Plans and Principles Relationship in PRINCE2
Why It Is Important
Understanding the relationship between Plans and Principles is fundamental to passing the PRINCE2 Foundation exam. The Plans practice does not operate in isolation; it must align with and support the seven PRINCE2 principles. This integration ensures that projects are managed consistently, remain viable, and deliver value. Exam questions frequently test your ability to connect planning activities with the underlying principles that govern them.
What Is the Plans and Principles Relationship?
The Plans practice in PRINCE2 provides a structured approach to defining how, when, and by whom project objectives will be achieved. However, every aspect of planning must reflect and uphold the seven PRINCE2 principles:
1. Continued Business Justification - Plans must demonstrate how the project remains viable and continues to deliver benefits. Each plan should show alignment with the Business Case.
2. Learn from Experience - Planning should incorporate lessons from previous projects and from earlier stages of the current project. Plans are refined based on what has been learned.
3. Defined Roles and Responsibilities - Plans clearly identify who is responsible for each activity, ensuring accountability and clear communication channels.
4. Manage by Stages - PRINCE2 requires stage-by-stage planning, with detailed Stage Plans created only for the current or next stage, supporting controlled progression.
5. Manage by Exception - Plans establish tolerances for time, cost, scope, quality, risk, and benefits. This enables management by exception, where escalation occurs only when tolerances are forecast to be exceeded.
6. Focus on Products - Planning in PRINCE2 is product-based, meaning plans are built around the products to be delivered rather than activities alone. Product Descriptions define quality expectations.
7. Tailor to Suit the Project - Plans must be scaled and tailored to match the size, complexity, and environment of the project.
How It Works
When creating plans, PRINCE2 practitioners must ensure each principle is embedded:
- The Project Plan supports continued business justification by showing the full timeline and resource requirements for delivering the Business Case.
- Stage Plans are created sequentially, embodying the manage by stages principle.
- Tolerances are set within each plan to enable manage by exception.
- Product-based planning techniques ensure focus on products, with clear Product Descriptions and a Product Breakdown Structure.
- Plans are reviewed and updated using lessons learned, applying the learn from experience principle.
- Plans assign responsibilities using the project management team structure, reflecting defined roles and responsibilities.
- The level of detail and formality in plans is adjusted based on project needs, demonstrating tailoring.
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Plans and Principles Relationship
1. Read questions carefully - Look for keywords that indicate which principle is being referenced, such as tolerances (manage by exception), products (focus on products), or stages (manage by stages).
2. Connect planning activities to principles - If a question asks why something is done in planning, link your answer back to a specific principle.
3. Remember tolerances - Questions about exception reporting and escalation relate to how plans set boundaries. Tolerances enable the manage by exception principle.
4. Focus on products, not tasks - When questions ask about planning approaches, remember PRINCE2 emphasizes product-based planning over activity-based planning.
5. Stage Plans support control - Questions about detailed planning typically relate to Stage Plans, which are created one stage at a time.
6. Business Case linkage - Any question about why plans are reviewed at stage boundaries connects to continued business justification.
7. Lessons learned - If a question mentions improving plans or using past experience, the answer relates to learn from experience.
8. Eliminate wrong answers - Options that suggest skipping stages, removing tolerances, or planning all stages in full detail at the start contradict PRINCE2 principles.