Exploring PRINCE2 7: A Guide to Project Management Excellence
Here is how the five integrated elements of PRINCE2 come together to form a coherent and dynamic method for managing any project. PRINCE2 is a project management method composed of five integrated elements: principles, people, practices, processes, and the project context.
The five integrated elements of the PRINCE2 method are designed to work together. PRINCE2 is a guiding principle, driving you towards Project Management Excellence.
PRINCE2 five integrated elements:
PRINCE2 principles
These are the guiding obligations that determine whether the project is genuinely being managed using PRINCE2.
There are seven principles, and unless they are applied, it is not a PRINCE2 project.
People
Projects need people, mainly those working on the project and those affected by the project. People are at the centre of the method.
PRINCE2 Practices
These used to be called Themes, and describe essential aspects of project management that must be applied consistently throughout the project lifecycle. The seven practices explain the specific treatment required of that aspect of project management for the PRINCE2 processes to be effective and why they are necessary.
The practices ensure that the principles are continually applied during the processes in a way that is specific to the project context and considers the relationships and requirements of people within the project team and those outside the project team.
The Seven PRINCE2 Processes
PRINCE2 processes: the seven processes describe the entire project lifecycle, from activities before getting started through the stages of project delivery to the final act of project closure.
An understanding of the needs, capabilities, and motivations of the people involved and the relationships between them is crucial to how the project is established and managed.
The project context
The principles, practices, and processes are applied by the people involved to ensure that the method fits the project context.
Each process has checklists of recommended activities and related responsibilities.
PRINCE2 has been designed so it can work within any context including organizational and
commercial context, delivery method, sustainability requirements, and project scale.
