PRINCE2, A Project Management Methodology

Overview

Project management is a discipline that is indispensable and rapidly expanding as an organization nationally and globally. To implement new strategies and products successfully, an organization needs to select project managers to introduce new products, services with a purpose of gaining competitiveness in the market. However by selecting a project manager and a team, an organization is not guaranteed successful project outcomes.

In past years different methodologies have been developed to help organizations consider all the necessary components of project management, e.g. planning, controlling, communication and finalization of projects. One of the widely used project management methodologies is the PRINCE2 method, this methodology is based on seven principles and seven themes which will be described throughout this article. While this article is going to be used publicly, it is important to know other properties of this methodology, e.g. scalability and advantages, in order to make the right discussion while choosing a project management methodology.

PRINCE2

PRINCE (PRoject IN Controlled Environments) is a structured method for effective and efficient project management. The method was developed from an exiting method PROMPTII, which was developed by Simpact Systems Ltd in 1975. In 1979 PROMPTII was adopted by CCTA (The Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency) in UK as the standard for all government projects, mainly for IS (Information Systems) projects. In 1989 Superseded PRINCE the exiting method PROMPTII within government projects. [book]

CCTA continued developing the method and in 1996 launched PRINCE2 in response to user requirements for improved guidance on project management on all projects, not only IS projects. PRINCE2 is based on experiences of European project managements and project teams, who have contributed, some from their successes and others from their mistakes and omissions. [1]

The Benefits of PRINCE2

A good project management method will guide the project through a controlled, well-managed and visible sets of activities to archive organization goals. Organizations are aware of the benefits a project management method can bring, and some of the benefits are:

• A repeatable method
• A structured method
• Building on experience
• Ensuring the everyone knows that to expect, where, how and when
• Early warning of problems