In the context of PRINCE2 7, the Project Brief is a vital management product developed during the 'Starting Up a Project' process. Its primary purpose is to provide a firm foundation for the initiation of the project, ensuring that the Project Board has sufficient information to authorize the 'Init…In the context of PRINCE2 7, the Project Brief is a vital management product developed during the 'Starting Up a Project' process. Its primary purpose is to provide a firm foundation for the initiation of the project, ensuring that the Project Board has sufficient information to authorize the 'Initiating a Project' stage. It effectively acts as the trigger for the project's detailed planning phase.
Regarding the Business Case practice, the Project Brief is significant because it contains the **Outline Business Case**. At this early stage, detailed costs, risks, and benefits are often not fully known. Therefore, the Outline Business Case provides a high-level justification, focusing on the business reasoning and options sufficient to justify the investment of time and resources required for the initiation stage itself, rather than the entire project lifecycle.
The Project Brief typically includes:
1. **Project Definition:** Explains what the project needs to achieve (background, objectives, scope, and tolerances).
2. **Outline Business Case:** The initial justification for the project.
3. **Project Product Description:** Defines the quality expectations and acceptance criteria for the final output.
4. **Project Approach:** Describes how the work will be approached (e.g., in-house vs. outsourced, sustainable methods, Agile vs. Linear).
5. **Project Management Team Structure:** Identifies who will manage the project.
Once the Project Board approves the Project Brief, its contents are refined and expanded during the 'Initiating a Project' process to create the Project Initiation Documentation (PID), where the Outline Business Case evolves into the detailed Business Case.
Mastering the Project Brief: PRINCE2 Practitioner v7 Guide
What is the Project Brief? In PRINCE2, the Project Brief is the primary output of the Starting up a Project process. It acts as the bridge between the initial instruction (the Project Mandate) and the detailed planning required for the project. Its main purpose is to provide a full and firm foundation for the initiation of the project, ensuring the organization understands the scope before committing to significant planning efforts.
Why is it Important? The Project Brief is a critical gatekeeping document. It prevents organizations from wasting resources on projects that are not aligned with corporate strategy or are fundamentally flawed. It ensures that the project is Desirable, Viable, and Achievable before the Project Board authorizes the expenditure required for the Initiating a Project process.
Connection to Business Case Practice Within the context of the Business Case practice, the Project Brief is vital because it contains the Outline Business Case. This is a high-level justification for the project. It does not need the granular detail of the full Business Case (found in the PID), but it must be sufficient to justify the effort of the Initiation stage.
How it Works The Project Manager creates the Project Brief by extracting information from the Project Mandate and refining it. Key components include: 1. Project Definition: Explains what the project needs to achieve (objectives, scope, exclusions). 2. Outline Business Case: The initial reason 'why' the project is being done. 3. Project Product Description: Defines the quality expectations and acceptance criteria for the final output. 4. Project Approach: Describes how the work will be done (e.g., in-house vs. outsourced, agile vs. linear).
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Project Brief To succeed in PRINCE2 Practitioner exams regarding this topic:
1. Distinguish Brief vs. PID: Many questions test if you know the difference between the Starting up and Initiating phases. If the scenario describes high-level justifications or the 'Outline' Business Case, the answer relates to the Project Brief. If it describes detailed cost-benefit analysis, it relates to the Project Initiation Documentation (PID).
2. Identify the Decision Gate: Remember that the Project Brief is used by the Project Board to authorize the Initiation Stage only. It does not authorize the delivery of the project itself (that happens after the PID is approved).
3. Check for Tailoring: In the exam scenario, the Project Brief might not be a standalone document. It could be a presentation, an email, or an entry in a project management tool. Focus on the purpose (justification to proceed to planning) rather than the format.
4. Source Information: If a question asks where the data for the Project Brief comes from, the correct answer is usually the Project Mandate or discussions with the Executive.