PRINCE2 Principles

Understanding PRINCE2 Principles: A Comprehensive Guide

Why PRINCE2 Principles Are Important

PRINCE2 Principles form the foundation of the entire PRINCE2 methodology. They serve as the framework's guiding philosophy, providing a set of obligations and good practices that determine whether a project is genuinely being managed using PRINCE2. These seven principles are universal, self-validating, and empowering, ensuring that projects remain focused on business justification, learn from experience, define roles clearly, manage by stages and exception, focus on products, and can be tailored to the project environment.

Understanding these principles thoroughly is crucial because:

- They provide the framework upon which all PRINCE2 practices are built
- They help practitioners make appropriate decisions when applying PRINCE2 to their projects
- They distinguish PRINCE2-managed projects from other project management approaches
- They are heavily tested in the PRINCE2 Foundation exam

What Are the PRINCE2 Principles

PRINCE2 is built on seven principles:

1. Continued Business Justification
All projects must have valid business justification from initiation to closure. This justification must be documented in the Business Case, which is regularly reviewed to ensure the project remains viable.

2. Learn from Experience
Project teams should learn from previous projects. Lessons should be sought, recorded, and acted upon throughout the project lifecycle.

3. Defined Roles and Responsibilities
The project management team should have clearly defined and agreed roles and responsibilities within a structure that engages the business, user, and supplier stakeholder interests.

4. Manage by Stages
Projects should be planned, monitored, and controlled on a stage-by-stage basis. Each stage must be authorized individually.

5. Manage by Exception
Projects have defined tolerances for each project objective to establish limits of delegated authority. When these limits are forecast to be exceeded, the exception is escalated to the next management level for a decision.

6. Focus on Products
PRINCE2 focuses on product definition, delivery, and quality. Success is measured by producing outputs of the required quality that deliver the expected benefits.

7. Tailor to Suit the Project Environment
PRINCE2 should be tailored to suit the project's size, complexity, importance, capability, and risk.

How PRINCE2 Principles Work in Practice

The principles work together to create a controlled and organized approach to project management:

- They guide decision-making throughout the project lifecycle
- They ensure all stakeholders understand their role in the project
- They provide a common vocabulary and approach for all project participants
- They allow appropriate scaling of processes for different project sizes and types
- They help maintain focus on delivering value to the organization

Each principle influences specific processes, themes, and documents within the PRINCE2 methodology. For example, Continued Business Justification drives the creation and maintenance of the Business Case, while Focus on Products leads to detailed product descriptions and quality criteria.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on PRINCE2 Principles

1. Know the seven principles by heart
Memorize all seven principles and be able to explain each one concisely. The Foundation exam frequently asks you to identify which principle is being described or applied in a scenario.

2. Understand the key concepts of each principle
For each principle, know the core concepts and how they manifest in a project. For example, with "Manage by Exception," understand tolerances, escalation processes, and delegation of authority.

3. Recognize practical applications
The exam often presents scenarios and asks which principle is being applied. Practice connecting real-world situations to specific principles.

4. Connect principles to themes and processes
Know how each principle relates to PRINCE2 themes and processes. For example, "Continued Business Justification" connects strongly to the Business Case theme.

5. Beware of distractors
Exam questions may include options that sound plausible but aren't actual PRINCE2 principles. Always refer back to the official seven principles.

6. Look for key terms in the questions
Certain keywords often point to specific principles, such as "tolerance" (Manage by Exception), "lessons" (Learn from Experience), or "tailoring" (Tailor to Suit the Project Environment).

7. Remember that all principles must be applied
A project must apply all seven principles to be considered a PRINCE2 project. Questions may test this understanding by presenting scenarios where principles are missing.

8. Practice with sample questions
Regular practice with sample questions will help you recognize patterns in how principles are tested and improve your response time during the actual exam.

By thoroughly understanding the PRINCE2 principles and practicing their application in various scenarios, you'll be well-prepared for the principles-related questions on the PRINCE2 Foundation exam.