Review Stage Status is a crucial activity within the Controlling a Stage process in PRINCE2 7. This activity ensures that the Project Manager maintains awareness of the current stage's progress and can make informed decisions about how to proceed.
The primary purpose of reviewing stage status is t…Review Stage Status is a crucial activity within the Controlling a Stage process in PRINCE2 7. This activity ensures that the Project Manager maintains awareness of the current stage's progress and can make informed decisions about how to proceed.
The primary purpose of reviewing stage status is to compare actual progress against the planned performance. The Project Manager regularly assesses various aspects of the stage including time, cost, scope, quality, risk, and benefits. This review helps identify any deviations from the Stage Plan and determines whether the stage remains within agreed tolerances.
During this review, the Project Manager gathers information from multiple sources. Work Package status updates from Team Managers provide essential data about task completion and any emerging issues. The Project Manager also examines the Issue Register, Risk Register, and Quality Register to understand the current situation comprehensively.
Key questions addressed during the review include: Are work packages progressing as expected? Are there any new or escalating risks? Have any issues arisen that require attention? Is the stage likely to complete within tolerance? Are quality standards being maintained?
The outcome of this review informs several potential actions. If everything proceeds according to plan, the Project Manager continues monitoring. If minor deviations occur but remain within tolerance, the Project Manager may implement corrective actions at their discretion. However, if forecasts suggest tolerance will be exceeded, the Project Manager must escalate to the Project Board through an Exception Report.
This regular review cycle is fundamental to the management by exception principle in PRINCE2. It enables proactive project control rather than reactive crisis management. The frequency of reviews depends on project complexity and risk levels, with higher-risk stages requiring more frequent assessment.
Effective stage status reviews contribute to successful project delivery by ensuring problems are identified early and appropriate responses are implemented promptly.
Review Stage Status - PRINCE2 Foundation V7 Complete Guide
Introduction to Review Stage Status
Review Stage Status is a critical activity within the Controlling a Stage process in PRINCE2. It enables the Project Manager to maintain control over the current management stage by regularly assessing progress, identifying issues, and determining whether the stage remains viable.
Why Review Stage Status is Important
This activity is essential for several key reasons:
1. Maintaining Control: Regular reviews ensure the Project Manager has an accurate picture of where the stage stands against planned targets.
2. Early Problem Detection: By reviewing status frequently, potential problems can be identified before they escalate into major issues.
3. Informed Decision Making: The Project Manager needs current information to make appropriate decisions about work package authorization and escalation.
4. Stakeholder Confidence: Regular monitoring demonstrates professional management and builds confidence among stakeholders.
5. Tolerance Management: Enables the Project Manager to track whether the stage is operating within its defined tolerances.
What is Review Stage Status?
Review Stage Status is an ongoing activity performed by the Project Manager throughout each management stage. It involves gathering and analyzing information about:
- Progress of work packages - Time and cost performance - Risk status and any new risks - Issue status and resolution - Quality activities and results - Benefits realization progress
This activity uses information from checkpoint reports submitted by Team Managers and other sources to build a comprehensive view of stage health.
How Review Stage Status Works
The process follows these key steps:
Step 1: Gather Information The Project Manager collects data from multiple sources including checkpoint reports, the issue register, risk register, and quality register.
Step 2: Compare Against Plans Current progress is compared against the Stage Plan to identify any variances in time, cost, scope, quality, benefits, or risk.
Step 3: Analyze Tolerances The Project Manager assesses whether the stage is operating within its agreed tolerances or if there are forecast deviations.
Step 4: Identify Actions Based on the analysis, the Project Manager determines what corrective actions may be needed, whether issues need to be escalated, or if an exception report is required.
Step 5: Update Records Relevant registers and logs are updated to reflect the current status.
Key Inputs and Outputs
Inputs: - Checkpoint Reports from Team Managers - Stage Plan - Issue Register - Risk Register - Quality Register - Work package status information
Outputs: - Updated registers and logs - Trigger for corrective actions - Input to Highlight Reports - Potential Exception Reports if tolerances are forecast to be exceeded
Frequency of Review
The frequency of status reviews depends on: - The complexity and risk level of the project - The pace of the project environment - Organizational standards - Stage duration and criticality
Reviews should be frequent enough to maintain control but not so frequent that they become burdensome.
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Review Stage Status
Tip 1: Remember the Role Questions often test who performs this activity. The answer is always the Project Manager. The Project Board does not review stage status; they receive Highlight Reports.
Tip 2: Know the Triggers This activity is triggered by the need to assess stage progress. It is an ongoing, cyclical activity rather than a one-time event.
Tip 3: Understand the Relationship with Reporting Review Stage Status provides the information needed for Highlight Reports. First you review, then you report.
Tip 4: Link to Tolerances If a question mentions tolerances being forecast to be exceeded, the correct response typically involves escalation to the Project Board through an exception report.
Tip 5: Distinguish from Report Stage Status Review Stage Status is about gathering and analyzing information internally. Reporting Highlights is about communicating status to the Project Board.
Tip 6: Know the Information Sources Checkpoint reports are the primary source of progress information from Team Managers. If asked what helps the Project Manager review status, checkpoint reports are a key answer.
Tip 7: Focus on the Purpose The purpose is to enable informed decisions about corrective actions, work authorization, and whether to escalate issues.
Common Exam Question Themes
- Who is responsible for reviewing stage status - What information is used during the review - What happens when tolerances are forecast to be exceeded - The relationship between checkpoint reports and stage status reviews - How often reviews should take place - The difference between reviewing and reporting stage status