PRINCE2™ introduction

Overview

PRINCE (Projects IN Controlled Environments) is a structured project management method, originally developed by the government and launched in 1990. PRINCE2 was launched in 1996 (revised in 2005) and is the standard method used in UK government projects. It is widely used in the private sector as well, which is why it is commonly referred to as the de facto project management standard.

This one-day overview course is ideal for those organisations contemplating, or already set on, adoption of the PRINCE2 methodology. It examines the reasons for project failure, as identified by the course participants. It continues with an overview of the process model and the philosophy behind the processes as described in the components sections of the manual. At the conclusion of the course a review is conducted of reasons for project failure and how PRINCE2 may address them.

Training objectives

The objectives of this course are to:
  • Compare PRINCE2 with your organisation’s existing project management method
  • Determine the effort required to implement PRINCE2
  • Familiarise the participants with the approach and terminology used in a PRINCE2 environment

Audience

This course is recommended for:

  • Programme managers, Technical Managers and other members of staff who have a role to play in a PRINCE2 project and will need an appreciation of what is involved and how it all fits together
  • People working in areas which are affected by PRINCE2 projects and need to know what PRINCE2 is about and what they can expect from it

It is strongly recommended that whoever would sponsor the organisation’s adoption of PRINCE2 should also participate in this workshop.

Format

This one-day course is a stimulating mix of formal presentation, case histories and tutor-facilitated discussion.

For the avoidance of doubt, it does not lead towards the award of either of the PRINCE2 certificates.

The expert trainer

Barrie had many years of practical, hands-on project management experience before becoming a consultant in the 1980s, initially with Hoskyns Education and later with Park Place Europe Ltd. Both he and his co-director Malcolm have been PRINCE trainers and consultants since the methodology was launched in 1990. When PRINCE2 was launched in 1996 they took the opportunity to form their own consultancy, which has built up an impressive client list over the last ten years. In addition to their training activities, as consultants they continue to specialise in project management and its related specialisms, including process maturity and improvement.

Note

PRINCE2 is a government-owned proprietary methodology, managed by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC). APM Group Ltd operates on behalf of the OGC as an awarding body for the Foundation and Practitioner Certificates in PRINCE2. The only route to either of these certificates is through a training organisation accredited by APM Group. Moreover, it is only those accredited training organisations (ATOs) who are allowed to use PRINCE2 materials in their training courses, whether certificates are being awarded or not. There are around 60 ATOs in the UK and we looked at all of them before deciding to which one we should affiliate ourselves. We chose Barrie’s organisation (B&M Prince Ltd) for four key reasons:

  • Experience: as well as training project management specialists in the PRINCE methodology ever since it was first launched in 1990, Barrie and his co-director have many years’ practical experience as hands-on project managers, experience which is maintained on a daily basis by their continuing project management consulting work
  • Relevance: both their courses go beyond the standard PRINCE2 course manual to focus on the practical application of the methodology
  • ‘Transparency’: working with Barrie, you know from the outset who is doing the training
  • Value: the combination of training that goes beyond the core curriculum with a highly-competitive pricing structure makes this course unrivalled value for money

Course outline

  1. What is PRINCE2?
    • Origins
    • Outline
    • Introduction to the Manual
  2. How it can help to improve project success!
    • Common reasons for project failure
    • How PRINCE2 addresses them
    • Case histories
  3. The PRINCE2 processes
    • Directing a project
    • Planning
    • Starting up a project
    • Initiating a project
    • Controlling a stage
    • Managing project delivery
    • Managing stage boundaries
    • Closing a project
  4. The PRINCE2 components
    • Plans
    • Management of risk
    • Organisation
    • Business case
    • quality
    • Controls
    • Change control
    • Configuration management
  5. Workshop
    • How does PRINCE2 compare with the organisation’s current project management method?
    • How much effort would be required to implement it?