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Day of the PRINCE2® Examination [Do’s and Don’ts]

PRINCE2® is going to make a lot of difference in your life and career. Now, as the training session is over and you are going to appear in the examination, you need to be confident and focused. Though hugely popular in the UK job market and across industries, PRINCE2® certification is also getting recognition in other countries as well. Thousands of employers in Europe give priority to the PRINCE2® certified candidates. Seeing its awe-inspiring acceptability, even seasoned professionals are opting for PRINCE2® certification courses.  So, when the course curriculum is over and the date of the examination is announced, plan for the day of the examination well-ahead.Path to PRINCE2® certificationsIf you are already into it, perhaps you know the path. However, if you have missed something, you can get to know it thoroughly here. For newcomers, the whole path of PRINCE2® certifications needs to be very clear. Remember, the day of the examination is the final day of preparation before you achieve your target of gaining PRINCE2® certification. By the end of your preparation journey, you would have got a clear idea on the PRINCE2® eligibility requirements, benefits and other nitty-gritty of the certification process!Do's and Don'tsKeep the following in mind on the exam day:Wake up early in the morning, refresh, and quickly review all the important pointsHave a light breakfast before leaving for the exam centreReach the centre at least 35-40 minutes prior to exam start timeDo’s and Don’ts at the exam centreAs the exam starts, you need to be poised and confidentDon’t think about the office or home, it’s just a matter of 60 minutes or 150 minutes after which you will get ample time to ponder over your day-to-day hassles and responsibilitiesQuickly review each question and don’t feel helpless/dejected  if any question seems toughStart answering one by one but read each question very carefully before answeringTake a few seconds rest every 15 minutes just by taking deep breaths or closing your eyesPreparation for the exam dayJust a few days before the examination, you will be asked to fill in your profile details form where you would have to write your name and address apart from some other details. Be careful while writing your name and address as it will appear in your certificate that will be dispatched. Be calm and maintain a positive frame of mind on the examination day! You need to carry a photo identity, the approved book (if it is an open book examination), pen, pencil, and eraser to the exam hall.  Apart from these articles, you are not permitted to carry any other material. If you are carrying any non-permitted article, you would have to hand it over to the invigilator before entering the exam centre. For the Practitioner level exams, a hard copy of the approved manual is permitted.Preparation for the PRINCE2® Certification examinationYou need to be well-prepared for the examination at any level – Foundation or Practitioner. The examination is not going to be easy due to limited time and a large number of questions. You would have to think fast and solve the problems correctly within the given duration!The purpose of the Foundation certification is to test whether you will be able to be a productive member of a project management team that uses PRINCE2®. To pass the certification examination successfully, you need to demonstrate that you understand the significance of the PRINCE2® terms and principles. The questions are set in such a way that your understanding of all the eight process and sub-processes, eight components, basis of the techniques applied, and the purpose of roles will be tested. In the Practitioner examination, your understanding level on processes, themes, and techniques will be tested. Your knowledge of the interactions among PRINCE2® management products, techniques, processes, and themes will be tested. The questions are set to see how well you apply your knowledge on these different aspects in real-world situations. In the PRINCE2® Agile Foundation certification, your concept and understanding of PRINCE2® governance needs, different Agile techniques such as Kanban, Start-up, Scrum, etc., and the interface of PRINCE2® and agile process of working will be tested. The PRINCE2® Agile Practitioner certification examination is a scenario-based examination. This includes case studies where different scenarios are given followed by questions related to them which you would have to solve. Always remember, that this is a tight exam and time will be short and questions will be more.  So, it will be a real test of your speed, acumen, and knowledge. All these aspects need to be properly integrated if you want to pass the exam and become a PRINCE2® certified professional. This capability only improves with diligent practice. You would have to prepare well before the examination. Attend the classes regularly, understand the concepts well, use reference books as required, revise and practice a lot with examination papers from the previous years.Different PRINCE2® certifications and their purposesPRINCE2® Foundation certification course teaches you the core principles of PRINCE2® and the meanings of the terms used in PRINCE2®. Foundation certification helps you become a part of a project management team that is all set to use PRINCE2® methodology. This certification is the gateway to the world of PRINCE2®. The second step is the PRINCE2® Practitioner certification. With this, you have actually stepped into the world of PRINCE2®. Here you get complete knowledge on how to apply PRINCE2® and manage a project in this environment. This curriculum gives you an opportunity to understand the applicability of PRINCE2® products, principles, themes, and processes.The PRINCE2® Agile certification is yet another kind of advanced PRINCE2® certification designed to assist professionals to customize the management control while working in an agile environment. This qualification has two parts: Foundation and Practitioner. The Foundation course provides an overview of the whole PRINCE2® Agile concept and its terminologies while the Practitioner course makes you an expert in the PRINCE2® Agile process. Prerequisites for taking PRINCE2® examination For appearing in the PRINCE2® Foundation no specific qualification is required. However, if you have a basic understanding of Project Management, you will be able to understand the course and attend the examination with more confidence. For appearing in the PRINCE2® Practitioner examination you need to complete the PRINCE2® Foundation course or need to have any of the following certifications:Project Management Professional (PMP)® certificationIMPA level A, B, C, or DCertified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®A PRINCE2® Agile certification to requires you to cross two stages to gain the certification. For appearing in the PRINCE2® Agile Foundation examination no prior professional qualification is required; however, basic knowledge on the key aspects of Project Management can give you extra mileage. On the other hand, for appearing in the PRINCE2® Agile Practitioner certification exam you need to have any of the following certifications:PRINCE2® Foundation or PRINCE2® Agile FoundationProject Management Professional (PMP)® CertificationIPMA level A, B, C, or DCertified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®Examination Formats of different PRINCE2® CertificationsYour preparation for examination is never complete without having a thorough knowledge of examination format. In all the above-mentioned PRINCE2® certifications objective type multiple choice questions are given. The examination format of PRINCE2® Foundation 2017 version is as follows:It is a closed book 60 minutes examinationTotal 60 questions are given and all are objective type multiple choice questionsEach question carries 1 markPass marks are 33 (55%)The examination format of PRINCE2® Foundation 2009 version is as follows:It is a closed book 60 minutes examination Total 75 questions are given all are objective type multiple choice questionsEach question carries 1 mark5 questions are for trial the marks here are not countedPass marks are 35 (50% out of 70 questions with 1 mark each). The examination format for PRINCE2® Practitioner 2009 version is as follows:It is an open book 150 minutes (2 hours 30 minutes) examinationAll questions are objective type Total of 8 questions are given In each question there are 10 question items are presentTotal marks are 80 and pass marks are 44 (55%)Official study module Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2®2009 Edition is allowed in the exam room. The examination format for PRINCE2® Practitioner 2017 version is as follows:It is an open book 150 minutes (2 hours 30 minutes) examinationAll questions are objective type Total 68 questions are given with 1 mark eachPass marks are 38 (55%)Official study module Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2®2017 Edition is allowed in the exam room.If you are appearing in the PRINCE2® Agile Foundation Certification, the following is the examination format:It is closed book 60 minutes examinationTotal 50 questions are given with 1 mark eachPass marks are 35 (55%).If you are appearing for the PRINCE2® Agile Practitioner Certification following is the examination format:It is an open book 150 minutes (2 hours 30 minutes) examinationAll questions are objective type Total 50 questions are given with 1 mark eachPass marks are 30 (60%)Official study module PRINCE2® Agile Guidance in hard copy is allowed in the exam room.Beside these examinations, there is PRINCE2® Re-Registration qualification examination. This is applicable to all PRINCE2® Practitioners who are using the certification for at least 3 years. So, before the expiry of 3 years from the original qualification, you can sit for re-registration examination to renew your certificate for another 3 years. However, there is another option open whereby you can maintain your certification by earning at least 20 CPD points, i.e. 60 CPD points at the end of 3rd year.Importance of PRINCE2® qualificationThe PRINCE2® project management process helps you to understand the project management standard in the UK and several other countries. PRINCE2® certification improves the employment prospects of the candidates and also makes you sharp at your project management-related responsibilities. PRINCE2® certification adds weight to your CV and sets you as a class apart from the others. In the UK and several other countries, companies consider PRINCE2® Practitioner Certification or PRINCE2® Agile Practitioner Certification as a must-have for potential candidates. Process of appearing in the PRINCE2® Certification ExaminationThe examination is mandatory at all levels of PRINCE2® Certification. The examination is taken at the end of the training period. The training center arranges the examination on behalf of all the trainees. In case you have self-studied, you have to contact APMG International service for scheduling your examination. APMG International would arrange a physical examination center or you could also appear online examination anytime. If you are interested in online examination, you need to have an unhindered internet connection and a webcam along with other essential computer setups. As the examinations are getting harder with time, it is always feasible, though not mandatory, to get an admission in an accredited training institute for a full-length course curriculum.
Day of the PRINCE2® Examination [Do’s and Don’ts]
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Day of the PRINCE2® Examination [Do’s and Don’ts]

PRINCE2® is going to make a lot of difference in your life and career. Now, as the training session is over and you are going to appear in the examination, you need to be confident and focused. Though hugely popular in the UK job market and across industries, PRINCE2® certification is also getting recognition in other countries as well. Thousands of employers in Europe give priority to the PRINCE2® certified candidates. Seeing its awe-inspiring acceptability, even seasoned professionals are opting for PRINCE2® certification courses.  So, when the course curriculum is over and the date of the examination is announced, plan for the day of the examination well-ahead.Path to PRINCE2® certificationsIf you are already into it, perhaps you know the path. However, if you have missed something, you can get to know it thoroughly here. For newcomers, the whole path of PRINCE2® certifications needs to be very clear. Remember, the day of the examination is the final day of preparation before you achieve your target of gaining PRINCE2® certification. By the end of your preparation journey, you would have got a clear idea on the PRINCE2® eligibility requirements, benefits and other nitty-gritty of the certification process!Do's and Don'tsKeep the following in mind on the exam day:Wake up early in the morning, refresh, and quickly review all the important pointsHave a light breakfast before leaving for the exam centreReach the centre at least 35-40 minutes prior to exam start timeDo’s and Don’ts at the exam centreAs the exam starts, you need to be poised and confidentDon’t think about the office or home, it’s just a matter of 60 minutes or 150 minutes after which you will get ample time to ponder over your day-to-day hassles and responsibilitiesQuickly review each question and don’t feel helpless/dejected  if any question seems toughStart answering one by one but read each question very carefully before answeringTake a few seconds rest every 15 minutes just by taking deep breaths or closing your eyesPreparation for the exam dayJust a few days before the examination, you will be asked to fill in your profile details form where you would have to write your name and address apart from some other details. Be careful while writing your name and address as it will appear in your certificate that will be dispatched. Be calm and maintain a positive frame of mind on the examination day! You need to carry a photo identity, the approved book (if it is an open book examination), pen, pencil, and eraser to the exam hall.  Apart from these articles, you are not permitted to carry any other material. If you are carrying any non-permitted article, you would have to hand it over to the invigilator before entering the exam centre. For the Practitioner level exams, a hard copy of the approved manual is permitted.Preparation for the PRINCE2® Certification examinationYou need to be well-prepared for the examination at any level – Foundation or Practitioner. The examination is not going to be easy due to limited time and a large number of questions. You would have to think fast and solve the problems correctly within the given duration!The purpose of the Foundation certification is to test whether you will be able to be a productive member of a project management team that uses PRINCE2®. To pass the certification examination successfully, you need to demonstrate that you understand the significance of the PRINCE2® terms and principles. The questions are set in such a way that your understanding of all the eight process and sub-processes, eight components, basis of the techniques applied, and the purpose of roles will be tested. In the Practitioner examination, your understanding level on processes, themes, and techniques will be tested. Your knowledge of the interactions among PRINCE2® management products, techniques, processes, and themes will be tested. The questions are set to see how well you apply your knowledge on these different aspects in real-world situations. In the PRINCE2® Agile Foundation certification, your concept and understanding of PRINCE2® governance needs, different Agile techniques such as Kanban, Start-up, Scrum, etc., and the interface of PRINCE2® and agile process of working will be tested. The PRINCE2® Agile Practitioner certification examination is a scenario-based examination. This includes case studies where different scenarios are given followed by questions related to them which you would have to solve. Always remember, that this is a tight exam and time will be short and questions will be more.  So, it will be a real test of your speed, acumen, and knowledge. All these aspects need to be properly integrated if you want to pass the exam and become a PRINCE2® certified professional. This capability only improves with diligent practice. You would have to prepare well before the examination. Attend the classes regularly, understand the concepts well, use reference books as required, revise and practice a lot with examination papers from the previous years.Different PRINCE2® certifications and their purposesPRINCE2® Foundation certification course teaches you the core principles of PRINCE2® and the meanings of the terms used in PRINCE2®. Foundation certification helps you become a part of a project management team that is all set to use PRINCE2® methodology. This certification is the gateway to the world of PRINCE2®. The second step is the PRINCE2® Practitioner certification. With this, you have actually stepped into the world of PRINCE2®. Here you get complete knowledge on how to apply PRINCE2® and manage a project in this environment. This curriculum gives you an opportunity to understand the applicability of PRINCE2® products, principles, themes, and processes.The PRINCE2® Agile certification is yet another kind of advanced PRINCE2® certification designed to assist professionals to customize the management control while working in an agile environment. This qualification has two parts: Foundation and Practitioner. The Foundation course provides an overview of the whole PRINCE2® Agile concept and its terminologies while the Practitioner course makes you an expert in the PRINCE2® Agile process. Prerequisites for taking PRINCE2® examination For appearing in the PRINCE2® Foundation no specific qualification is required. However, if you have a basic understanding of Project Management, you will be able to understand the course and attend the examination with more confidence. For appearing in the PRINCE2® Practitioner examination you need to complete the PRINCE2® Foundation course or need to have any of the following certifications:Project Management Professional (PMP)® certificationIMPA level A, B, C, or DCertified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®A PRINCE2® Agile certification to requires you to cross two stages to gain the certification. For appearing in the PRINCE2® Agile Foundation examination no prior professional qualification is required; however, basic knowledge on the key aspects of Project Management can give you extra mileage. On the other hand, for appearing in the PRINCE2® Agile Practitioner certification exam you need to have any of the following certifications:PRINCE2® Foundation or PRINCE2® Agile FoundationProject Management Professional (PMP)® CertificationIPMA level A, B, C, or DCertified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®Examination Formats of different PRINCE2® CertificationsYour preparation for examination is never complete without having a thorough knowledge of examination format. In all the above-mentioned PRINCE2® certifications objective type multiple choice questions are given. The examination format of PRINCE2® Foundation 2017 version is as follows:It is a closed book 60 minutes examinationTotal 60 questions are given and all are objective type multiple choice questionsEach question carries 1 markPass marks are 33 (55%)The examination format of PRINCE2® Foundation 2009 version is as follows:It is a closed book 60 minutes examination Total 75 questions are given all are objective type multiple choice questionsEach question carries 1 mark5 questions are for trial the marks here are not countedPass marks are 35 (50% out of 70 questions with 1 mark each). The examination format for PRINCE2® Practitioner 2009 version is as follows:It is an open book 150 minutes (2 hours 30 minutes) examinationAll questions are objective type Total of 8 questions are given In each question there are 10 question items are presentTotal marks are 80 and pass marks are 44 (55%)Official study module Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2®2009 Edition is allowed in the exam room. The examination format for PRINCE2® Practitioner 2017 version is as follows:It is an open book 150 minutes (2 hours 30 minutes) examinationAll questions are objective type Total 68 questions are given with 1 mark eachPass marks are 38 (55%)Official study module Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2®2017 Edition is allowed in the exam room.If you are appearing in the PRINCE2® Agile Foundation Certification, the following is the examination format:It is closed book 60 minutes examinationTotal 50 questions are given with 1 mark eachPass marks are 35 (55%).If you are appearing for the PRINCE2® Agile Practitioner Certification following is the examination format:It is an open book 150 minutes (2 hours 30 minutes) examinationAll questions are objective type Total 50 questions are given with 1 mark eachPass marks are 30 (60%)Official study module PRINCE2® Agile Guidance in hard copy is allowed in the exam room.Beside these examinations, there is PRINCE2® Re-Registration qualification examination. This is applicable to all PRINCE2® Practitioners who are using the certification for at least 3 years. So, before the expiry of 3 years from the original qualification, you can sit for re-registration examination to renew your certificate for another 3 years. However, there is another option open whereby you can maintain your certification by earning at least 20 CPD points, i.e. 60 CPD points at the end of 3rd year.Importance of PRINCE2® qualificationThe PRINCE2® project management process helps you to understand the project management standard in the UK and several other countries. PRINCE2® certification improves the employment prospects of the candidates and also makes you sharp at your project management-related responsibilities. PRINCE2® certification adds weight to your CV and sets you as a class apart from the others. In the UK and several other countries, companies consider PRINCE2® Practitioner Certification or PRINCE2® Agile Practitioner Certification as a must-have for potential candidates. Process of appearing in the PRINCE2® Certification ExaminationThe examination is mandatory at all levels of PRINCE2® Certification. The examination is taken at the end of the training period. The training center arranges the examination on behalf of all the trainees. In case you have self-studied, you have to contact APMG International service for scheduling your examination. APMG International would arrange a physical examination center or you could also appear online examination anytime. If you are interested in online examination, you need to have an unhindered internet connection and a webcam along with other essential computer setups. As the examinations are getting harder with time, it is always feasible, though not mandatory, to get an admission in an accredited training institute for a full-length course curriculum.
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Day of the PRINCE2® Examination [Do’s and Don’ts]
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Day of the PRINCE2® Examination [Do’s an...

PRINCE2® is going to make a lot of difference in ... Read More

Getting Familiar with PRINCE2®

PRINCE2® is the abbreviation of Projects IN Controlled Environments and it is a de facto process-based process for effective project management. This is widely used by the United Kingdom government. It is hugely recognized and utilized in the private sector. The method of PRINCE2® lies in the public domain and it proposes non-proprietorial finest practice assistance on project management.Numerous people and organizations from different sectors prefer to use PRINCE2® because it is flexible, innovative, and practical. Irrespective of the project; whether it is developing software, constructing a flyover, or putting forward an advertising movement, the processes, themes, and principles of PRINCE2® will aid you in realizing them all. This process fits well to the public domain and it proposes a generic but the finest guidance to manage a project.Vital featuresChief features of PRINCE2® are:Project-based planning approach.Focuses on business justification.A well-organized organizational structure meant for the team of project management.The flexibility which can be used at a level suitable to the project.Stresses on dividing the project into controllable and manageable stages.History of PRINCEPRINCE2® was recognized by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency or CCTA in the year 1989 and since then renamed the Office of Government Commerce (OGC). In June 2010, the OGC office Best Practice Management functions moved into the Cabinet Office.Originally, PRINCE2® was based on PROMPT which was a project management process developed in 1975 by Simpact Systems Ltd. Later in 1979, it was adopted by CCTA in the form of a standard for being used in all the Government information system projects.At the time when PRINCE2® was launched in the year 1989, it superseded PROMPT effectively within government project. However, PRINCE2® continues to remain in the public domain and has bagged copyright by the Crown. In the year 1996, PRINCE2® was published and it is being donated to a group of nearly 150 European organizations.Remarkable benefits of PRINCE2® for peopleWhen you decide to use PRINCE2® then you will have stronger control of resources besides the capability to manage project and business risks. This will benefit you in the following manner:People looking for leading project management skills and higher employment prospects.Executives or directors of projects as well as organizationsProject managers.For people, the certification of PRINCE2® turns into a precious asset to their career as this escalates the prospects of employment and it aids people in doing their job more effectually. According to a survey done on people in project management as well as other roles, like senior management, IT and operations, it has been discovered that candidates found that PRINCE2® is highly appreciated in their career.How does PRINCE2® benefit an organization?For an organization, the formal recognition of responsibilities of PRINCE2® inside a project along with its concentration on what a project needs to deliver proposes an organization’s projects with the following:An organized and controlled start, middle, and finishing.Regular reviews regarding development against the plan.A consistent and common approach.Assurance that a project continues to possess a business justification.According to a 2007 survey done by PricewaterhouseCoopers, higher-performing projects are more likely to be operated with specialized project managers. Amongst all the certificates which empower higher-performing projects, the PRINCE2® named “Arras People’s 2011 survey” is the most well-known.Another report on PRINCE2® found that the adoption of PRINCE2® irrespective of the size of the organization is useful, particularly because of its characteristic of being compatible and adaptable with agile.The methods of PRINCE2®The method of PRINCE2® includes four united compounds of principles, themes, processes, and finally, the project environment.PrinciplesPrinciples are considered the guiding needs and excellent practices that determine whether or not the project is really being managed to utilize PRINCE2®. In fact, there are seven principles and when they all aren’t applied, then it can’t be viewed as a PRINCE2® project.These are the supervisory requirements and decent practices which determine whether the project is genuinely being managed using PRINCE2®. There are seven principles and it is highly required to apply all of them, else it won’t turn out as a PRINCE2® project.The seven principles of PRINCE2® are:Non-stop business justification – It is extremely important to have an acceptable reason for running and handling the project. When it doesn’t happen that way, then it is better to close the project.Learning from experience –The project teams of PRINCE2® ought to continually seek and draw on lessons that are learned from earlier work.Distinct roles and responsibilities – The project team of PRINCE2® ought to have a distinct organizational structure and it comprises the right individuals in the right jobs.Manage by stages – It is extremely important for the PRINCE2® projects to have proper planning, monitoring, and controlling on a stage-by-stage basis.Succeed by exception – Individuals who have been working in the project must be provided with the appropriate amount of authority so that they can work within the setting effectively.Concentrate on products – The projects of PRINCE2® do focus on the product definition, distribution, and quality needs.Tailor for suiting the project environment – It is highly important that PRINCE2® is tailored for suiting the environment, importance, size, risk, capability, and complexity of the project.ThemesThemes describe aspects of project management which ought to be addressed in parallel all through the project. There are seven themes of PRINCE2® and they explain the particular treatment which is needed for different project management disciplines. The themes also explain why they are important.PRINCE2® is important as it aids people in applying the themes by mentioning the minimum requirement which is needed for the themes and it also provides particular guidance on the process of tailoring to particular settings.The seven themes of PRINCE2® are:Business case – It creates and maintains a record of business justification for the project.Quality – It defines the quality requirements and also the measures and additionally, it explains how the project is likely to deliver them.Organization – It defines the individual roles and duties of the entire project team.Plans – These are the steps that are needed for developing the plans and the techniques of PRINCE2® which ought to be used.Change – It is how the project manager would evaluate and perform on alterations to the project.Risk – It identifies risks and opportunities effectively which could influence the project.Progress – It is considered the ongoing practicability and the plans’ performance and how and whether or not the project ought to proceed.ProcessesProcesses describe the project lifecycle’s steps, from the early idea to the project closure. Every process proposes checklists of suggested activities, linked responsibilities and of course, guidance regarding how to tailor to a particular setting.The seven processes of PRINCE2® are the following:Beginning a projectDirecting a projectCommencing a projectControlling a stageHanding product deliveryHandling state boundariesThe finishing of a projectThe management products of PRINCE2®The manual of PRINCE2® comprises twenty-six recommended templates meant for documentation which are linked with the project and are termed “management products.” They are divided into records, baselines, and reports. Some instances of management products are the following:Business Management Approach – Earlier, in the year 2009, it was known as the Benefits Review Plan. It defines the process and time of the measurement of the project’s benefits that can be made.Business case – It is used for capturing financial justification meant for the project. This is viewed as a principle of PRINCE2® that a project ought to have for non-stop business justification. When the Business Case doesn’t make sense, it is suggested to alter or halt the project.Checkpoint Report – It is recognized as a progress report which is developed by the Team Manager before being sent to the Project Manager regularly for reporting the Work Package status.Communications Management Approach – In the 2009 Edition, it was viewed as Communications Management Strategy – It is an account of the processes and occurrence of communication to the stakeholders which covers the flow of information to both directions; to the stakeholders and from the stakeholders. However, information is needed to be supplied from the project and the information is needed to be supplied to the project.Change Control Approach – In the Edition of 2009, it was named Configuration Management Strategy – It is used for recognizing how the products of the projects will get acknowledged, controlled, and shielded. This document is developed by the Project Manager during the initiation of a Project process.Configuration Item Record – It proposes a record that consists of the Product History, Version, Status, Details, and Variant of relationships between products/items, and Product copyholders or Product Owner.End Project Report – It reviews the performance of the project against the actual PID (Project Initiation Documentation).Daily Log – It is used for recording informal issues.Lessons Log – It is a set of notes of lessons that are learned, and they turn vital to future projects.Issues Register – It is an issue log containing notes regarding change requests, complaints, and problems that are sent by all the project members.Quality Register – It comprises details of every planned quality control activity, date, and personnel involved.Project Brief – It is utilized by the Project Board for authorizing the Initiation stage. During the initiating of a project process, the compounds of the Project Brief get extended and refined. The Project Brief grows for forming the PID (Project Initiation Documentation).Risk Register – It is a record of recognized risks, such as opportunities and threats related to the project.How PRINCE2® is different from PMP®PMP® or Project Management Professional might be observed as PRINCE2® 's competitor. Generally, Europe, Australia, and the UK opt for PRINCE2®, whereas the American countries and the US prefer PMP®. Again, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia do not possess any strong fondness for either PRINCE2® or PMP®. However, the vital thing is PMP® can be utilized along with PRINCE2®. Actually, PMP® and PRINCE2® both acknowledge the existence of each other in the advertising material and they try to place themselves in the form of complementary compounds; PRINCE2® in the form of a methodology and PMP® in the form of a standard that can be utilized alongside each other. Practically, practitioners and companies select one system or both based on the environment of the project, costs, and geographical location.The certificationsThe certifications of PRINCE2® which is being awarded by AXELOS need the users to undergo a training course with an ATO (Accredited Training Organization). This is followed by an examination. However, the training and the exam can be conducted in person or online. AXELOS needs that an organization that is proposing certified PRINCE2® training ought to go through an accreditation method for validating the course’s quality content and delivery. When sanctioned, the organization can make use of the title “ATO”. A trainer ought to be re-accredited every three years and experience a surveillance check every year.The four levels of certifications needed for PRINCE2® are:PRINCE2® 2017 Foundation – It confirms that the holder has got enough understanding and knowledge regarding the methods of PRINCE2® and is capable of working in a project management team that is working with this process.PRINCE2® 2017 Practitioner – It confirms that the holder has got ample understanding of the process of applying PRINCE2® in a situation and will be able to begin applying the methods to the real projects.PRINCE2® Agile Foundation – It confirms that the holder has got adequate understanding and knowledge about PRINCE2® methods and responsive way of working. It also explains how agile can get combined with PRINCE2®.PRINCE2® Agile Practitioner – It approves that the holder can apply the project management values of PRINCE2® while combining the concepts of Agile, like Kanban and Scrum.After the completion of the above-mentioned certifications, AXELOS publishes a successful candidate register that can be checked on the web.
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Getting Familiar with PRINCE2®
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Getting Familiar with PRINCE2®

PRINCE2® is the abbreviation of Projects IN Contr... Read More

PRINCE2® Qualifications (Levels Explained)

Competition brings out the best in us; we strive to become the best and outperform our peers and fellow colleagues and prove that we are better than them. This drive and need to excel is a good trait to have, especially in this competitive corporate world where standards keep getting higher and quality and excellence are rewarded. So what is it that will distinguish you from the countless others? What is that X factor that will push your resume to the top of the heap? Experience is one thing but a major factor is the qualifications you possess.With several project management methods, tools and techniques being introduced in the market for streamlining businesses, a qualification that reflects your knowledge of these methods and tools is what endears you to employers. Because at the end of the day, businesses thrive on these methodologies.A qualification also shows your knowledge, skills, and dedication towards the profession. It suggests that you have more refined experience in the profession, making you an optimal choice for recruiters.What is PRINCE2®? What qualifications does it provide?PRINCE2® is a structured project management methodology, recognized as the common standard for project management across the world. Its an acronym for - ( Projects IN Controlled Environment ). It is a flexible and user-friendly project management methodology that eases out the process of selecting optimal resources and minimizes the risks involved while handling a project. Its versatility makes it easier to apply in various projects from different sectors, such as engineering, construction, IT, business and even finance. While it was initially designed for IT projects, its scope has now expanded to other sectors.PRINCE2® facilitates three qualifications, these qualifications are:PRINCE2® FoundationPRINCE2® PractitionerPRINCE2® AgileBoth the PRINCE2® Foundation and PRINCE2® Practitioner are process-driven approaches that generally emphasize on fragmenting projects into manageable and controllable stages and portions. This fragmentation of the project does not depend on the type or size of the project.PRINCE2® Agile focuses on teaching the fundamentals and the purpose of combining PRINCE2® with the agile methodology which is another form of project management.Benefits of PRINCE2®Acquiring a qualification is a tedious and costly process, and you must ensure that the qualification you are investing in is beneficial and caters to your needs. The qualification you hope to achieve should also be relevant to the demands of current times. An individual spends a great sum of money and time on qualifications, that include tuition, resource materials, questionnaires, and examinations, thus a qualification is not a joke and requires serious research and investment. Hence, you must be aware of the benefits offered by the PRINCE2® methodology before deciding upon pursuing it. Here are some benefits offered by PRINCE2®:It is very flexible and versatile and can be applied in various kinds of projects irrespective of their sizes.It is the most used and identified project management methodology across the globe.It offers segregation of projects and efficiently fragments the work thus further improving the process by simplifying it.PRINCE2® is known for providing customer satisfaction, as the practitioners are well-versed and skillful because of the training provided during the course and they are also kept informed and up-to-date regarding the improvements and progress made in their respective fields.The benefits mentioned above shows that the PRINCE2® methodology provides the best project management techniques that are globally recognized. Hence, PRINCE2® has become a prominent certification recruiters look for while hiring a professional for managing a project.The PRINCE2® Certification or Qualification ExplainedSo, you have finally decided that the PRINCE2® methodology is great and it could be really useful to you. You have decided to expand your field of expertise and want to pave the way for several lucrative job opportunities by opting for the PRINCE2® qualifications. But there are certain prerequisites that are required before taking up this qualification.As mentioned above PRINCE2® Certification is offered in three different levels:PRINCE2® FoundationPRINCE2® PractitionerPRINCE2® Agile/ProfessionalThree Levels of PRINCE2® Qualification or CertificationPRINCE2® FoundationIt is the basic level of certification. It is the first of the two PRINCE2® qualifications that are required to successfully become a Registered PRINCE2® Practitioner. The PRINCE2® Foundation certification or qualification is designed to teach you the must-know PRINCE2® principles, themes and terminology/jargon. It is developed in a way to make sure that once qualified you will be able to act as a well-informed member of a project management team that is operating within an environment based on the foundation of the PRINCE2® methodology. PRINCE2® Foundation is a training program that can be studied on its own or as a prerequisite for the upcoming PRINCE2® Practitioner course.SYLLABUSThis qualification aims at developing the candidate as a well-informed member of the project management team in a PRINCE2® environment. To obtain this goal, the candidate should be able to understand the principles and terminology of this methodology. Especially, the candidate must be capable of:Describing the purpose and major content of all the roles, the seven principles, the seven themes and finally the seven processes.Stating which management products would be an input to, output from the seven processes.Explaining the major purpose, and the key contents of the major management products.Describing the relationships between processes, deliverables, roles and the management dimensions associated with a project.  WHO SHOULD ATTEND THIS QUALIFICATION?This qualification is suitable for both new and experienced project staffIt is also good for Consultants / Contract staff that is operating under a PRINCE2® environment.Project ManagersProgramme ManagersSupport Staff and Team Managers associated with PRINCE2® based projectsFor staff that will have a defined role within a project team responsible for operating under a PRINCE2® environment.REQUIREMENTSThe candidate should have some understanding of Project Management, other than that there is no such formal pre-requisite for the Foundation Certification or Qualification.EXAMINATION FORMATThe exam will be held for an hourThere will be 60 questionsIt will be a closed book examinationYou would have to correctly answer 33 out of 60 questions to pass (55% is the passing score)PRINCE2® PractitionerIt is the second of the two PRINCE2® examinations you are required to clear to become a registered PRINCE2® Practitioner. The PRINCE2® Practitioner qualification aims at teaching you the basics of applying the PRINCE2® for running and managing a project within the environment supporting PRINCE2®. After the successful completion of this qualification, you will be able to apply and tune PRINCE2® for undertaking the requirements and problems of a specific project scenario. You will gain a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between the PRINCE2® principles, themes,  processes, and the PRINCE2® products and will understand these elements in great detail.SYLLABUSThe curriculum designed for the PRINCE2® Practitioner enables the candidate to:Produce in-depth explanations of all the principles, themes, processes and the worked examples of all PRINCE2® products as it is possible to apply them to address the specific circumstances of a given project scenario.Present their understanding of the relationships between principles, themes, processes, and the PRINCE2® products and must be able to apply this understanding.Demonstrate their expertise of the reasons behind the principles, themes, and processes of PRINCE2®, and are also that they understand the principles underpinning these elements of PRINCE2®.Showcase their ability to tune PRINCE2® according to different project circumstances.WHO SHOULD ATTEND THIS QUALIFICATION?This qualification is suitable for:Project ManagersGeneral ManagersProgramme ManagersTeam Managers and the Support StaffStaff that have a defined role in a projectProject Management ConsultantsREQUIREMENTSYou would be required to possess one of the following qualifications before appearing for the PRINCE2® Practitioner exam:PRINCE2® FoundationProject Management Professional (PMP)®Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®IPMA Level A (Certified Projects Director)IPMA Level B (Certified Senior Project Manager)IPMA Level C (Certified Project Manager)IPMA Level D (Certified Project Management Associate)EXAMINATION FORMATThe examination will be for a duration of 150 minutesThe exam will contain 68 questionsYou would be required to correctly answer 38 out of 68 questions (55 % is the passing score)Open book. Only the official printed hard copy of the Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2®2017 Edition is allowed.PRINCE2® AgileThe PRINCE2® Agile qualification consists of Foundation and Practitioner levels. PRINCE2® Agile primarily focuses on teaching you the fundamentals and the purpose of merging PRINCE2® with the Agile methodology. It provides extensibility along with the capability of working together with the corporate management processes.PRINCE2® Agile FoundationSimilar to the PRINCE2® Foundation, this Agile Foundation course and certification can be taken by anyone without any prior qualification. This qualification course introduces PRINCE2® governance and offers a wide range of Agile concepts and techniques. Once you are qualified, you would be able to act as a well-informed member of an Agile project team and understand how the PRINCE2® operates with Agile concepts.PRINCE2® Agile PractitionerThis qualification is focused on teaching the certified Project Managers the method of mixing the structure, governance and control of PRINCE2® with the Agile methodology, techniques and approaches. Additionally, it has the same prerequisites as the PRINCE2® Practitioner, so for appearing in the exam you must possess the following qualifications:PRINCE2® FoundationProject Management Professional (PMP)®Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®IPMA Level A (Certified Projects Director)IPMA Level B (Certified Senior Project Manager)IPMA Level C (Certified Project Manager)IPMA Level D (Certified Project Management Associate)Who manages the PRINCE2® Certification or Qualification?All the major certifications and qualifications are managed by a sponsor, that develops, manages and operates qualifications. PRINCE2® also has a sponsor. It is owned and managed by AXELOS - AXELOS is a joint venture that was set up in 2014 by the government of the United Kingdom and Capita, it is responsible for developing, managing and operating qualifications in best practices, using the methodologies formerly owned by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC). It is Axelos that supervises the entire process of the PRINCE2® Certification or Qualification.Importance of PRINCE2® Certification or QualificationThe PRINCE2® ensures that the candidate has the following capabilities:The PRINCE2® Certification or Qualification primarily aims at ensuring that a candidate has sufficient knowledge and expertise of the PRINCE2® methodology so that the candidate can effectively work with, or as a member of a project management team that is working within an environment that supports PRINCE2®.The PRINCE2® Professional Certification or Qualification is also aimed to test the candidate's capability of managing a non-complex PRINCE2® project across all aspects of the entirety of the project.  The PRINCE2® re-registration?Like every other certification or qualification, PRINCE2® qualification is also required to be renewed after a certain period of time. Henceforth, any PRINCE2® Practitioner would be required to register within a time period of three to five calendar years based on the original certification. This re-registration includes an hour-long test that the candidate must pass to retain the certification or qualification. The examination is based on similar standards as the original Practitioner examination.
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PRINCE2® Qualifications (Levels Explained)
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PRINCE2® Qualifications (Levels Explained)

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The Underlying Idea Behind PRINCE2® Methodology

PRINCE2® stands for Projects in-Controlled Environment. PRINCE2® is a process-based project management methodology that means PRINCE2® certified project management experts are not just projecting implementers but serious planners and contributors whom even the top management of an organization can trust with a whole new project. The original version of PRINCE methodology was updated in 1996-97; so, the new version becomes PRINCE2®. The methodology provides ways to simplify any types of project in several sub-modules so that the project management team can organize and control the whole project systematically.PRINCE2® methodology starts with some basic questionsAs said before, PRINCE2® methodology tries to simplify the project by segregating it into several parts and then integrating each part setting proper logic. The PRINCE2® methodology starts with some basic questions. These questions help to include all visible and invisible matters together:What we have planned to do?What is the expected date of starting the project?What arrangement does this project need?Is it possible to accomplish everything with the current availability of in-house resources or some external help is necessary?How much time the whole project can take?If more time is required, then how much further can it be stretched?What will be the maximum cost of the whole project?These questions form the foundation of a project. Many unknown or primarily suppressed aspects come out one by one while answering these questions. Hence, in the PRINCE2® methodology, a project always starts with these questions. The PRINCE2® methodology attributes a proper structure for every project. It defines it step by step so that everyone involved understands their roles, responsibilities, and limitations. PRINCE2® makes everything logical and organized.The pillars of PRINCE2® FrameworkIt is obvious that an unstructured, uncontrolled project goes nowhere. It destroys an organization’s precious resources and money. These types of unstructured, uncontrolled projects do not finish in time or within the assigned budget. Thus, PRINCE2® methodology provides a framework to channelize the resources, ideas, energy, money, and time. There are three pillars of the PRINCE2® framework:A project should have a planned and controlled start – A project should be well-planned with all the above-mentioned questions answered before starting it.A project should have a planned and controlled middle – While work-in-progress, the project should follow a predetermined path.A project should have a planned and controlled end – When the mission is accomplished it is necessary to reconcile everything systematically.Principles of the PRINCE2® methodologyThe entire PRINCE2® methodology is based on the following principles:Project undertaken should have proper justification with respect to the business: The project should be properly justified at any point in time. The project manager should be optimistic about its benefits and risk ensuring that benefits are always higher than the cost involved.Roles and Responsibilities of every member should be well-defined: All members of the project should know what the project wants from them and how to relate their responsibilities with others.Project is a systematic accumulation of several parts: PRINCE2® methodology breaks a project into several parts and then integrates them as the project demands. Thus, it helps the units to evaluate their success at each stage.Decentralized management: PRINCE2® methodology asked to form a project management board with senior-most managers that would determine the project cost, time, and resources. It then asks to provide the responsibility of the project to the project manager who will manage the project management teams. Each team would have team heads who will report to the project manager.Tailored to meet the project needs: PRINCE2® can be tailored depending on the importance of the project, the budget allocated, resource availability, and time.Project Management Roles in the PRINCE2® methodologyIn a PRINCE2® environment, the project management team needs to work in perfect cohesion. In fact, human resource planning and allocation take a different dimension here. PRINCE2® methodology induces teamwork culture in every part. The greater project management team is segregated into smaller units and each unit remains responsible for only their share of jobs. Again each unit remains linked with several other units that together accomplish the whole job. Some key roles in a PRINCE2® environment are given below:Project board: This remains at the helm of the entire project. The project board comprises of executive, senior user, and senior supplier. The programme or corporate management appoints the executive. This executive bears the responsibility of the project. They get technical support and advice from the senior user and senior supplier. Normally, the executive remains responsible for the development of the project management team. They also develop the Business case and performs a regular audit to ensure the feasibility of the project. The senior user is the representative of all the users who will use the project product. The senior supplier represents those designing, facilitating, and developing the actual project products.The project manager interacts with the project board whenever any important decision is taken or any unanticipated matter arises like the current budget may not be sufficient or a few resources may need some changes, etc. The project manager needs the approval of the project board in all major decisions that are not included in the actual project plan.Project Manager: The project manager organizes and controls the project management team. They develop smaller units as required and appoint unit heads. The project manager draws the whole working plan and delivers responsibilities to the units and individuals. They also provide deadlinesThe Customer: The customer is an individual, group, or corporate body that actually pays for the projectThe User: the user is an individual, group, or corporate body who will use the project products. In some situations, the customer and the user become the same individual, group, or corporate bodyThe Supplier: This is actually a group of professionals whose skills and experience are required to materialize the projectPRINCE2® Project ProcessPRINCE2® strongly advocates planning a project structure and adhering to it unless and until any crisis arises. Following are the essential steps in the PRINCE2® project process:Step 1: The first step in structuring the whole project that includes designing, directing and starting the project. At first, a project mandate is created that narrates the necessity of the project in brief. Once the mandate is established, the project is briefed. The project board is developed and the board members discuss the project on the basis of the brief they receive. They then approve or amend the brief and give their consent. At this point, a project manager is appointed to whom the project board delegates the project responsibility. The project manager designs the blueprint on the basis of a number of parameters such as deadline, the risk involved, budget, scope, quality, and benefits.Step 2: the second step includes control and management. The project manager develops the project team, segregates it in smaller units, assigns responsibility to each unit, and assigns budgets and deadlines. This step is the most important one in the sense that it actually materializes the project and shows the results, i.e. project products are developed in this step. Project manager gives regular updates to the project board that then review the feasibility of the project. As every stage completes, the project manager and project board undertake a feasibility check on the basis of several parameters.Step 3: This is the closing of a project. As the project products are developed, the project manager closes the project by reconciling every single aspect from finance to human resources. The final report is submitted to the project board that then ends the project.PRINCE2® project management supportManaging administrative works is important in any PRINCE2® project management. The project manager needs to deal with several types of documents and they also need to arrange meetings with the team or units as also with the project board. Besides, keeping files updated, arranging computerized files in proper order, data management, reviewing the team’s performance and problems, etc. are important administrative jobs. Project manager generally deals with all these responsibilities single-handed; in some situations, especially when the project is a large one or several projects are taking place simultaneously, the administrative office is established to handle these jobs.Scope of the PRINCE2® methodologyProjects have different levels. Some are extremely complicated with multidimensional aspects, some are multidisciplinary but not so complicated, and some are simple. PRINCE2® is suitable for all as it provides a common language for all stakeholders. PRINCE2® simplifies a complicated project by segregating it as per the requirement and then integrating the segregated parts to obtain the required outcome.Project assurance in the PRINCE2® methodologyIn PRINCE2® environment project assurance is the assessment of a project from independent perspectives. There are three different and independent project assurance views: business’ view, user’s view, and supplier’s view. It is evident that these views represent the independent views of project board members.Business assurance checks the viability of project cost, quality, and deadlines. The user assurance checks whether the users’ requirements and quality are maintained or not. Supplier assurance also called technical assurance checks whether the project is progressing as per the assigned framework. If the project is really big or taking place in more than one place at a time, a project assurance team is formed to obtain independent views of the above-mentioned personnel; otherwise, the responsibility is given to the project board.So, PRINCE2® methodology is designed to manage a project in an organized way. It attributes project structure at the very initial phase of a project and ensures that everyone involved in the project adheres to that structure. PRINCE2® methodology uses common language in every level that enables even novice project members to communicate with others effortlessly or understand their responsibility without much intervention of the unit manager or project manager.
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The Underlying Idea Behind PRINCE2® Methodology
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The Underlying Idea Behind PRINCE2® Methodology

PRINCE2® stands for Projects in-Controlled Enviro... Read More

Why should I Study PRINCE2®?

What is PRINCE2®?PRINCE2® or Projects IN Controlled Environments is a process-based methodology for project management. It is used widely by the UK Government and is used and recognized in the private sector, in the UK and internationally. The domain is in the public domain and it provides non-proprietorial practice guidance on project management. It was established by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency or CCTA in 1989. It was primarily based on PROMPT, created in 1975 by Simpact Systems Ltd and adopted in 1979 by CCTA as a standard that can be used by Government information system projects.History of PRINCE2®When it was launched in 1989, it superseded PROMPT effectively within the Government projects. PRINCE® is in the public domain and its copyright is with the Crown. PRINCE2® came into existence in 1996 and it has contributed by a consortium of 150 European organizations. Since then, PRINCE2® has gained immense popularity and presently it is a de-facto standard in several UK Government departments for project management and across many United Nations systems too. After it was revised in 2009, this acronym was altered to Projects IN a Controlled Environment. After PRINCE2® was launched in 1996, it went through two major revisions as mentioned below:PRINCE2® 2009’ Refresh in 2009PRINCE2® 2017’ Update in the year 2017PRINCE2® is a project management method used frequently by people and organizations from different industries and sectors. It is flexible, practical, and innovative. Regardless of the project, whether it is constructing a flyover, an advertising campaign, or developing software, PRINCE2® can help you manage all these aspects. It belongs to the public domain and offers the best guidance to manage any project.Key features of PRINCE2®Following are the key features of PRINCE2®:It is a non-proprietary methodology.It offers the most widely used approaches to manage projects.As it is broad, it can be used in all kinds of assignments.This is accomplished via the management properties of project work.It is based on customer/supplier setting. It ensures that there is a client with a desired product/result who can also pay for its development along with a vendor who can offer the necessary resources along with skills.Benefits of PRINCE2®PRINCE2® is a common language used by dealers, consumers, and businesses. Even though it does not comprise of contract management, it provides all the essential boundaries and controls needed for all to work together within any relevant contract. More importantly, it allows your business to concentrate on the right projects, for the right people and at the right time; by creating the beginning of a project and its end depending on the continued existence of a business case. Certified PRINCE2® Training shall improve your skills as a Project Manager. Some of its top benefits are as follows:It is applicable to all projects.It recognizes project accountability.Its product clarifies what can a task provideIts plans are designed sensibly to meet the needs of various levels in an administrative team.It is grounded in ‘management by exception’ framework that ensures economic and efficient use of project management time.It makes sure that its takers concentrate on its ability based on its business objectives.It describes a cost-effective and precise report structure.It ensures that the shareholders are characterized adequately in decision-making and development.It ensures learning and constant improvement in organizations.It enhances steadiness in project work and its ability to reprocess assets.It simplifies the valuation and assurance of project work.Effective project management is a challenge in several organizations all across the globe. With proper training and certification in PRINCE2®, you can guarantee the smooth functioning of your projects that meet your business goals and objectives.Top reasons to study PRINCE2®PRINCE2®, Foundation and Practitioner Certifications are considered among the most popular Project Management Certifications all over the world. There are several reasons to do PRINCE2® certification. Some of the top reasons to do this course are as follows:Build and improve Project management SkillsThe main reason that gives the most obvious advantage: much-improved Project Management skills. With PRINCE2®, you will learn to deploy projects better with more efficient Management skills. You shall learn the terminology, methodology, common systems, framework, and process used by a wide number of project managers and know the skills required to successfully initiate, plan, manage, monitor, and execute projects.It is more of a methodologyUnlike other certifications on Project Management, PRINCE2® puts a wider emphasis on Project Management principles compared to its instruction book along with rigid rules. As a reference guide, it says about the stages and processes of a project along with responsibilities and roles associated with it. It may not mention directly the way to manage the subsequent job in the project, but can make you understand the processes and principles of a project vividly and also the manner to manage them. You will be able to tailor your PRINCE2® projects according to your requirements and oversee the projects that you manage closely.You can start smoothlyWhen you choose a certification, the time to prepare/study, costs involved and disruption that it imposes into your professional life is highly important. It provides a unique advantage, which you may begin by preparing for its Foundation exam. It means that you will be able to do an actual Project Management Foundation certification course without spending much time in training or spending lump sum training costs. While doing this certification course, you shall get a complete overview of what you can expect if you were to continue with PRINCE2® Practitioner Certification. This makes the beginning phase of a Project management certification prospect much easier.You shall receive the certificate soonerOnce you have finished the training, you just have to take an examination along with a training provider or take the public exam. There is no complicated registration process and no time-consuming matter audit process. The certificate gets delivered within a few days after clearing the exam.The certification possesses global recognitionThis certification is recognized globally. It was developed in the public IT sector under the UK government’s supervision. PRINCE2® is a de facto Project Management in several parts of the world. Private and public sector companies and governments all across the globe are using it and its popularity is growing all over the world including Asia, USA, and Africa. AXELOS Ltd is the owner of PRINCE2® certification to manage US Federal Government Projects to support the demand of US organizations. This certification allows you the opportunity to undertake project work on an international level.PRINCE2® certification enhances employment prospectsA PRINCE2® qualification is great for your employment opportunities. It is a world-class product and it is considered a standard methodology for project management. This is the reason why so many companies all over the world look for staff having PRINCE2® certification. According to the AXELOS PRINCE2® survey in 2016, most of the respondents, especially in the Netherlands and Germany consider PRINCE2® highly valuable to their career.You are not restricted to a single industryPRINCE2® is a Project Management and thus it is not limited to any particular organization or industry. You may use it in any kind of industry or organization, or projects of any scale. This will expand your project work areas immensely. You will be able to apply for a job in different industries.Proof of CertificationYou can easily show your proof of certification. PRINCE2® certification holders are entered in official PRINCE2® successful candidate list. You can check this register online. So, when you apply for a job, you do not have to send copies and documents of PRINCE2® certificates. The online register shall confirm that you have completed the examination successfully and shall mention the date too. It can be searched by putting the candidate’s name and number. If an employer or a potential employer desires to check PRINCE2® qualification, you just have to provide him your link and number. This gives you manifold chances of employabilityYou can easily get other certificationsPRINCE2® is a separate project management certification but enjoys global recognition. When you receive this certification, you may get exemptions from appearing in examinations in certain subjects when you study other certifications related to project management.Studying online or in classroomA question that may come to your mind that whether to study this certification course in the classroom or online mode will be suitable? One major consideration is the price of the online course. The cost to gain this certification through classroom training has reduced significantly over the previous few years. To make the classroom training process flexible and accessible, PRINCE2® experts with certification are given approval to coach a certain number of trainees every year.  Nowadays, there are hundreds of certified PRINCE2® practitioners who have passed the exams successfully and are providing classroom facilities.Online PRINCE2® course was once considered to be of lower quality as well as a cheaper study option; however, things have changed in a significant manner with the latest technological developments. Interactive multimedia and high-quality courses are available online that are designed to make your study with fun, engaging, and highly effective. Obvious benefits of studying online are being able to study anytime and from anywhere at your personal pace. Carefully developed online courses are segregated into smaller parts to help memory retention so that you will be able to rewind and go through study material as many times you want which is never possible in classroom mode. You can control the pace you want to learn and study and it shall help you to absorb the course content.With online training, you will not have to worry about your tutor’s presence or the pace at which he/she completes the lessons. Online courses go through quality editing and control measures and therefore they maintain great standards. Highly effective simulators completely prepare you for your examination with confidence. If you require any help, you can contact experienced tutors via email or phone.Employers look for employees who can implement PRINCE2® Project Management with skill and confidence. Classroom training is intensive and online training may help long-term memory retention. The online course is of high quality and costs lower than PRINCE2® classroom coaching. With studying at your own speed and your time, you will be confident when to take the exam and get certified.Why implement PRINCE2® in your company?PRINCE2® is Project Management of International Standard and it is recognized as an international product. Mainly it encompasses several years of best practice of project management and offers an adaptable and flexible approach related to all projects. Some of the reasons to implement it in your organization include the following:A consistent and common approachAn organized and controlled beginning, middle, and end.Constant progress reviews against the plan and also against the business.Assurance that a project shall have a business justification.Flexible decision points.Involvement of stakeholders and management at the right place and right time during the project.Good communication links between the project management, the project, and the remaining organization.A means to share and capture lessons learned.A route to enhance project management skills and the organization’s staff competencies at all levels.According to a survey, it was found that high-performance projects demand PRINCE2® certified project managers. This is indeed advantageous to the directors and managers of a project as well as the organization. as the resources will be used judiciously and business decisions made more effective. Hence, PRINCE2® has become a widely understood and recognized common language to all the project participants.
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Why should I Study PRINCE2®?
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Why should I Study PRINCE2®?

What is PRINCE2®?PRINCE2® or Projects IN Control... Read More

PRINCE2® Roles and Responsibilities [Major & Minor Roles explained]

A project is run by a team and without one, it won’t even begin or complete. When a team is finally formed, they would then have to formulate a plan and act on the same to complete the project. Thus, it becomes an issue of great importance that the members in the team associated with a particular project are aware of what they have to do, what they can expect from others as well as their team members, to whom they have to report their work, and who shall do the brainstorming and decision-making, and this article focuses on providing answers for these questions. Hence, this principle defines the roles and responsibilities of everyone who is associated with the project, from the very beginning till the closure of the project.PRINCE2® clearly suggests that a project should have well-defined, distributed and agreed roles and responsibilities among the entire team undertaking the project. It is important for an organization to distinctly identify these roles and responsibilities to enable its structure that deals with Business, User and Stakeholder interests to function properly and effectively.PRINCE2® ORGANIZATION THEMEThe organization theme is responsible for defining and authorizing the accountability and responsibilities, that form the structure of a project.PRINCE2® assumes that there will be a customer responsible for specifying the desired result and then purchasing the project. Similarly, a supplier will also be present to provide the resources and skills needed to deliver the desired results. Thus, it is safe to say that  PRINCE2® is based on a customer/supplier environment.One major feature of PRINCE2® is that all the projects should have a defined organizational structure that will ultimately bring together the various parties and teams for the common aspirations of the project. It further enhances the effectivity of project governance and decision making.These are the components of a successful project management team under the organization theme:1. Representation of all the three major stakeholders as listed in PRINCE2®, a project consists of three major stakeholders which are the Business Sponsors, Users, and Suppliers.Business Sponsors are responsible for ensuring that the product or service offers value for money and is of high-quality standards.Users represent the consumer aspects, they will use the final finished products and services, and are the ones receiving the benefit of those products and services.Suppliers are responsible for providing the basic material and resources, raw or tailored and supplying proper knowledge and experience to the project. They are the producers, producing the finished products according to the designed project plan.This particular principle clearly states that the three major stakeholders must be correctly represented in the Project Management Team and in the Project Board as they act as the three staunch pillars that support and drive the project further ahead. Every successful project team must have a proper Business, User, and Supplier stakeholder representation.An effective project team should have defined responsibilities for directing, managing and delivering the project. These three processes paired up with accountability are the key components of a project and thus require accurate and proper distribution of responsibilities.Another component of a successful project team is the regular and continuous reviewing of various project roles assigned to the members throughout the project.The final component is to come up with an effective strategy for properly managing the communication flows that the project team must maintain to/from the external key stakeholders.It is a common understanding that the senior management board will be under a lot of workload and cannot supervise the day-to-day development of the project. Hence, the board issues certain responsibilities to certain individuals or a group of individuals, such that the direction and management of the project is separated from the delivery of the project’s outputs and results. It is done by using the principle of Management by Exception.The structure that eventually forms comprises of four levels, where Corporate level is outside the project borderlines:Corporate: It is responsible for:Commissioning the project in the first placeAppointing the Project Executive  Defining the project level tolerances to be followed by the project boardDirecting: It is undertaken by the project board, which is responsible for:Overall direction and supervision of the projectAccountable for the project’s successThey approve all the major plansThey approve completion of each stageThey authorize the start of the next stageCommunicating with the stakeholdersAuthorizing any deviation that exceeds the project level tolerancesManaging: Project Manager comes under this level and is responsible for:The day-to-day management of the project within the parameters set by the project boardTo make sure that the products are being delivered according to the time, cost, quality, scope of risk and benefit objectivesDelivering: Team Managers come under this level and are responsible for:Delivering the project’s products with the desired quality standards and within a specified time frame and costTo summarize these components, we can conclude that each project should have direction, management, control and communication within its structure and project team for providing better and fruitful outcomes.THE PREDEFINED ROLES IN A PROJECTThe PRINCE2® methodology is based on processes and division of stages for improved performance. It also brings along a series of defined roles with specific tasks designated to them. The predefined roles in a project based on a PRINCE2® environment are:Project Board - It is a group of professionals that includes :Executive: The executive has the custody of the business case and is the person ultimately taking responsibility for the project.Senior User: This position can be held by an individual or a group of professionals. Their primary objective is to represent the demands of the final user.Senior Supplier: This position can also be assigned to one or more individuals. Their responsibility is to ensure the representation of the interests of the suppliers.Project Assurance: The primary goal of Project Assurance is to make sure that the interests of the stakeholders are met.Change Authority: They are responsible for deciding the major change requests on behalf of the Project Board.Project Manager: The person responsible for undertaking the day-to-day supervision of the project on behalf of the Project Board.Project Support: It is the body responsible for assisting the Project Manager in the Project Management tasks and duties.Team Manager: This position can be assigned to one or more professionals that ensure the quality and other elements of production in the various teams that focus on a particular skill or knowledge from various departments.1. Roles Associated with the Project BoardThe project board represents the direction level of the project and consists of the following roles : a. The Executive: The executive actually owns the business case and his role is that of a business-oriented leader who is ultimately accountable for the project. The executive also has the authority of delivering the final words and decisions that are taken in the project. Thus, the project board doesn’t demonstrate any signs of democracy and equal decision-making rights.The executive is appointed by the corporate of programme management, he is the one responsible for the project with additional support from the Senior User and Senior Supplier. The executive is also responsible for designing and appointing the project management team, including the rest of the project board and also appoints the project manager b. The Senior User: It represents the final user’s requirements in the board. It specifies the needs of the user that will use the finished product or service and also establishes communication between the project management team and the users, and ensuring that the products will cater to the needs of the users, especially the quality of the product or service and ease of use. It also supplies benefits information for the Benefit Review Plan. c. The Senior Supplier: It represents the interests of the supplier. It represents the interests of those designing, developing, facilitating and implementing the project’s product and services, they provide supply to the project and make sure that only the right tools, people, equipment and expertise are in place. They also ensure that the product meets the expected criteria including the quality criteria.   Only one person can be the executive, but both the other two roles i.e the senior user and the senior supplier can be assigned to one or multiple individuals.Associated DutiesThe project board is responsible for holding accountability for the success and the failure of the project.Another duty is to provide unified direction to the project and the respective Project Manager.The project board also provides the resources and also authorizes funds utilized in the project.They should also provide additional visible and continuous support and assistance to the Project Manager.They ensure that there is effective communication within the project team and with external stakeholders.In real life, there are many organizations that have a project board that is incapable of handling projects or is either inexperienced or not at all interested in the project itself. This is a serious issue and a major drawback that could sabotage the entire project and the team associated. Henceforth, a great project board is a must to ensure that the direction is on point and effective. 2. The Project Assurance RoleIt is the responsibility of the Project Board to ensure that the project performs well and the products/services are produced, this is known as the Project Assurance. The board usually checks it directly through the Project Manager. But in large projects, many of the board members are busy with their respective tasks. Thus, the board can delegate this responsibility to someone else. The basic method is to double-check the information and this is called Project Assurance.It monitors the performance of the project and provides assistance to the Project Manager by giving insights on corporate-related issues. That’s how the board uses its Project Assurance responsibility to ensure that everything is going according to plan and the Project Manager is up to date with corporate regulations.Different board members have their respective Project Assurance responsibilities. For example:The Executive is responsible for Business Assurance (Business Value)The Senior User is responsible for the User AssuranceThe Senior Supplier is responsible for the Supplier’s Assurance 3. The Change Authority Role The responsibilities associated with the Change Authority are as follows:This role lies under the Project Team Management.The Project Board may decide if an individual should be appointed or an entire group is required to undertake this role.The primary objective of  Change Authority is to review the requests for change or the off-specifications related to the project.The Change Authority is also capable of delegating responsibility to a number of levels depending on the intensity and the complexity of the change.Asperity of Change RequestDecided ByLevel 1Project Support / Help DeskLevel 2Project ManagerLevel 3Change AuthorityLevel 4Project BoardLevel 5Corp / Programme ManagementIf smaller changes are expected in a project then the Project Board can handle them. But when many major changes are expected then it is more efficient to use a separate Change Authority group.A separate Change Authority group simplifies the change process and saves the Project Board from all the hassle. 4. The Project Manager RoleThe Project Manager role has the following impact on the project:Their primary objective is to manage the project on a daily basis. Their main focus is on the day-to-day progress of the project.This particular position of a Project Manager can never be shared and only one is appointed for a particular project.The Project Manager runs and supervises a project on behalf of the Project Board within a few specified constraints and collaborates throughout the project with the Project Board and the Project Assurance.In the case of PRINCE2®, it is usually preferred that the Project Manager belongs to the customer side.The Project is also responsible for running all the principal processes except Directing a Project Process (DP).The Project Manager is responsible for the Project Support and assistance and also the Team Managers.In several smaller projects, where there are no Team Managers, the Project Manager can manage the team members directly. Additionally, in cases where there is project support, the support task is completely on the shoulders of the Project Manager.5. The Team Manager RoleThe role of a Team Manager is actually optional and not necessary in smaller projects. The role  of a Team Manager only comes into the scene if:The Project is quite huge and requires a lot of members. Thus, a number of Team Members would be required to manage and supervise several teams from different departments and expertise.Team Managers are usually required for a specific skill, skillset or knowledge of the products to be produced. For example, a project requires an individual with great expertise of JAVA to provide assistance in handling and developing the applications or programs or researching on a particular product.They are also the need of the hour when the project is affected by geographical reasons. The project might include remote teams that provide assistance from remote locations, then that particular remote team is managed by a Team Manager.If the project is using an external company, then it would be easier to coordinate with the Team Manager rather than all the team members directly and individually.6. The Project Support RoleThe project support role offers the following services to the project:The Project Support provides administrative services to provide assistance to the Project Manager in the form of filing, distributing documents, adding documents to an IT System, etc.Project support also advises and offers guidance regarding the use of project management tools and configuration management.The Project Support also provides additional assistance in planning and risk management. For example, keeping the planned documents up to date and also highlighting what has been completed and what aspects of the projects are delayed.The prominent responsibility of the Project Support is Configuration Management and following the guidelines under the Configuration Management Strategy Document: it is one of the four strategy documents formulated at the beginning of the project.The responsibility of the Project Support is under the authority of the Project manager. To put forward in simple words, the Project Manager is responsible for the administrative duties associated with the project. Therefore, this role is not optional, however, the Project Manager can delegate this responsibility to another person or group.In a case, where the Project Manager is unable to delegate this role to someone else, it is the responsibility of the Project Manager to assume the role of the Project Support. This is the reason why we see many Project Managers working late in the evening and doing overtime. As they are trying to catch up on their administrative tasks and keep forgetting to plan all this in their normal working hours.STAGE-WISE MANAGEMENTA great way of handling a big and chunky task or project is to divide it into smaller and manageable fragments. This is the same methodology implemented in the PRINCE2® method of project management. But, instead of chunks or fragments, in PRINCE2® a different terminology is used, i.e. stages - Management Stages. The PRINCE2® methodology focuses on running and operating a project under a planned and controlled environment through a stage by stage basis.These stages are separated and decided by the Project Board on the basis of Decision Points. After the completion of each stage, the Project Board assesses the performance of the previous stage, analyzes the plans for the next stage, and ultimately decides whether to proceed to the next stage or not. The higher the number of stages, the more control is possessed by the Project Board, but it also increases their workload. Fewer stages in a project require less amount of work from the Project Board which indicates that the Senior Management will have less control over the project.  The division of a project into stages has some advantages as mentioned below:It allows the project to be divided into smaller and simpler fragments that can be easily managed.It leads to a high-level plan for the project and a very detailed Stage Plan.It also incorporates learning from the previous stages while devising a plan for the upcoming stages.There should be a minimum of two management stages in a project under a PRINCE2® project environment:The Initiation StageThe Management StageThe Closing a Project process is the last part of the second stage in a two-stage project.In this manner a particular PRINCE2® project is controlled, managed, and monitored on a stage by stage basis.
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PRINCE2® Roles and Responsibilities [Major & Minor Roles explained]
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PRINCE2® Roles and Responsibilities [Major &am...

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