: From the Boardroom to the Ground
Imagine constructing a mansion. Would you want the architect to do the plumbing? Or the interior designer laying the foundation? No! Each person has a distinct, invaluable role; the PRINCE2 Project Management Team structure mirrors this logic.
1. Executive: This is your project’s chief sponsor. Think of them as the investor who commissions the mansion’s construction. They’re the stakeholders with the maximum interest in the project’s outcome.
Ideal for the Role: The perfect person is a Senior VP of Operations with over a decade’s experience in strategic planning and financial oversight.
2. Senior User: Representing the users’ interests, they ensure the project’s outputs will be fit for purpose. They’re the ones who’ll live in that mansion, so every doorknob and window pane matters to them!
Ideal for the Role: A Department Head with eight years of experience, familiar with end-user needs and preferences.
3. Senior Supplier: The essential entity delivering the project’s components. They’re your builders, ensuring that the mansion stands tall and sturdy.
Ideal for the Role: The Chief Technical Officer with extensive product development and delivery knowledge.
4. Project Manager: The grand orchestrator! Your architect ensures that all components come together harmoniously to complete the project.
Ideal for the Role: Someone who has five + years of project management experience, perhaps a PRINCE2 Practitioner (like what you’re gearing up for!)
5. Team Manager: They manage the specialist team members, like the electricians, plumbers, and painters for our mansion.
Ideal for the Role: A Lead Engineer with hands-on team leadership experience.
Project Assurance: Who Holds the Magnifying Glass?
Imagine your project as a theatrical play. While the actors (team members) ensure they play their part right, someone must sit in the audience, ensuring everything is perfect from the viewer’s (or project’s) perspective.
That’s Project Assurance for you, ensuring all aspects of the project are on point!
1. Business Assurance: It’s like a critique of the play’s storyline. Is the plot (business case) making sense? Is it viable and aligned with business interests?
Delegation Dynamics: Typically, the Executive takes up this role, given their stake in the project’s business alignment
2. User Assurance: Think of them as the critique for the characters. Do they fit the story (project)? Are the project’s outputs aligned with user needs?
Delegation Dynamics: The Senior User is a natural fit, given their connection with user needs. However, they might delegate to a User Experience (UX) Specialist in diverse projects.
3. Supplier Assurance: This is about the set design, costumes, and props. Are they of good quality? Do they arrive on time? Similarly, Supplier Assurance ensures the project’s products are fit for purpose and timely.
Delegation Dynamics: The Senior Supplier might wear this hat or pass it on to a Procurement Manager or Quality Assurance Head.
4. Change Authority: They’re like the director, deciding if a scene (project phase) needs a retake (changes). They authorize project changes within set boundaries.
Delegation Dynamics: Depending on the scale of changes, this role might reside with the Project Board or be delegated to a Change Management Team for more complex projects.
Role Dynamics: To Combine or Not to Combine?
While PRINCE2 7 offers flexibility, there are cautionary tales:
1. Combine with Care: The Executive and the Senior User can sometimes be the same person, especially in smaller projects or initiatives closely aligned with user needs.
2. Avoid Overlaps: Combining the Senior Supplier and Project Manager roles is a no-go. Why? It’s like having the playwright critique the play – biases might creep in, affecting project objectivity.
Four Pillars of an Effective Project Board
Remember, for the mansion (project) to stand tall, its pillars (Project Board) must be robust. Here’s what makes them so:
1. Authority: As I ventured from a novice to an empire builder, your Project Board should command respect. They make the critical decisions, so they need the power and the organizational clout to back them up.
2. Credibility: Would you trust an architect who’s never seen a blueprint? No! Credibility is built over years of experience, success stories, and lessons from failures. Your Project Board should have proven their mettle in the industry.
3. Ability to Delegate: As I expanded my business, delegation was vital. Similarly, an effective Project Board knows they can only be in some places. They trust and empower their team, ensuring the project runs smoothly, even in their absence.
4. Availability: As I ensure I’m there for my 50,000+ students, a Project Board must be available for pivotal project junctures. Their presence can steer the project in the right direction, especially during critical decisions.
PRINCE2 Practitioner Exam: Tips from the Trenches
When preparing for your exam, think of the Organisational Theme like your favourite TV series ensemble cast. Remember their roles, relationships, and significance to the plot (project). The clearer you visualize this structure, the better you’ll fare in those tricky exam scenarios.
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