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PRINCE2Processes7ProcessesOfPRINCE2Explained|UK

PRINCE2Processes
PRINCE2isaprocessbasedapproachforprojectmanagementprovidinganeasilytailored,andscaleablemethodforthe
managementofalltypesofprojects.Eachprocessisdefinedwithitskeyinputsandoutputstogetherwiththespecificobjectives
tobeachievedandactivitiestobecarriedout.
BelowyouwillfindadiagramandsubsequentexplanationofthePRINCE2processestohelpguideyouwhenmanaging
projectswithPRINCE2.LeadingaccreditedtrainingorganisationILXGroupalsoprovideafreecomprehensivePRINCE2
processmodelposteravailableforyoutodownloadanduseasaquickreferenceonyourdeskorwall!
SeethePRINCE2downloadcentre(https://www.prince2.com/uk/downloads)formanymoreusefulPRINCE2resources,
availableforfreefromILXGroup.
IfyourequirePRINCE2trainingtherearetwoPRINCE2qualificationlevelsyoucangetaccreditedfor:PRINCE2Foundation
andPRINCE2Practitioner.
PRINCE2FoundationlevelisforthosewitharequirementtolearnthebasicsandterminologyofPRINCE2.APRINCE2
FoundationqualificationcanbereachedwithILX'srenownedPRINCE2Foundationonlinelearning
(https://www.prince2.com/uk/training/prince2/foundation/online)orathreedayPRINCE2Foundationtutorledclassroomcourse
(https://www.prince2.com/uk/training/prince2/foundation/classroom).
PRINCE2Practitioneristhehighestlevelqualificationandissuitableforthosewiththeneedtomanageprojectswithina
PRINCE2environment.APRINCE2PractitionerqualificationcanbereachedwiththeILXcombinedPRINCE2Foundationand
Practitionerblendedpackage(https://www.prince2.com/uk/training/prince2/foundationpractitioner/blendedlearning)ora
combinedPRINCE2FoundationandPractitionerfivedaytutorledclassroomcourse
(https://www.prince2.com/uk/training/prince2/foundationpractitioner/classroom).Ifyoudontwishtoentertheclassroomyou
canpurchasePRINCE2PractitionerPlus(https://www.prince2.com/uk/training/prince2/foundationpractitioner/online)which
combinesbothFoundationandPractitioneronlinelearning.

DirectingaProject
DirectingaProjectrunsfromthestartupoftheprojectuntilitsclosure.ThisprocessisaimedattheProjectBoard.TheProject
Boardmanagesandmonitorsviareportsandcontrolsthroughanumberofdecisionpoints.
ThekeyprocessesfortheProjectBoardbreakintofourmainareas:

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Initiation(startingtheprojectoffontherightfoot)
Stageboundaries(commitmentofmoreresourcesaftercheckingresultssofar)
Adhocdirection(monitoringprogress,providingadviceandguidance,reactingtoexceptionsituations)
Projectclosure(confirmingtheprojectoutcomeandcontrolledclose).
ThisprocessdoesnotcoverthedaytodayactivitiesoftheProjectManager.

StartingupaProject
ThisisthefirstprocessinPRINCE2.Itisapreprojectprocess,designedtoensurethattheprerequisitesforinitiatingthe
projectareinplace.
TheprocessexpectstheexistenceofaProjectMandatewhichdefinesinhighleveltermsthereasonfortheprojectandwhat
outcomeissought.StartingupaProjectshouldbeveryshort.
Theworkoftheprocessisbuiltaroundtheproductionofthreeelements:
Ensuringthattheinformationrequiredfortheprojectteamisavailable
DesigningandappointingtheProjectManagementTeam
CreatingtheInitiationStagePlan.

InitiatingaProject
TheobjectivesofInitiatingaProjectareto:
Agreewhetherornotthereissufficientjustificationtoproceedwiththeproject
Establishastablemanagementbasisonwhichtoproceed
DocumentandconfirmthatanacceptableBusinessCaseexistsfortheproject
EnsureafirmandacceptedFoundationtotheprojectpriortocommencementofthework
Agreetothecommitmentofresourcesforthefirststageoftheproject
EnableandencouragetheProjectBoardtotakeownershipoftheproject
Providethebaselineforthedecisionmakingprocessesrequiredduringtheproject'slife
Ensurethattheinvestmentoftimeandeffortrequiredbytheprojectismadewisely,takingaccountoftheriskstothe
project.

ManagingStageBoundaries
ThisprocessprovidestheProjectBoardwithkeydecisionpointsonwhethertocontinuewiththeprojectornot.
Theobjectivesoftheprocessareto:
AssuretheProjectBoardthatalldeliverablesplannedinthecurrentStagePlanhavebeencompletedasdefined
ProvidetheinformationneededfortheProjectBoardtoassessthecontinuingviabilityoftheproject
ProvidetheProjectBoardwithinformationneededtoapprovethecurrentstage'scompletionandauthorisethestartofthe
nextstage,togetherwithitsdelegatedtolerancelevel
Recordanymeasurementsorlessonswhichcanhelplaterstagesofthisprojectand/orotherprojects.

ControllingaStage
ThisprocessdescribesthemonitoringandcontrolactivitiesoftheProjectManagerinvolvedinensuringthatastagestayson
courseandreactstounexpectedevents.TheprocessformsthecoreoftheProjectManager'seffortontheproject,beingthe
processwhichhandlesdaytodaymanagementoftheproject.

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Throughoutastagetherewillbeacycleconsistingof:
Authorisingworktobedone
Gatheringprogressinformationaboutthatwork
Watchingforchanges
Reviewingthesituation
Reporting
Takinganynecessarycorrectiveaction.
Thisprocesscoverstheseactivities,togetherwiththeongoingworkofriskmanagementandchangecontrol.

ManagingProductDelivery
Theobjectiveofthisprocessistoensurethatplannedproductsarecreatedanddeliveredby:
Makingcertainthatworkonproductsallocatedtotheteamiseffectivelyauthorisedandagreedacceptingandchecking
WorkPackages
EnsuringthatworkconformstotherequirementsofinterfacesidentifiedintheWorkPackage
Ensuringthattheworkisdone
Assessingworkprogressandforecastsregularly
Ensuringthatcompletedproductsmeetqualitycriteria
Obtainingapprovalforthecompletedproducts.

ClosingaProject
Thepurposeofthisprocessistoexecuteacontrolledclosetotheproject.TheprocesscoverstheProjectManager'sworkto
wrapuptheprojecteitheratitsendoratprematureclose.MostoftheworkistoprepareinputtotheProjectBoardtoobtainits
confirmationthattheprojectmayclose.
TheobjectivesofClosingaProjectarethereforeto:
ChecktheextenttowhichtheobjectivesoraimssetoutintheProjectInitiationDocument(PID)havebeenmet
ConfirmtheextentofthefulfilmentoftheProjectInitiationDocument(PID)andtheCustomer'ssatisfactionwiththe
deliverables
Obtainformalacceptanceofthedeliverables
EnsuretowhatextentallexpectedproductshavebeenhandedoverandacceptedbytheCustomer
Confirmthatmaintenanceandoperationarrangementsareinplace(whereappropriate)
Makeanyrecommendationsforfollowonactions
CapturelessonsresultingfromtheprojectandcompletetheLessonsLearnedReport
PrepareanEndProjectReport
Notifythehostorganisationoftheintentiontodisbandtheprojectorganisationandresources.

Planning
PRINCE2recommendsthreelevelsofplantoreflecttheneedsofthedifferentmanagementlevelsinvolvedintheproject,stage
andteam.
PlanningisarepeatableprocessanditsactivitiesareincludedwithinthesevenmainPRINCE2processes,asappropriate.
InformationaboutplansandhowtoplancanbefoundinthePlansThemesectionofthePRINCE2Manual.
Theactivitiesofplanningare:
Designtheplan
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Defineandanalysetheproducts
Identifytheactivitiesanddependencies
Prepareestimates
Preparetheschedule
Analysetherisks
Documenttheplan
PRINCE2usesatechniqueknownasProductbasedplanningwhichrequiresfouractivities:
WritetheProjectProductDescription
Createtheproductbreakdownstructure
Writetheproductdescriptions
Createtheproductflowdiagram
ThesefouractivitiesareperformedwithintheDefineandanalysetheproductsactivityabove.

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