The Progress Practice in PRINCE2 7 serves a fundamental purpose of establishing mechanisms to monitor and compare actual achievements against planned performance throughout a project's lifecycle. This practice enables project managers and stakeholders to maintain visibility over project status and …The Progress Practice in PRINCE2 7 serves a fundamental purpose of establishing mechanisms to monitor and compare actual achievements against planned performance throughout a project's lifecycle. This practice enables project managers and stakeholders to maintain visibility over project status and make informed decisions about continuing, adjusting, or stopping project activities.
The primary purpose of the Progress Practice is to provide a framework for tracking and controlling project performance by comparing what has been achieved against what was planned. This comparison occurs at multiple levels within the project management structure, ensuring that appropriate levels of management receive relevant information to fulfill their decision-making responsibilities.
Progress monitoring serves several critical functions within PRINCE2 projects. It enables early identification of variances from approved baselines, allowing management to take corrective action before issues escalate. The practice establishes clear reporting mechanisms that flow through the management hierarchy, from team managers to project managers to project boards and ultimately to corporate or programme management.
The practice supports the management by exception principle, which is central to PRINCE2 methodology. By defining tolerances at each management level and establishing clear escalation procedures when these tolerances are threatened, Progress Practice ensures efficient use of management time while maintaining appropriate oversight.
Progress Practice also facilitates learning and improvement by capturing performance data that can inform future planning and estimating. Through regular progress assessments, projects can refine their forecasts and improve accuracy in predicting completion dates and final costs.
Furthermore, this practice provides assurance to stakeholders that the project remains viable and continues to justify its investment. By maintaining accurate progress information, decision-makers can evaluate whether the project still represents good value and aligns with organizational objectives, supporting effective governance throughout the project journey.
Progress Practice Purpose in PRINCE2 Foundation v7
Why is Progress Practice Purpose Important?
The Progress practice is fundamental to successful project management because it provides the mechanisms for monitoring and comparing actual achievements against planned targets. Understanding its purpose helps project teams maintain control, make informed decisions, and ensure projects deliver their intended benefits on time and within budget.
What is the Progress Practice?
The Progress practice in PRINCE2 establishes the framework for tracking project performance throughout its lifecycle. It defines how the project board and project manager will monitor progress, compare actual results to plans, and take corrective action when necessary.
The Purpose of the Progress Practice
The purpose of the Progress practice is to establish mechanisms to:
• Monitor and compare actual achievements against those planned • Provide a forecast of the project objectives and continued viability • Control any unacceptable deviations from plan • Review progress at regular intervals to ensure the project remains viable
How the Progress Practice Works
Progress works through several key mechanisms:
1. Tolerances: These are permissible deviations from plan before escalation is required. They can be set for time, cost, quality, scope, benefits, and risk.
2. Management by Exception: This principle allows managers to delegate authority within defined tolerances, only escalating when tolerances are forecast to be exceeded.
3. Progress Controls: These include checkpoint reports, highlight reports, and end stage reports that provide regular updates on project status.
4. Reviews and Assessments: Regular reviews ensure the business case remains valid and the project continues to be worthwhile.
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Progress Practice Purpose
• Remember the key verbs: Monitor, compare, forecast, and control are central to the Progress purpose
• Link to tolerances: Questions often connect Progress purpose to the concept of tolerances and management by exception
• Focus on proactive management: Progress is about forecasting future performance, not just recording what has happened
• Understand the relationship with Plans: Progress compares actual achievements against planned achievements - you need a plan to measure progress against
• Watch for distractor answers: Options mentioning creating detailed schedules or defining project scope relate to other practices, not Progress
• Key phrase to remember: The Progress practice ensures the project remains viable and achievable throughout its lifecycle