Introduction

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Introduction

Lesson Objectives

• Introduction to PRINCE2
• Definition of ‘project’ and its importance
• Characteristics of a project: change, cross-functional, temporary, unique,
uncertainty
• Responsibilities of a Project Manager
• Six variables/aspects of project performance that need to be controlled
• Structure of PRINCE2: principles, themes, processes, tailoring PRINCE2 to the
project environment
• Benefits of using PRINCE2

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Introduction

Introduction

• PRINCE2
◦ Acronym for Projects in a Controlled Environment
◦ A structured project management method
◦ Non-proprietary method
◦ Truly generic
◦ Owned by the Cabinet Office, UK

• Importance of Projects
◦ Projects are means by which change is introduced
◦ Projects develop the outputs that deliver the results for the organization to
sustain or improve
◦ Management focus has shifted to achieve a balance between business as
usual and business change

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Introduction

What is a Project?
• It is a ‘temporary organization created for the purpose of delivering one or more
business products in accordance with an agreed Business Case’.

Important characteristics of a Project

• Change: Projects are means by which change is introduced
• Temporary: Ceases to exist after the desired objectives are met
• Cross-functional: Cross the normal functional divisions in an organization and may
span entirely different organizations. It means people from different
departments/work streams within an organization and at times, people from
different organization come together to form a temporary team to achieve a set of
objective/goals.
• Unique: Two or more projects may be similar but differ in some particular aspect
• Uncertainty: Threats and opportunities affect the project and introduce the
element of risk

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Introduction

What does a Project Manager do?

• Plans the sequence of activities
• Delegates work to others in the team
• Monitors project progress in accordance with the Project Plan
• Exerts control when progress does not match plan
• Ensures that the project delivers to the planned scope, quality, time, benefits, risk
and cost objectives to avoid delays, overspends, and scope creep

What needs to be controlled?

• The six variables/aspects of project performance that needs to be controlled are:
◦ Costs
◦ Timescales
◦ Quality
◦ Scope
◦ Risk
◦ Benefits

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Introduction
Structure of PRINCE2
• PRINCE2 addresses project management with four integrated elements of
principles, themes, processes and tailoring PRINCE2 to the project environment
• Principles are guiding obligations and good practices which determine whether a
project is genuinely being managed using PRINCE2. There are seven principles
and unless all of them are applied, it is not a PRINCE2 project.
• Themes describe aspects of Project Management that must be addressed
continually and in parallel throughout the project. The seven themes explain the
specific treatment required by PRINCE2 for various project management
disciplines/aspects and why they are necessary.
• Processes describe a step-wise progression through the project life cycle, from
getting started to project closure. Each process provides checklist of
recommended activities, products and related responsibilities.
• Tailoring PRINCE2 to the project environment addresses the need to tailor
PRINCE2 to the specific context of the project. PRINCE2 is not one size fits all
solution. It is a flexible framework that can readily be tailored to any type or size of
a project.
• Specialist aspects, detailed techniques and leadership capability are beyond
scope of PRINCE2

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Introduction

Benefits of using PRINCE2

• Embodies established and proved best practices

• Can be applied to any type of project
• Widely recognized and understood
• Provides explicit recognition of project responsibilities
• Clarifies what a project will deliver, why, when, by whom and for whom
• Plans are carefully designed
• Enables management by exception thus saves precious senior management time
• Ensures participant focus on viability of the project
• Defines thorough and economical reporting structure

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Introduction

In this chapter, we have learnt about:

• Introduction to PRINCE2
• Definition of ‘project’ and its importance
• Characteristics of a project: change, cross-functional, temporary, unique,
uncertainty
• Responsibilities of a Project Manager
• Six variables/aspects of project performance that need to be controlled
• Structure of PRINCE2: principles, themes, processes, tailoring PRINCE2 to the
project environment
• Benefits of using PRINCE2

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