The PRINCE2 7 journey
The Pre-project journey
Before a project begins, someone has an idea or a need. The trigger for the project (which may come in a wide range of ways) in PRINCE2 is called a project mandate.
The business provides the project mandate (the organization commissioning the project) and can vary from verbal instruction to a well-defined and justified project definition.
Before formally starting a project, assessing and confirming that it is worthwhile and viable is essential.
This is done when starting up a project, in which the project manager and project board are appointed, and a project brief and a stage plan for the initiation stage are created.
The decision to proceed with project initiation is taken by the project board using their process of directing a project.
The project board then reviews the project brief and stage plan and decides whether and how to initiate the project and allocate the people and resources required.
The Initiation stage journey
When a decision has been made to proceed with the project, it needs to be planned in an appropriate level of detail.
The process of initiating a project includes the planning, establishment of the project management approaches and controls, development of a robust business case, and a means of reviewing benefits.
Also, during the initiation stage, the process of managing a stage boundary is used to plan the next stage in detail.
The initiation stage ends with the project initiation documentation being reviewed by the project board, again using their process (directing a project) to decide whether to authorize the project and the next stage to proceed.
The contents of the project initiation documentation are likely to change throughout the project (under change control), so this version is preserved as the original baseline for later reviews.
The PRINCE2 Subsequent stages
The project board delegates day-to-day control to the project manager stage-by-stage.
The project manager needs to ensure that progress aligns with the approved plan and that forecasts for the project are within agreed tolerances. The project manager informs the project board of progress through regular highlight reports.
The activities to control each stage are covered by the process of controlling a stage.
The PRINCE2 Final stage
Since a project is temporary the closing a project process is triggered towards the end of the final stage.
The project may have been transferring and transitioning individual products into operational use throughout the project’s life.
The project board now needs to be satisfied that the recipients of each product are able to own and use them on an ongoing basis and that the business can take overall ownership of the project product.
Should this be the case, the project can close.
The project documentation should be archived, the project assessed for performance against its original plan, and the people and resources assigned to the project must be released.
Closure activities include confirming or revising the plans for the planning post-project benefits reviews to occur for those benefits that can only be assessed after the project product has been in use (and, therefore, after the project has closed)
The Post-project journey
Even though some benefits may be realized during the project, in most cases, many or all of the benefits will be admitted after completion.
Therefore, one or more post-project benefits reviews will likely occur. The project’s benefits management approach will document how and when these reviews should happen and who is responsible and accountable for them.
PRINCE2® 7 Foundation and Practitioner
Learn PRINCE2® 7 Foundation and Practitioner Online
** Enhance your PRINCE2 career now **
PRINCE2® Masterclass gives you the skills necessary to manage projects effectively and achieve your objectives.
Get 7 days a week 12 months one to one coaching with ex PRINCE2 examiner Dave Litten.
PRINCE2® is a globally recognized project management framework. By completing both the Foundation and Practitioner courses through our self-paced e-learning, you will develop an understanding of the methodology and learn how to effectively adapt it to any project.
The PRINCE2® 7 Foundation and Practitioner Masterclass is PeopleCert Accredited and guarantees to take you from PRINCE2 Novice to PRINCE2 Practitioner with our famous video learning, study guides and practice exams.
What Does the Masterclass Cover?
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.
