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Mastering the PRINCE2 7 Process Model 

 January 15, 2025

By  Dave Litten

Defining the PRINCE2 7 Processes

Imagine a well-orchestrated symphony of activities, each with its own role, inputs, and outputs, all working together to achieve a specific goal. That’s what the PRINCE2 7 Processes are all about!

PRINCE2 is a process-based approach to project management, and it’s like having a roadmap for success. There are seven processes in PRINCE2 that guide you through directing, managing, and delivering a project like a pro.

The process lifecycle has three stages: an initiation stage, subsequent stages, and the final stage. No matter what, you’ll always have at least two stages: an initiation stage and a final stage. The stages in between? Well, that depends on the project!

The PRINCE2 Journey

Pre-project

Before a project kicks off, someone has a brilliant idea or a pressing need. In PRINCE2, this spark is called a project mandate. It’s the business’s way of saying, “Hey, we need this project!” The mandate can be anything from a casual chat to a detailed project definition.

Before diving in, it’s crucial to check if the project is worth it and feasible. This is where the process of starting up a project comes in. The project manager and project board are appointed, and they create a project brief and a stage plan for the initiation stage.

The project board then decides whether to green-light the project initiation.

The Initiation Stage

Once the project gets the go-ahead, it’s time to plan it out in detail.

This stage covers everything from planning and setting up project management approaches to developing a solid business case and figuring out how to review benefits. The process of managing a stage boundary is also used to plan the next stage in detail.

The initiation stage wraps up with the project initiation documentation being reviewed by the project board. They decide whether to authorize the project and the next stage. This version of the documentation is kept as the original baseline for future reviews.

Subsequent Stages

The project board hands over day-to-day control to the project manager on a stage-by-stage basis. The project manager ensures progress aligns with the approved plan and that forecasts stay within agreed tolerances. Regular highlight reports keep the project board in the loop.

The project manager assigns work to team managers or members, who then execute the tasks and report back through checkpoint reports. This is all part of managing product delivery.

Towards the end of each stage, the project manager asks for permission to move to the next stage by reporting on the current stage’s performance, updating the business case, and planning the next stage in detail.

The project board assesses the project’s viability and decides whether to authorize the next stage. They must always ensure the project stays aligned with the business strategy.

Final Stage

As the project nears its end, it’s time to start closing things down. The project may have been transitioning products into operational use throughout its life.

The project board needs to ensure that the recipients of each product are ready to take ownership and that the business can take overall ownership of the project product. If everything checks out, the project can close.

Project documentation should be archived, performance assessed against the original plan, and people and resources released.

Closure activities also include planning post-project benefits reviews for those benefits that can only be assessed after the project product has been in use.

Post-project

Even though some benefits might be realized during the project, many will come to fruition after it’s completed. That’s why post-project benefits reviews are essential.

The project’s benefits management approach will outline how and when these reviews should happen and who’s responsible for them.

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PRINCE2 7th Edition Process and products roadmap

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The PRINCE2 Foundation examination assesses your knowledge and comprehension of the PRINCE2 project management methodology as detailed in the syllabus. The PRINCE2 Practitioner examination, on the other hand, gauges your ability to apply and tailor the PRINCE2 method. Candidates who pass the Practitioner exam should be able to start implementing the method on an actual project with some guidance. However, their effectiveness may differ based on their experience in project management, the complexity of the project, and the level of support they receive in their work environment.

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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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