The Report Stage End is a critical activity within the Managing a Stage Boundary process in PRINCE2 7. This activity involves the Project Manager preparing and submitting an End Stage Report to the Project Board, providing a comprehensive summary of the stage's performance and achievements.
The En…The Report Stage End is a critical activity within the Managing a Stage Boundary process in PRINCE2 7. This activity involves the Project Manager preparing and submitting an End Stage Report to the Project Board, providing a comprehensive summary of the stage's performance and achievements.
The End Stage Report serves several important purposes. First, it documents how the stage performed against its planned objectives, comparing actual progress with the Stage Plan. This includes reporting on time, cost, scope, quality, benefits, and risk performance throughout the completed stage.
The report captures any lessons learned during the stage that could benefit the current project going forward or future projects within the organization. These lessons contribute to continuous improvement and organizational learning.
Key elements included in the End Stage Report are: a summary of what was accomplished during the stage, performance against tolerances set by the Project Board, review of project issues and risks that emerged, quality management activities undertaken, and any changes to the project management team structure.
The Project Manager must also address any deviations from the original plan and explain the reasons behind them. This transparency enables the Project Board to make informed decisions about whether to authorize the next stage.
The End Stage Report works alongside the updated Business Case and the next Stage Plan to give the Project Board a complete picture for their authorization decision. The Project Board uses this information to assess whether the project remains viable and whether continued investment is justified.
This reporting mechanism ensures proper governance by maintaining accountability and providing decision-makers with accurate, timely information. It supports the PRINCE2 principle of managing by exception, where the Project Board can focus on key decision points rather than day-to-day management activities.
The End Stage Report ultimately facilitates the transition between stages and ensures continuity in project management.
Report Stage End - Complete Guide for PRINCE2 Foundation V7
What is Report Stage End?
Report Stage End is an activity within the Managing a Stage Boundary process in PRINCE2. It involves the Project Manager compiling and presenting a comprehensive summary of stage performance to the Project Board. This report provides the Project Board with the information they need to assess whether the project should continue to the next stage.
Why is Report Stage End Important?
Report Stage End serves several critical purposes:
1. Accountability: It demonstrates that the Project Manager has fulfilled their responsibilities for managing the stage that has concluded.
2. Informed Decision Making: The Project Board receives factual information about actual progress versus planned progress, enabling them to make sound authorization decisions.
3. Learning and Improvement: By documenting what went well and what could be improved, the project captures valuable lessons for future stages and projects.
4. Transparency: Stakeholders gain visibility into project health and any issues or risks that have emerged.
5. Audit Trail: It creates formal documentation that can be referenced later for governance and assurance purposes.
How Does Report Stage End Work?
The Report Stage End activity involves the following key actions:
Review Stage Performance: The Project Manager compares actual performance against the Stage Plan, examining time, cost, scope, quality, benefits, and risk.
Update the Project Plan: Based on actual progress and any approved changes, the Project Plan is updated to reflect current reality.
Update the Business Case: The Business Case is reviewed and updated to ensure it remains valid and reflects any changes to expected benefits or costs.
Create the End Stage Report: This document summarizes stage achievements, products delivered, issues encountered, lessons learned, and recommendations for proceeding.
Compile Lessons: The Project Manager gathers lessons from the stage and records them in the Lessons Log or Lessons Report.
Key Outputs from Report Stage End:
- End Stage Report - Updated Project Plan - Updated Business Case - Lessons Report (if appropriate)
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Report Stage End
Tip 1: Remember the Purpose Questions often test whether you understand that Report Stage End provides information for the Project Board to authorize the next stage. Focus on the reporting and information-gathering aspects.
Tip 2: Know the Key Document The End Stage Report is the primary output. Remember that it contains a summary of stage performance, not a detailed log of every activity.
Tip 3: Understand the Timing Report Stage End occurs at the end of each management stage, except the final stage where Closing a Project handles similar activities.
Tip 4: Link to Authorization The information from Report Stage End feeds into the Project Board's decision to authorize (or not authorize) the next stage.
Tip 5: Distinguish from Other Activities Do not confuse Report Stage End with Plan the Next Stage. Report Stage End looks backward at completed work, while Plan the Next Stage looks forward.
Tip 6: Remember Who Does What The Project Manager creates the End Stage Report. The Project Board reviews it and makes the authorization decision.
Tip 7: Focus on Updates Questions may ask what gets updated during this activity. Remember: Project Plan, Business Case, and lessons documentation are all updated.
Tip 8: Read Questions Carefully Look for keywords like 'end of stage', 'stage performance', or 'stage boundary' to identify when Report Stage End is the relevant topic.