PRINCE2 Basics

Methodology | 2009 Refresh | Accreditation and Exams | Re-registration

Methodology

PRINCE2 is a process driven methodology. There are 7 processes from Start-Up to Close and these processes encompass the 7 principles and incorporate the 7 themes.

The 7 principles which are considered universal and self-validating must exist in every project run according to PRINCE2. They are:

Continued business justification
Learn from Experience
Defined Roles and Responsibilities
Manage by Stages
Management by Exception
Focus on products
Tailor to suit the project environment.

The PRINCE2 guidance provided in Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 lists the activities required in each of 7 processes covering consideration of a project, its commencement through to its controlled conclusion. The processes are represented in the following diagram indicating where they occur in the project lifedcycle and the level of management responsible.

PRINCE2 Processes

Underlying these processes are the themes presented in the methodology and these amount to best practice in a project environment. They answer questions about what, why, who, when, how, how much and provide clarity. The themes are:

Business Case
Organization
Quality
Plans
Risk
Change
Progress

PRINCE2 2009 Refresh

The new PRINCE2 manual has incorporated feedback from the global project management community, improvements in best practice approaches, and consistency with other methodologies owned by the OGC. The following table gives a brief summary of the differences between the 2005 and 2009 editions of PRINCE2.

PRINCE2:2005	PRINCE2:2009
Principles were implicit.	7 principles have been explicitly stated.
8 Components	7 Themes. The former 8 components have been reduced by including Configuration Management as part of the Change Theme.
8 Processes	7 Processes. The former Planning process is dealt with as part of the Plans Theme.
Scalability sections scattered throughout book.	Tailoring PRINCE2 to the environment has been included as new chapter.
Audience for book included senior management and program managers	Project Board members and Program Managers are advised to read Directing Successful Projects with PRINCE2, a smaller book focused on the needs of project sponsors.
Post-project Review Plan completed as part of Closing a Project	Benefits Review Plan created as part of Initiating a Project and updated at end of each stage. Benefits Reviews may occur at the end of stages as well as after closure. Concept of dis-benefits introduced. Senior User role is held to account for the realisation of benefits.
36 outlines of PRINCE2 management products in Appendix A	26 outlines of PRINCE2 management products in Appendix A with clearer explanations. Some names have changed (eg Project Quality Plan is now the Quality Management Strategy)
Project Management Team Structure	Change Authority has been included in diagram. The Configuration Librarian role has been removed.
Risk Management	Chapter rewritten to align with other guidance. Response types cover opportunities as well as threats. Risk Management Strategy introduced.

Accreditation and Exams

There are two levels of accreditation for PRINCE2 which result in internationally recognised qualification:

The Foundation Certificate show familiarality with the PRINCE2 methodology. It is a qualification that may be useful to project office staff, people working in project teams or new project managers.

The Practitioner Certificate is based on a longer scenario-based exam and tests the ability to apply the PRINCE2 method to particlar situations. It is intended for experienced project managers or those with significant experience of project environments.

PRINCE2 Foundation Exam Format

1 hour allowed
Multiple choice examination
There are 75 multiple choice questions with 70 marks available in total.
5 questions are trial ones and not counted in scores (You will not know which are the trial questions.)
Closed book exam
The pass mark is 35 out of 70 available (50%)
5 of the 70 questions will be select style, 5 of the 70 questions will be negative style and 5 of the 70 questions will be missing word style

PRINCE2 Practitioner Exam Format

2.5 hours allowed (no reading time)
Objective testing examination
9 questions per paper with 12 marks available per question - 108 marks available in total
Open book exam (manual only)
The pass mark is 59 out of 108 available (55%)
Pre-requisite: A pass in the Foundation level examination

Re-registration

All PRINCE2 Registered Practitioners have the opportunity to re-register their accreditation within 3-5 years of the original certification date. Re-registering your accreditation demonstrates a commitment to continuous professional development and will keep you updated on any revisions of the methodology.

Please note that your qualification will not expire after 5 years, however you will no longer be a "Registered" Practitioner. To reclaim your Registered Practitioner status you can complete the re-registration exam at any time.

PRINCE2 Practitioner Re-registration Exam Format

1 hour allowed (no reading time)
Objective testing examination
3 questions per paper with 12 marks available per question - 36 marks available in total
Open book exam (manual only)
The pass mark is 20 out of 36 available (55%)

To re-register your PRINCE2 accreditation with Adaptive Frameworks please contact us for more information.