The Team Manager role in PRINCE2 7 is a crucial position within the project management structure that focuses on delivering the specialist products assigned to their team. This role serves as the bridge between the Project Manager and the team members who perform the actual work.
The Team Manager …The Team Manager role in PRINCE2 7 is a crucial position within the project management structure that focuses on delivering the specialist products assigned to their team. This role serves as the bridge between the Project Manager and the team members who perform the actual work.
The Team Manager is responsible for planning, monitoring, and controlling the work allocated to their team through Work Packages. When a Project Manager assigns a Work Package, the Team Manager accepts responsibility for ensuring the work is completed according to the agreed specifications, quality standards, time constraints, and budget.
Key responsibilities of the Team Manager include creating Team Plans that detail how the Work Package will be delivered. They coordinate and supervise daily activities of team members, ensuring everyone understands their tasks and has the necessary resources to complete them effectively.
The Team Manager maintains regular communication with the Project Manager through Checkpoint Reports, which provide updates on progress, issues encountered, and any concerns that might affect delivery. This reporting mechanism ensures the Project Manager stays informed about work status at the team level.
Quality is another important aspect of the Team Manager role. They ensure that products created by their team meet the defined quality criteria and pass through appropriate quality review processes before being submitted to the Project Manager for acceptance.
When problems arise that fall outside the Team Manager's authority to resolve, they escalate these issues to the Project Manager for guidance and decision-making. This escalation pathway maintains proper governance while allowing work to continue.
In smaller projects, the Project Manager may perform the Team Manager role themselves. In larger projects, multiple Team Managers may exist, each responsible for different specialist areas or work streams. The role can be filled by internal staff members or external suppliers depending on project requirements and organizational structure.
Team Manager Role in PRINCE2 Foundation v7
Why is the Team Manager Role Important?
The Team Manager role is crucial in PRINCE2 because it bridges the gap between the Project Manager and the team members who actually create the project's products. This role ensures that specialist work is properly managed, quality standards are met, and progress is accurately reported. In larger or more complex projects, having dedicated Team Managers allows the Project Manager to focus on overall project coordination while ensuring detailed work supervision remains effective.
What is the Team Manager Role?
The Team Manager is responsible for the production of those products allocated by the Project Manager. This role may be performed by the Project Manager themselves in smaller projects, or by separate individuals when:
• The project requires specialist skills that the Project Manager doesn't possess • The project is geographically dispersed • The project is particularly large or complex • Corporate or programme standards require it
The Team Manager role sits within the Managing Product Delivery process and acts as the interface between the Project Manager and team members.
Key Responsibilities of the Team Manager
• Accepting and executing Work Packages from the Project Manager • Planning team activities to meet Work Package requirements • Ensuring products are developed to required quality standards • Obtaining approval for completed products through quality checking • Reporting progress through Checkpoint Reports • Identifying and escalating issues and risks • Managing team members and their workload • Liaising with Project Assurance and Project Support as needed
How Does the Team Manager Role Work?
The Team Manager operates through a formal agreement with the Project Manager via the Work Package. This document defines:
• Products to be delivered • Quality requirements and tolerances • Reporting arrangements • Approval methods • Constraints and interfaces
The Team Manager then creates a Team Plan (if required) to schedule the work, manages the team's activities, and reports back through regular Checkpoint Reports. When products are complete, the Team Manager ensures quality reviews are conducted and hands back the completed Work Package to the Project Manager.
Relationship with Other Roles
• Project Manager: Receives Work Packages from and reports to the Project Manager • Team Members: Directs and supervises their work • Project Assurance: May be subject to quality checks and audits • Project Support: May receive administrative assistance
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Team Manager Role
1. Remember the Key Documents: Team Managers work with Work Packages (input), Team Plans (optional), and Checkpoint Reports (output). Questions often test whether you know which documents the Team Manager uses.
2. Know When the Role is Needed: The Team Manager role becomes separate from the Project Manager when there are specialist skills required, geographical distribution, or project complexity. Exam questions may ask you to identify scenarios requiring a dedicated Team Manager.
3. Understand the Process Connection: The Team Manager operates primarily within the Managing Product Delivery process. If a question mentions this process, consider Team Manager responsibilities.
4. Accountability vs Responsibility: The Team Manager is responsible for product creation but the Project Manager remains accountable to the Project Board. This distinction is frequently tested.
5. Escalation Path: Team Managers escalate issues to the Project Manager, not to the Project Board. Questions may try to trick you by suggesting Team Managers report to the Board.
6. Quality Focus: Remember that Team Managers must ensure products meet quality criteria defined in the Work Package and Product Descriptions. They arrange for quality reviews before returning completed Work Packages.
7. Common Exam Traps: • The Team Manager does NOT approve their own products • The Team Manager does NOT change tolerances • The Team Manager does NOT report to the Project Board • The Team Manager CAN be the Project Manager in smaller projects
8. Read Carefully: Pay attention to whether questions ask about Team Manager responsibilities versus Project Manager responsibilities, as these are commonly confused in exams.