In PRINCE2 7, successful projects depend heavily on having the right people with appropriate skills and perspectives. Three crucial aspects of this are Diversity, Capability, and Competence.
**Diversity** refers to bringing together team members with different backgrounds, experiences, perspective…In PRINCE2 7, successful projects depend heavily on having the right people with appropriate skills and perspectives. Three crucial aspects of this are Diversity, Capability, and Competence.
**Diversity** refers to bringing together team members with different backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and ways of thinking. A diverse project team enhances decision-making by offering varied viewpoints, which helps identify risks and opportunities that a homogeneous group might overlook. Diversity encompasses factors such as age, gender, cultural background, professional experience, and cognitive styles. Projects benefit from this variety because it fosters innovation, creativity, and more robust problem-solving approaches.
**Capability** relates to the overall ability of an organization or team to deliver projects successfully. This includes having access to the necessary resources, tools, processes, and expertise required for project execution. Capability assessment helps determine whether the organization can undertake a project given its current resources and constraints. It considers factors like available infrastructure, established methodologies, and the collective skills present within the organization. Building capability often involves developing systems and frameworks that support project delivery over time.
**Competence** focuses on individual abilities and skills that team members bring to their roles. This encompasses technical knowledge, behavioral skills, and practical experience relevant to project management activities. Competent individuals understand their responsibilities and can perform their assigned tasks effectively. PRINCE2 emphasizes that each role within the project management team requires specific competencies, and matching people to roles based on their competence is essential for project success.
Together, these three elements ensure that projects have the right mix of perspectives through diversity, the organizational foundation through capability, and the individual expertise through competence. Effective project managers must consider all three aspects when assembling teams and planning project delivery to maximize the likelihood of achieving desired outcomes.
Diversity, Capability and Competence in PRINCE2 Foundation v7
Introduction
Diversity, capability, and competence are fundamental elements that contribute to the success of projects within the PRINCE2 framework. Understanding these concepts is essential for passing the PRINCE2 Foundation v7 exam and for practical project management.
Why Is This Important?
Projects are delivered by people, not processes alone. The right mix of skills, perspectives, and abilities within a project team significantly impacts the likelihood of project success. PRINCE2 v7 emphasizes that:
• Diverse teams bring varied perspectives that lead to better decision-making and innovation • Capable individuals ensure that the team has the necessary resources to complete tasks • Competent team members can perform their roles effectively and efficiently
What Is Diversity, Capability and Competence?
Diversity refers to the range of differences within a team, including: • Background and experience • Skills and knowledge • Cultural perspectives • Ways of thinking and problem-solving • Personal characteristics
Capability refers to the overall ability of the team or organization to deliver results. It encompasses: • Available resources and tools • Organizational support structures • Access to necessary information and systems
Competence refers to the demonstrated ability of individuals to apply their skills and knowledge effectively. This includes: • Technical skills relevant to the project • Behavioral and interpersonal skills • Knowledge of methods and approaches • Experience in similar situations
How It Works in PRINCE2
In PRINCE2 v7, diversity, capability, and competence are addressed through several mechanisms:
1. Role Definitions: Clear role descriptions ensure the right people with appropriate competencies are assigned to project positions
2. Team Building: Project managers should actively seek diverse team compositions to enhance creativity and reduce blind spots
3. Capability Assessment: During project initiation, the organization assesses whether it has the capability to deliver the project
4. Skills Development: Identifying competence gaps and addressing them through training or recruitment
5. Performance Reviews: Regular assessment of team performance ensures competence levels are maintained
Key Principles to Remember
• Diverse teams typically outperform homogeneous teams in complex problem-solving • Capability must be assessed at both individual and organizational levels • Competence should be matched to the specific needs of each project stage • The project manager is responsible for ensuring the team has the required competencies • Capability gaps should be identified early and addressed through the project approach
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Diversity, Capability and Competence
1. Distinguish Between Terms: Remember that capability relates to what can be done, while competence relates to how well it can be done
2. Focus on Benefits: Questions often ask about the benefits of diversity - think about improved decision-making, innovation, and reduced groupthink
3. Link to Roles: Understand that competence requirements differ for each PRINCE2 role, including the Project Board, Project Manager, and Team Manager
4. Consider Context: When answering scenario questions, consider whether the issue relates to a lack of diversity, insufficient capability, or inadequate competence
5. Think Holistically: Remember that these three elements work together - a project needs all three to succeed
6. Look for Keywords: In exam questions, words like skills, knowledge, and ability typically relate to competence, while resources and capacity often relate to capability
7. Remember the People Focus: PRINCE2 v7 places greater emphasis on people than previous versions, so expect questions that test your understanding of human factors in project success