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What is PRINCE2 7th Edition? 

 March 13, 2023

By  Dave Litten

What is PRINCE2 7th Edition?

PRINCE2 7 is one of the most widely used methods for managing projects in the world.

It is a structured project management method that uses the experience gained from thousands of
projects, as well as contributions from countless project sponsors, project managers, project teams,
academics, trainers, and consultants.

PRINCE2 7 has been designed to be adaptable so that it can be applied to any project, regardless of
the project’s purpose, scale, type, organization, geography, or culture. This is achieved by:

  • separating the management of the project from the specialist development activities, such as design or construction, allowing any specialist activities to be integrated into a controlled environment for the project
  • focusing on what needs to be done to manage the project, rather than prescribing how work is done
  • requiring that the method is established specifically for the needs and context of the project by the way it is applied and tailored.

Since its first launch in 1996, each iteration of PRINCE2 has provided a universal project management method. It has reflected the project management practice of the time; it has also pushed the boundaries of best practice.

For example, the 2009 version introduced, among other things, the principle of learning from experience based on a ‘pull’ rather than ‘push’ approach.

This edition is no different; the method has been updated to reflect how project management has evolved over the past six or so years, and it also seeks to push the boundaries of best practice through the introduction of new aspects of project management. 

It was apparent from research and consultation that there was a need to include how projects
address sustainability issues, use data analytics and digital technology, and ensure the ‘people’
aspects of project management is handled with as much care as the process aspects.

These are no longer an optional add-on to the method, or even ‘nice to have’; these are now fully integrated into the method.

There can be a tendency when updating guidance to simply add new material to the existing content, resulting in more rather than better guidance.

Instead, the decision was made to go back to basics and challenge every aspect of PRINCE2, ensuring that its inclusion was required and contributed to the guidance being fit for purpose currently and for years to come. 

The research and consultation also gave a strong message: that the core PRINCE2 method was still
valid and relevant, but it could be improved to better express this core method.

The task was to transform the way that PRINCE2 is explained, retaining all that makes the method invaluable, and introducing its new aspects.

The essence of what a project is remains the same; it is temporary, it is product-focused, and there should always be an ongoing business justification. 

This edition has been designed with the following philosophy: 

  • to ensure that PRINCE2 7 remains adaptable and flexible, and can be used for all types of projects in a wide range of organizations and environments
     
  • to provide guidance that retains and strengthens all the aspects of PRINCE2 7 that remain valid, while adding new complementary content in a way that maintains and builds on the integrity of the integrated framework
  • to not replicate guidance that is provided in other methods such as Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) and Management of Risk (M_o_R 4), but instead to offer additional value to anyone involved in a project
  • to emphasize how PRINCE2 7 is designed to be applied and tailored appropriately according to the project environment and the project requirements
  • to enable project teams to recognize the many ways that outputs can be delivered, including iterative (agile), linear, and hybrid approaches. 

This course is DEPRECATED

The old PRINCE2 6th Edition Foundation and Practitioner syllabus was upgraded in 2024. Check out the brand NEW PRINCE2 7th Edition Masterclass, covering all the current syllabus, training material and online exam benefits HERE

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Dave Litten


Dave spent 25+ years as a senior project manager for UK and USA multinationals and has deep experience in project management. He now develops a wide range of Project Management Masterclasses, under the Projex Academy brand name. In addition, David runs project management training seminars across the world, and is a prolific writer on the many topics of project management.

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