The Directing a Project process in PRINCE2 7 provides the Project Board with the mechanisms to oversee and control the project while maintaining appropriate governance throughout its lifecycle. This process runs from project initiation through to project closure and enables senior management to ful…The Directing a Project process in PRINCE2 7 provides the Project Board with the mechanisms to oversee and control the project while maintaining appropriate governance throughout its lifecycle. This process runs from project initiation through to project closure and enables senior management to fulfill their responsibilities effectively.
The key objectives of Directing a Project include:
1. **Authorization and Decision Making**: The Project Board must authorize key project stages, including initiation, subsequent stages, and project closure. They make critical go/no-go decisions at stage boundaries based on business justification.
2. **Governance and Oversight**: Ensuring the project remains viable and aligned with organizational strategy. The Board monitors progress through highlight reports and exception reports, intervening only when necessary to maintain management by exception principles.
3. **Guidance and Support**: Providing direction to the Project Manager when issues arise that exceed their delegated authority. This includes resolving escalated problems and making decisions on exception plans.
4. **Stakeholder Communication**: The Board represents the project externally, communicating with corporate management and key stakeholders about project status and outcomes.
5. **Resource Commitment**: Ensuring adequate resources are available for the project and authorizing their allocation at each stage.
6. **Business Case Viability**: Continuously monitoring whether the project remains justified from a business perspective. If viability becomes questionable, the Board has authority to prematurely close the project.
7. **Ad-hoc Direction**: Responding to requests for advice from the Project Manager throughout the project lifecycle.
The process consists of five activities: authorizing initiation, authorizing the project, authorizing a stage or exception plan, giving ad-hoc direction, and authorizing project closure. These activities ensure that senior management maintains control while allowing the Project Manager sufficient autonomy to manage day-to-day operations effectively within agreed tolerances.
Directing a Project Objectives - Complete Guide
Why is Directing a Project Objectives Important?
The Directing a Project process is crucial because it establishes how the Project Board maintains overall control of the project. Understanding the objectives of this process helps you recognize the governance framework that enables senior management to make informed decisions while delegating day-to-day management to the Project Manager. This process ensures projects remain viable, aligned with business objectives, and properly authorized at key decision points.
What is Directing a Project?
Directing a Project is one of the seven processes in PRINCE2 that runs from project initiation through to project closure. It is performed by the Project Board and provides the mechanism for executive decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.
The Key Objectives of Directing a Project:
1. Provide authority to initiate the project - Ensuring the project has a valid Business Case before committing resources
2. Provide authority to deliver project products - Approving each management stage and authorizing work to proceed
3. Maintain overall direction and control - Making decisions on exceptions and providing guidance when needed
4. Ensure the project remains viable - Continuously reviewing the Business Case and confirming continued business justification
5. Provide authority to close the project - Confirming all products are accepted and the project can be formally closed
6. Ensure corporate or programme management receives information - Keeping stakeholders informed of project progress
How Does Directing a Project Work?
The process operates through management by exception, meaning the Project Board only intervenes when tolerances are forecast to be exceeded or at key decision points. The Project Board receives regular Highlight Reports and makes decisions at stage boundaries.
The five activities within this process are: - Authorize initiation - Authorize the project - Authorize a Stage or Exception Plan - Give ad hoc direction - Authorize project closure
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Directing a Project Objectives
Tip 1: Remember that Directing a Project is performed by the Project Board only, not the Project Manager. Questions often test whether you understand this distinction.
Tip 2: Focus on the word 'authority' - many objectives relate to authorizing activities. The Project Board gives authority; the Project Manager requests it.
Tip 3: Understand that the Project Board operates on an exception basis. They do not manage daily activities but intervene when tolerances are exceeded.
Tip 4: When questions mention Business Case viability, link this to the Directing a Project objective of ensuring continued business justification throughout the project.
Tip 5: Be aware that this process spans the entire project lifecycle - from pre-initiation through to closure. Other processes have more limited timeframes.
Tip 6: Look for answers that emphasize decision-making at stage boundaries and responding to exceptions - these are core to how the Project Board directs the project.
Tip 7: If a question asks about communication to corporate or programme management, this responsibility falls under Directing a Project objectives.
Common Exam Question Formats:
- Which objective relates to a specific scenario involving the Project Board - Identifying what the Project Board should authorize at particular points - Understanding who performs Directing a Project activities - Recognizing when the Project Board should intervene versus delegate