PRINCE2 ® (Projects InControlled Environments) is a structured project management method based on experience drawn from thousands of projects and from the contributions of countless project sponsors, Project Managers, teams, academics, trainers and consultants.
The method was first established in 1989 by CCTA (the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency), now the responsibility of the Cabinet Office – in the UK, revised in consultation with users and project management experts and launched in 1996 as PRINCE2.
Since 1996 PRINCE2 has grown in popularity and is now the project management method of choice of many organisations and individuals both in the UK and internationally. It has been translated into many different languages, reflecting the international acceptance of the method.
PRINCE2 is now regulated so that service providers, user organisations and individuals can be accredited against standards in process and knowledge and regulated through examinations and audits. The huge popularity of PRINCE2 is due to the accreditation process, the ease of use and its flexibility in terms of application
In the current environment, where controlled change and the ability to respond quickly to the market are pre-requisites for survival, PRINCE2 provides the ability to deliver new products and services ON TIME, TO QUALITY and within BUDGET. It does this by focusing on delivery of projects’ outcome and monitoring and controlling the factors that have the ability to adversely impact that outcome.
Using PRINCE2?
The decision to implement PRINCE2 within your organisation may have a significant effect on current ways of working and consideration of this fact must be uppermost in tailoring PRINCE2 to your corporate processes and policies.
It is not just a matter of training people to use PRINCE2 but requires the provision of a sympathetic environment in which your staff can operate effectively. This may result in cultural change and thought needs to be given to change management principles.
One of the most important factors is the acceptance and buy-in from senior management of the need to be inclusive and NOT outside the scope of the PRINCE2 processes. Senior management should have a basic knowledge of the processes in PRINCE2 that affect the way they operate, in order to appreciate the need to perform their role within a project. It is preferable that a person at senior management level is appointed as ‘owner’ of the processes to ensure maintenance and compliance.
Once the decision is made to introduce PRINCE2, adopting PRINCE2 processes and adapting current processes will result in a more holistic project management environment, providing significant benefits in terms of effectiveness and efficiency of resources applied to projects.
Training, appropriate to their role, will ensure staff at all levels fully understand what they need to do within the new environment and the introduction of templates and project management information systems will enable the speedy take up of the method. Some training can be achieved through workshops as well as standard training courses.
As in all new systems, consideration should be given to the level of support needed to ensure appropriate use, which may be provided by a dedicated support office, depending on the scope of the project environment.
This is a 3 day course for all project personnel providing a detailed explanation of the methodology and some practical exercises. The Foundation examination is taken on the afternoon of the 3day.
This is a 5 day course for all project managers and senior project personnel providing a detailed understanding of the PRINCE2 methodology, practical exercises in work-groups and examination technique. The Foundation examination is taken on the afternoon of the 3 day and the Practitioner exam on the 5 day.
PRINCE2 ® (Projects In Controlled Environments) is a structured project management method based on experience drawn from thousands of projects and from the contributions of countless project sponsors, Project Managers, teams, academics, trainers and consultants.