The Product Register is a fundamental quality management tool within PRINCE2 7 that serves as a comprehensive record of all products planned, being developed, or completed within a project. It functions as a central repository that tracks every product throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring com…The Product Register is a fundamental quality management tool within PRINCE2 7 that serves as a comprehensive record of all products planned, being developed, or completed within a project. It functions as a central repository that tracks every product throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring complete visibility and control over deliverables.
The Product Register captures essential information about each product, including its unique identifier, title, current status, and the date when each status was achieved. This documentation enables project managers and team members to monitor progress effectively and understand exactly where each product stands in terms of completion.
From a quality perspective, the Product Register plays a vital role by linking products to their corresponding Product Descriptions, which contain the quality criteria and specifications that must be met. This connection ensures that quality requirements are not overlooked and that each product can be traced back to its defined standards and acceptance criteria.
The register is typically created during the initiation stage when products are first identified through product-based planning. As the project progresses, the Project Manager maintains and updates this document to reflect the current state of all products. Status updates might include categories such as pending, in progress, ready for quality review, approved, or requiring rework.
Key benefits of maintaining a Product Register include improved communication among stakeholders regarding product status, enhanced ability to track dependencies between products, and better control over the overall project scope. It also supports the quality review process by clearly identifying which products are ready for inspection and which have successfully passed quality checks.
The Product Register works alongside other PRINCE2 management products such as the Quality Register and Configuration Item Records to provide a complete picture of project deliverables and their quality status throughout the project journey.
Product Register - PRINCE2 Foundation V7 Complete Guide
What is the Product Register?
The Product Register is a management product within PRINCE2 that provides a comprehensive list of all products required for a project. It acts as a central record that tracks the status, location, and quality requirements of every product throughout the project lifecycle.
Why is the Product Register Important?
The Product Register serves several critical purposes:
1. Visibility and Control: It provides project managers and team members with a clear overview of all deliverables, ensuring nothing is overlooked or forgotten.
2. Quality Management: By recording quality criteria and approval status for each product, it supports the quality practice and ensures all outputs meet required standards.
3. Progress Tracking: The register enables stakeholders to monitor which products have been completed, which are in progress, and which are yet to start.
4. Audit Trail: It maintains a historical record of product development, useful for lessons learned and future reference.
How Does the Product Register Work?
The Product Register is created during the Initiating a Project process and is maintained throughout the project. It typically contains:
• Product Identifier: A unique reference for each product • Product Title: The name of the product • Date Due: When the product should be completed • Planned and Actual Dates: For key activities like draft ready, quality check, and approval • Quality Method: How quality will be checked • Approval Status: Current approval state of the product • Cross-references: Links to related Product Descriptions and Work Packages
As the project progresses, the Product Register is updated whenever a product's status changes. This happens during stage boundaries, at the end of Work Packages, or when quality reviews are completed.
Relationship with Other Management Products
The Product Register works closely with:
• Product Descriptions: These provide detailed specifications referenced in the register • Work Packages: Products are allocated through Work Packages • Quality Register: Records quality activities performed on products • Configuration Item Records: May be combined for configuration management purposes
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Product Register
Tip 1: Remember that the Product Register is about listing and tracking products, not describing them in detail. Product Descriptions handle the detailed specifications.
Tip 2: When questions ask about tracking product status or knowing what products exist in a project, the Product Register is typically the correct answer.
Tip 3: Distinguish between the Product Register and the Quality Register. The Product Register lists all products; the Quality Register records quality activities performed.
Tip 4: The Product Register is created during Initiating a Project and maintained throughout. Questions about when it is established often appear in exams.
Tip 5: If a question mentions needing a complete list of project deliverables or checking which products have been approved, think Product Register.
Tip 6: Watch for scenario-based questions where a project manager needs to understand the overall status of products - this points to using the Product Register.
Tip 7: The Product Register is owned by the Project Manager. Questions about responsibility for maintaining this document should identify the Project Manager as the answer.