A Product Description is a fundamental quality management tool in PRINCE2 7 that provides a detailed specification of what a product must deliver, its purpose, composition, and quality criteria. It serves as a critical document that ensures all stakeholders share a common understanding of what need…A Product Description is a fundamental quality management tool in PRINCE2 7 that provides a detailed specification of what a product must deliver, its purpose, composition, and quality criteria. It serves as a critical document that ensures all stakeholders share a common understanding of what needs to be produced during the project.
The Product Description contains several key components. First, it includes an identifier and title that uniquely names the product. The purpose section explains why the product is needed and what business need it fulfills. The composition element describes what the product consists of, including its constituent parts and structure.
The derivation section identifies the source materials, information, or other products from which this product will be created. This helps project teams understand dependencies and prerequisites. The development skills required section outlines what expertise and capabilities are needed to create the product successfully.
Quality criteria form a crucial part of the Product Description, defining measurable specifications that the product must meet to be considered acceptable. These criteria should be specific, measurable, and testable. Associated with this are quality tolerances, which specify the acceptable range of variation from the stated criteria.
The quality method describes how the product will be checked or tested against its quality criteria. This might include reviews, inspections, or formal testing procedures. Quality skills required identifies who has the competence to perform these quality checks.
The Product Description also captures quality responsibilities, clarifying who is accountable for producing the product and who will approve it. This ensures clear ownership and accountability throughout the development process.
By creating comprehensive Product Descriptions early in the project, teams can prevent misunderstandings, reduce rework, and ensure that delivered products meet stakeholder expectations. They provide a baseline against which quality can be measured and form an essential input to quality planning activities within PRINCE2 projects.
Product Description in PRINCE2 v7 - Complete Guide
What is a Product Description?
A Product Description is a detailed specification document that defines a product's purpose, composition, quality criteria, and quality method. It is created for each major product within a PRINCE2 project and serves as the primary means of communicating what needs to be delivered and to what standard.
Why is Product Description Important?
Product Descriptions are crucial in PRINCE2 for several reasons:
1. Clear Communication: They ensure everyone understands exactly what is being produced, reducing ambiguity and misunderstandings between stakeholders.
2. Quality Foundation: They establish the quality criteria against which products will be assessed, forming the basis of quality control activities.
3. Acceptance Planning: They define how products will be tested and who will approve them, making acceptance a transparent process.
4. Scope Management: They help control scope by documenting precisely what is included and excluded from each product.
5. Effort Estimation: Detailed descriptions enable more accurate estimates for time, cost, and resources needed.
Key Components of a Product Description
A Product Description typically includes:
• Identifier: A unique reference for the product • Title: The name of the product • Purpose: Why the product is needed and what it will be used for • Composition: What the product consists of or contains • Derivation: The sources from which the product is derived • Format and Presentation: The form the product will take • Development Skills Required: Competencies needed to create the product • Quality Criteria: Measurable specifications the product must meet • Quality Tolerance: Permitted deviation from quality criteria • Quality Method: How quality criteria will be checked • Quality Skills Required: Competencies needed to review the product • Quality Responsibilities: Who performs quality activities
How Product Description Works in Practice
Product Descriptions are created during the initiating a project process and refined during stage planning. The Project Manager typically drafts them, often with input from specialists and users. They are then used throughout the project to:
• Plan work packages for team members • Set up quality reviews and testing activities • Assess whether completed products meet requirements • Support the handover and acceptance process
Relationship to Other PRINCE2 Elements
Product Descriptions integrate with:
• Product Breakdown Structure: Each product identified should have a description • Quality Register: Records quality activities defined in descriptions • Work Packages: Include relevant Product Descriptions for team guidance • Project Product Description: A special description for the overall project output
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Product Description
Tip 1: Remember that Product Descriptions focus on WHAT is being delivered, not HOW it will be created. Process steps belong elsewhere.
Tip 2: Quality criteria must be measurable. Look for answers containing specific, testable attributes rather than vague statements like good quality or satisfactory.
Tip 3: Know the difference between the Project Product Description (for the final deliverable) and Product Descriptions (for individual products). Exam questions often test this distinction.
Tip 4: When asked who creates Product Descriptions, the answer is usually the Project Manager, with support from relevant specialists.
Tip 5: Questions about quality tolerance refer to acceptable deviations from the quality criteria stated in the Product Description. This is separate from time and cost tolerances.
Tip 6: Remember that Product Descriptions support both planning and quality management. If a question links these areas, Product Description is likely relevant.
Tip 7: The derivation element identifies source materials or products. Do not confuse this with composition, which describes what the product contains.