What is PRINCE2? | Definition, History & Benefits | UK

PRINCE2 is derived from the earlier PRINCE (Projects IN Controlled Environments) project management method, which was initially developed in 1989 by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) as a UK Government standard for the management of IT projects only.

But it soon became popular outside the IT industry. PRINCE2, which was released in 1996 as a generic project management method, is designed for all projects, whether for IT, Construction, or the social sector.

PRINCE2 has become very popular and is the de-facto standard for project management in the UK. It is fast gaining popularity outside the UK and now is used in more than 50 countries.

The Office of Government Commerce OGC owns the PRINCE2 trademark. The latest version of PRINCE2 was released in 2005 by the OGC.

You may be interested in PMP vs. Prince2

Now let us go through the prince 2 benefits, prince 2  process model, prince 2 components, and prince 2 techniques in detail:

The benefits of PRINCE2?

Using the PRINCE2^TM method, project managers can complete their projects within a scheduled time frame and save time because of the better and more effective management of resources.

Also, this means saving money, too, as time is money. In a nutshell, there are the following benefits of adopting the PRINCE2^TM based approach:

• PRINCE2 is a project management method that is repeatable and teachable

• In prince 2, there is a good and well-defined decision-making system in place as well as the system in place to manage the deviations, if any

• Another benefit of the PRINCE2 project management method is that the frequent ( predetermined ) reviews of progress against the project plan and business case help ensure that the project continues to have a viable business case.

• A well-defined communication plan ensures better communications between the project management team and the other stakeholders of the project

• In this approach, the lessons learned from the project are documented for analysis and are equally effective as reference sources for similar future projects in the organization

• in PRINCE2, ample importance is given to quality assurance to ensure the quality of the products produced as

• Effective management of risks and issues

• In PRINCE2, better management of available resources is possible

• Early warning of problems or potential threats are reasonable with prince 2

Apart from the benefits mentioned above, there are many other benefits that one can achieve by using the PRINCE2 model and can increase the percentage of the project’s success. Now let us talk about the process model and the processes.

Prince2 Certification Levels

Prince2 has two different levels of certification;

1. Foundation Level
2. Practioner Level

Prince2 certification is just a basic knowledge to manage projects and has no prerequisite requirements to get certified.

On the other hand, while the Practitioner level is for senior managers and analysts who can implement Prince2 methods on practical grounds.

The PRINCE2 Process Model

PRINCE2 is process-driven project management consisting of eight processes, eight components, and three techniques.
The 8 processes of the PRINCE2 process model are as follows:

•  Starting Up a Project (SU)
• Planning (PL)
• Initiating a Project (IP)
• Directing a Project (DP)
• Controlling a Stage (CS)
• Managing Product Delivery (MP)
• Managing Stage Boundaries (SB)
• Closing a Project (CP)

The 8 components of PRINCE2 are as follows:

• Business case
• Organization
• Plans
• Controls
• Management of risk
• Quality in a project environment
• Configuration management
• Change control

The followings are the three PRINCE2 techniques:

PRINCE2 works well with most project management techniques but specifically describes the  following:

1. Product Based Planning
2. Change Control
3. Quality Reviews

PRINCE2 | Frequently asked Questions

These are the questions people keep on asking quite frequently. I guess I have more or less covered all the important aspects of PRINCE2 certification.

1. What is a Project in PRINCE2?

In PRINCE2, the project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or a service. Also, every project is finite, i.e., it has a specific start and a finish. A project’s closure is reached when either the project meets its objective or fails and is no longer viable.

2. What is project management?

Project management is a systematic approach to planning and guiding project processes from start to finish. Project management can be applied to almost any project, whether IT or Construction or any other Industry related project.

3. What is PRINCE2?

PRINCE2 is derived from the earlier PRINCE (Projects IN Controlled Environments) project management method, which was initially developed in 1989 by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) as a UK Government standard for the management of IT projects only.

But it soon became popular outside the IT industry. PRINCE2, which was released in 1996 as a generic project management method, is designed for all projects, whether for IT, Construction, or the social sector. PRINCE2 has become very popular and is the de-facto standard for project management in the UK.

It is fast gaining popularity outside the UK and now is used in more than 50 countries. The Office of Government Commerce OGC owns the PRINCE2 trademark. The latest version of PRINCE2 was released in 2005 by the OGC.

4. What are the benefits of PRINCE2?

Using the PRINCE2^TM method, project managers can complete their projects within a scheduled time frame and save time because of the better and more effective management of resources.

Also, this means saving money, too, as time is money. In a nutshell, there are the following benefits of adopting the PRINCE2^TM based approach:

It is a project management method that is repeatable and teachable

• A good and well-defined decision-making system in place as well as the system in place to manage the deviations, if any
• Frequent (predetermined) reviews of progress against the project plan and business case help ensure that it continues to have a viable business case.
• A well-defined communication plan ensures better communications between the project management team and the project’s other stakeholders.
• In this approach, the lessons learned from the project are documented for analysis and are equally effective as reference sources for similar future projects in the organization.
• Ample of importance is given to quality assurance to ensure the quality of the products produced as
• Effective management of risks and issues
• Better management of available resources
• Early warning of problems or potential threats

5. Who owns PRINCE2?

Office of Government Commerce(OGC) owns the PRINCE2 methodology, and APMG is the Certification Body. The details can be checked at the APMG site.

6. Who Can use the PRINCE2 logo?

The PRINCE2 logo is a registered trademark of the Office of Government Commerce ( OGC ) and must not be used without permission.

7. May I advertise myself as a PRINCE2 Registered Practitioner on my business card?

Candidates can put PRINCE2 Practitioner on their business cards after passing the PRINCE2 Practitioner examination, REMEMBER!! The Practitioner exams and NOT just the foundation exams. Candidates can also include a web address on their business cards (www.p2registeredpractitioner.com).

8. Any prerequisites to take PRINCE2 exams?

As such, there is no pr-requisite to take the PRINCE2 exams. But having background knowledge and experience in project management is always helpful. It enables you to understand the specific terms and stages of the PRINCE2^TM methodology a little easier.

9. What is PRINCE2 Lite?

l PRINCE2 Lite is a lighter version of PRINCE2. For smaller organizations handling smaller projects, PRINCE2 is too complicated, and they develop their simplified versions. These smaller versions are PRINCE2 Lite and occasionally called PINO (Prince2 In Name Only) also…

10. Can I use ITIL and PRINCE2 together?

YES, the two methods are complementary. PRINCE2 can cover the process of creating products ( read IT products here as ITIL is specifically for IT products ), and ITIL covers the services. ITIL consists of a series of books giving guidance on the provision of quality IT services.

11. How can I become a PRINCE2 Practitioner?

To become a Registered PRINCE2 Practitioner, one must pass the Foundation Examination and then the Practitioner Examination.

12. What is the format of the Foundation Exam?

The form for the exams is :

– 75 Multiple-choice questions
– One-hour duration
– Closed-book
-passing marks are 38 of 75 (50% approx.)

13. What is the format for PRINCE2 Practitioners Exam?

One has to pass the foundation exam first to sit in the practitioner exams. Earlier the format was different, but since September 2007, IT is an objective type now. The practitioner exam consists of 9 questions worth 40 marks each. A minimum of 180 marks out of 360 total is required to pass the practitioner exam. It is a 3-hour Open book exam, and the candidates are allowed to refer to their PRINCE2 manual in the exam.

14. What languages are the PRINCE2 examinations available in?

1. English
2. Spanish
3. Italian
4. Dutch
5. German
6. French
7. Danish
8. Polish
9. Chinese
10. Norwegian

are the major ones being used for a Prince2 exam?

15. Do I need to Re-register for the PRINCE2 Certificate?

PRINCE2 Practitioners must re-register within 3-5 years of their original certification. The re-registration is a 1-hour examination set at the same standard as the Practitioner examination. An overall score of 60 out of a total of 120 is a must to get a pass.

16. Are there any provisions for Open Centre Examinations?

Yes. In the UK at the following venues:

i) Milton Keynes (Buckinghamshire)
ii) York (North Yorkshire)
III Chester (Cheshire)

One Small Request:

Being a Project Management guy, I know how little time we have to play around on the internet. But if you have found this information useful, please share it with your colleague so that more people can benefit from it. If you have any questions, then comment below, and I am glad to take it.

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