prince2 explained - incl prince2 training & qualifications

Focus on Training Tel: 0845 450 6120 Web: www.focus-on-training.co.uk

PRINCE2®, MSP, MoR®, P3O® and ITIL® are Trade Marks of the Office of Government Commerce

© 2010 Focus on Training

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PRINCE2® Explained

The most widely used Project Management Methodology - Worldwide




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PRINCE2 is the most widely used project management approach worldwide. Its

purpose is to provide a structured project management methodology which can be

applied to any project situation. The methodology can be scaled to suit projects

ranging from an office relocation to build of a nuclear power plant. The benefits boil

down to more effective delivery of project objectives, and greater project control.

For those new to PRINCE2, this Focus guide introduces key aspects of PRINCE2 and

explains the associated training and qualifications that are available. If you need any

further help or advice, you will find our Project Management staff a knowledgeable, independent

and friendly source of advice.

Prepared by:

Steve Twine Managing Director – Focus On Training

Version 3.02 September 2010

About:

Focus on Training specialises in provision of Best Practice training within the fields

of Project Management and IT Service Management. A comprehensive range of

PRINCE2, MSP, PMI, MoR, PMI, APM and ITIL courses from leading accredited

training organisations can be booked at our project management site:

www.focus-on-training.co.uk

With a network of over 40 high quality training partners Focus specialises in

offering you the widest choice of accredited Project and Programme Management

courses in the UK, helping you achieve Best Practice performance and certification –

as an individual or an organisation.

Steve Twine is Managing Director and leads the Project Management team at

Focus. He has deep experience of complex and high profile international projects

within the automotive industry

[email protected]




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Contents 1. Projects & Project Management

1.1. What is Project Management?

1.2. Where Project Management Fits

1.3. Skills and Competencies

2. What is PRINCE2?

2.1. Origins and Development

2.2. What it is – and what it’s not

2.3. Key Elements

3. The PRINCE2 Qualification Structure

3.1. Overview

3.2. PRINCE2 Foundation

3.3. PRINCE2 Practitioner

3.4. PRINCE2 Re-Registration

4. Related Training Options

4.1. PRINCE2 Practitioner Course Variants

4.2. E-Learning

4.3. On-site Training

4.4. PRINCE2 Overview

4.5. PRINCE2 – What Next?

5. Finding & Booking Your Course

5.1. Why Focus?

5.2. Finding the Right Course

5.3. How to Book and Pay

6. FAQs

7. PRINCE2 Resources




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1. Projects & Project Management

1.1 What is Project Management?

A project involves the co-ordination of people and resources to achieve a specified

business benefit within a defined time period. With today’s emphasis on “delivery”

and “change” the ability to manage this type of process is an essential and much

valued skill. Examples of projects could be:

� The installation of a new computer system

� The refurbishment of a building with all staff moved in and working

� The launch of a new product with a new sales and support team in place

Project Management is the discipline of combining people, resources, and systems to

complete these types of project within the agreed goals of time, budget and quality.

1.2 Where Project Management Fits

Whilst project management techniques and methods have long been a feature of

industries such as engineering, these approaches are now widely applied across all

types of organisation. Projects are often used to manage initiatives which span the

traditional functional silos which exist in most organisations. Groups of projects

(“Programmes”) are managed in order to drive essential investments and change.

Project managers will have many interfaces within an organisation – not least with the

various stakeholders, including those who have sponsored the initiative. Where there

are multiple, simultaneous projects organisations may set up a Project Support Office

to share specialist resources, and assist with routine project tasks.




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1.3 Skills and Competencies

Good project managers exhibit many of the skill sets expected of general managers

including:

- Commercial and financial awareness

- Communication, motivation and conflict resolution

- Planning, risk and change management

They also need to know the most effective ways to structure and organise projects.

Based on an understanding of what has underpinned successful projects around the

world a number of “best practice” guidelines have emerged. These include PRINCE2,

MSP and the “Body of Knowledge” distilled by the Association for Project Management.

2. What is PRINCE2?

2.1 Origins and Development

PRINCE2 stands for PRojects IN Controlled Environments. Its purpose is to provide a

structured project management methodology which can be applied to any project

situation. Its origins lie in the public sector in the UK: the OGC (Office of Government

Commerce) still owns the intellectual property in the official manuals. However, the

method is free to use by anyone.

The original version has been periodically updated, most recently in June 2009. It has

grown in popularity to become the de facto standard in many organisations. Users of

PRINCE2 span all sectors of the economy and all parts of the world. The manual is

available in English, Chinese, Danish, Polish, Dutch, Spanish and German. PRINCE2

training and exams are undertaken in 57 countries from Argentina to Zambia. There

are now more than 300,000 certified project managers who have sat and passed the

PRINCE2 Practitioner exam.

2.2 What it is – and what it’s not

PRINCE2 is a structured project management methodology. It starts with the principle

that a project always needs to be managed in order to be successful. It demands that

all parties must be clear about why the project is needed, what it is intended to

achieve, how the outcome is to be achieved - and what their responsibilities are in

that achievement.

PRINCE2 provides projects with:

� A controlled and organised start, middle and end

� Regular reviews of progress against plan and against the Business Case

� Flexible decision points

� Management control of any deviations from the plan




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� Involvement of management and stakeholders at the right time

� Good communication channels between the project team and the organisation

� Agreement on the required quality in ways that can be monitored

As well as improving project performance, PRINCE2 provides:

� A method that is teachable

� A method that is repeatable

� A method that is widely understood across, and between, organisations

PRINCE2 has never claimed to turn people instantly into competent project managers.

It provides a rigorous project method and a common project management language –

which has been of increasing value as projects span organisation boundaries and

project managers move between companies. PRINCE2 is no substitute for

development of project manager skills such as planning, management accounting and

communication through training and years of experience.

2.3 Key Elements

At the heart of PRINCE2 there is a set of 7 “Processes” which embody the project

stages from starting up to closing a project. Essential tools and approaches for

PRINCE2 projects are embodied in 7 “Themes”; these include the Business Case which

defines the justification for a project, and provides a reference point to align project

execution with business objectives. There are also 7 “Principles” which capture the

mind set which guides successful PRINCE2 project implementation; these include

management “stage by stage”, and “tailoring” of the management approach to reflect

the complexity and context of a project.

PRINCE2 is one component in a family of “best practice” guidance covering other

business critical functions such as IT Service Management and Change Management.




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3. The PRINCE2 Qualification Structure

3.1 Overview

PRINCE2 qualifications are extremely popular and have become a prerequisite for

many project manager jobs. The qualifications are developed and accredited on behalf

of the OGC by the APM Group. There are 2 levels of qualification and 3 associated

exams.

The PRINCE2 methodology is periodically updated to reflect changes in the external

environment and suggestions for improvement of the PRINCE2 manuals. This was

done in both 2005 and 2009. The changes to PRINCE2 in 2009 were relatively minor,

and recognition of those certified against previous releases is not affected. A separate

Focus Factsheet explains the changes which were introduced.

3.2 PRINCE2 Foundation

Overview:

This training and qualification is suitable for individuals with a background of working

within projects, though no previous experience of PRINCE2 is necessary. The

Foundation Certificate provides a working understanding of the methodology to a level

where you can work effectively within a PRINCE2 project environment.

What Will I Learn?

By the end of this course you should be able to:

Describe each of the project roles, themes, processes and principles

State the purpose and content of the main “management products”




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State the relationships between processes, deliverables, roles and the management aspects of a project

Courses:

Most people studying for the Foundation Certificate choose to attend an accredited

classroom training course lasting three days – including the exam on the final

afternoon of the event. It is an intensive course and pre-reading is usually expected.

There are also 2 day course options though these will necessitate a greater level of

familiarity with the “Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2” manual in advance of

the training.

As an alternative there are accredited distance learning packages which enable you to

study at a time and pace which suits you.

Exam:

There is a multiple choice, closed book exam which lasts 1 hour. The pass mark is 35

correct questions out of 70 (there are 5 unmarked questions used for trial purposes).

Pass rates for those taking the exam as part of an accredited course (classroom or e-

learning) are typically in excess of 95%.

3.3 PRINCE2 Practitioner

Overview:

The Practitioner Certificate assumes that you understand the basic elements and

terminology of PRINCE2. It concentrates on the application of the methodology to real

life project scenarios.

What Will I Learn?

In order to obtain the Practitioner certificate you should be able to:

Comment on the application of processes, themes and techniques to address

the particular circumstances of a given project scenario

Demonstrate that you understand the relationships between processes, themes,

techniques and PRINCE2 management products and can apply this

understanding

Demonstrate your ability to tailor PRINCE2 to different project environments




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Courses:

In order to obtain the Practitioner certificate you must first have passed the

Foundation exam. The most popular route to Practitioner certification is a 5 day course

which combines training for both Foundation and Practitioner elements – and which

includes both exams.

Alternatively, there are 2 or 3 day conversion courses for those who have previously

passed the Foundation exam. These will include the Practitioner exam.

Accredited e-learning is also available. However, for the Practitioner qualification we

recommend use of a “blended” package which includes a classroom workshop prior to

taking the exam.

Exam:

It is a form of multiple choice exam where the marks for each question are graduated

according to the answer chosen. The PRINCE2 manual is the only book allowed and

the exam lasts 2.5 hours. There are 9 scenario based questions with 12 marks

available per question. The pass mark is 59 correct questions out of 108.

3.4 PRINCE2 Practitioner Re-Registration

Overview:

At a minimum of three, and maximum of five, years after initial certification

Registered Practitioners are required to sit and pass a Re-Registration exam.

Courses:

Most re-registration candidates choose to attend a one or two day course in order to

refresh their knowledge of PRINCE2, to upgrade knowledge to the latest version (if

applicable) and for exam practice. The exam is taken at the end of the course.

Exam:

The one hour exam is to a similar standard as the Practitioner exam but is shorter.

There are 3 questions per paper with 12 marks available per question. The pass mark

is 20 correct questions out of 36. It is a multiple choice style exam and is open book.




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4. Related Training Options

4.1 PRINCE2 Practitioner Course Variants

Combined Foundation & Practitioner – 5 days

The most common way to achieve Practitioner certification. Referred to as

“Practitioner” courses on the Focus website.

Conversion – 2 or 3 days

For those who already hold the Foundation certificate

Split Courses eg 4+1 or 3+3

Combined Foundation and Practitioner courses spread across successive weeks. See

course outline for details.

Weekend Courses

Ideal for consultants looking to avoid fee earning days. These typically run over two

successive weekends. They are only available in London.

4.2 E-Learning

Online Learning is the preferred option for individuals wishing to study PRINCE2 at

their own pace from home, and for companies looking for a cost-effective and flexible

training format. Focus offers a wide range of online learning packages from leading

specialist providers. Visit the Focus website to compare different accredited products

to ensure you find the solution that best meets your requirements.

4.3 On-Site Training

We can arrange to deliver all of our public courses on a company specific basis, and we

aim to beat any like-for-like quote you have received. This allows you to tailor your

training to meet your company’s specific needs and to reflect your own style and

approach. Train in complete confidentiality on a date of your choice, whilst lowering

the cost per delegate and eliminating travel costs.

4.4 PRINCE2 Overview

This course is not associated with a certificate but is useful for those who need a

general awareness of PRINCE2. This might include those who are not members of a

project team but are working in a PRINCE2 environment. This one day course is

available as a public scheduled event – or can be delivered on a customer specific

basis if required.

4.5 PRINCE2 – What Next?

PRINCE2 Practitioner certification provides a firm platform from which to develop your

project management skills. The Focus website maps out a variety of courses which




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may be relevant, depending upon your career direction. The following are popular

examples:

5. Finding & Booking Your Course

5.1 Why Focus?

Focus is a project management specialist. We offer the widest range of PRINCE2

courses across the UK helping you find the dates and locations which are most

convenient. With over 100 training locations we can often avoid you having to travel

far or spend time away from home. We partner with the leading accredited trainers

helping assure that you receive the highest quality training. You will find that our

course prices are amongst the most competitive available.

Focus PRINCE2 courses are fully accredited by the APM Group and are delivered by

accredited PRINCE2 training providers. The number of delegates on each course is

limited to ensure the highest quality and level of participation.

The courses use the PRINCE2 manual together with a mixture of lectures,

demonstrations and tutorial exercises. Course outlines may vary between our range of

accredited training providers, but all meet the requirements of the APMG syllabus.

Depending on which course you choose there may be up to 10 hours of pre-course

reading for the Foundation Certificate and 20 hours for the Practitioner Certificate.

There may also be ‘homework’ to complete at the end of each day.

If you have any questions about project management courses our team of specialist

training advisors will be delighted to assist.




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5.2 Finding the Right Course

The Focus website contains full details of all the PRINCE2 course types. You can

explore PRINCE2 options at:

http://www.focus-on-training.co.uk/prince2-training/courses/skillarea/2/

Our unique search results pages enable you to identify all the courses which meet your

requirements in terms of date, location and price:

The course fee includes:

Pre-course reading

PRINCE2 manual (if required)

Exam fees and registration

Course materials

Refreshments and lunch (usually)

VAT is not included




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5.3 How to Book and Pay

Booking is fast, simple – and online.

PAY NOW - By Credit or Debit Card

Note that with Focus there is no surcharge for credit or debit card payment

1. Choose your Course

2. Click Book

3. Click Pay Now

4. Fill in your Contact Details and Credit/Debit Card information online

5. We will confirm your booking and you will progress to Step 3 below

Focus is happy to accept:

PAY LATER

Step 1 - Reserve your Place

1. Choose your Course

2. Click Book

3. Click Reserve a Place

We will double check course availability and we’ll reserve a provisional place for you.

You have not made a firm commitment at this stage, it's just like asking a hotel to

provisionally hold a room for you.

Most courses book up quickly, so you will now need to organise your payment as soon

as possible

Step 2 -Confirm your Booking by Organising your Payment

We can accept most credit/debit cards, cheque or bank transfer

We will confirm your booking, and you will be subject to our booking terms and

conditions

Step 3 - Receive your Course Pack and Joining Instructions

You will be sent Joining Instructions

These will contain all the information that you need e.g. start times and a location map

You will also receive your Pre-Course Study material

Any Questions - Just Ask !

Email our Bookings Team on [email protected] or call on 0845 450 6120




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6. FAQ’s

� Does my course include the manual and exam?

Yes. Foundation, Conversion, Practitioner and Re-registration courses all

include the relevant exam(s). The official Manual is provided for those

embarking on Foundation or combined Foundation & Practitioner courses. Note

that you will only need one of the two manuals – Managing Successful

Projects with PRINCE2 2009 Edition.

� Can I take a Conversion course if my Foundation was based on the

previous release of PRINCE2?

Yes. However you will need to buy the latest manual and we would recommend

a 3 day rather than a 2 day conversion course.

� For how long is my PRINCE2 Practitioner qualification valid?

Your qualification will be valid for up to 5 years. You may start the re-

registration process any time after 3 years.

� Why does the same course vary in price?

Focus represents a number of accredited course providers; they use different

venues and have differing overheads so our prices do vary. However, you

will study the same outline, sit the same examination, and gain the same

qualification. It just comes down to which is most convenient for you.

� What happens if I cancel my booking?

Focus will make every effort to find an alternative course. If you cancel a

confirmed booking within 25 working days of the course then part or all of the

course fee is at risk (see our terms and conditions).

� How long do the exam results take to come through?

This varies from course to course. Foundation paper results are usually given

out immediately, but the Practitioner papers are sent away for marking and

may take 2-4 weeks.

� What are the average pass rates on your courses?

The typical pass rates for PRINCE2 exams are approximately 99% at

Foundation level. Practitioner rates have averaged 90% during the past year.

Focus only uses accredited providers with a higher than national pass rate.

� Do you offer discount for group bookings?

Discount is calculated for bookings of 3 or more once the exact course details

are known. It is also worth checking our ‘special offers’ page regularly.

If you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to contact a member of the

Focus team.




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7. PRINCE2 Resources

7.1 Contact Focus

Tel: 0845 450 6120

Fax: 0870 855 5321

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.focus-on-training.co.uk

Mail: Focus on Training

First Floor

Olympus House

Werrington Centre

Peterborough

PE4 6NA

7.2 PRINCE2 Publications

You can buy the official PRINCE2 manuals and other useful publications from the Focus

bookshop at discount prices.

http://books.focus-on-training.co.uk/prince2-manual.asp

Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 – 2009 Edition

Directing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 – 2009 Edition

Passing the PRINCE2 Examinations

PRINCE2 Pocket Book

On-Line Assessment

http://www.focus-on-training.co.uk/sample-exam-paper-quiz/

The Focus website includes FREE quizzes which you can use to check how you

would perform if you took the PRINCE2 exams today




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7.3 Useful Websites

http://www.prince-officialsite.com

The official PRINCE2 website

http://www.best-management-practice.com

Comprehensive and up to date information with respect to PRINCE2, ITIL, MSP and

MoR. This is provided by the UK Government's Office of Government Commerce

(OGC) in partnership with APMG (OGC's official accreditor) and TSO (OGC's official

publisher)

http://www.pmforum.org

PM Forum provides instant worldwide access to project management information

http://www.pmtoday.co.uk

A leading UK project management journal with articles, news, jobs etc

http://www.projectsmart.co.uk

A web site with resources, templates, advice and links for project managers

http://www.p2ug.com

A useful interactive forum and resource to support PRINCE2 and project management

http://blog.focus-on-training.co.uk/category/project-management/prince2/

PRINCE2 postings on the Focus blog

7.4 PRINCE2 Jobs

The following specialist recruiters will be able to help you find out more about project

management careers and current job opportunities:

http://www.arraspeople.co.uk/

http://www.hcsprovek.co.uk/

http://www.wellingtone.co.uk/

Booking with Focus makes more sense:

A course close to home avoids hotel and travel

We offer more choice than anyone

Our training partners achieve above average pass marks

We can provide independent advice

Booking is online and fast

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