The Report Stage End activity is a critical component of the Managing a Stage Boundary process in PRINCE2 7. This activity involves the Project Manager preparing and submitting an End Stage Report to the Project Board, providing a comprehensive assessment of how the stage performed against its plan…The Report Stage End activity is a critical component of the Managing a Stage Boundary process in PRINCE2 7. This activity involves the Project Manager preparing and submitting an End Stage Report to the Project Board, providing a comprehensive assessment of how the stage performed against its planned objectives.
The End Stage Report serves multiple purposes. It documents the actual achievements compared to what was planned in the Stage Plan, highlighting any variances in time, cost, scope, quality, benefits, and risk. This retrospective analysis enables the Project Board to make informed decisions about authorizing the next stage.
Key elements included in the Report Stage End activity encompass a review of products completed during the stage, an assessment of the current Business Case viability, updates on risk exposure, lessons learned throughout the stage, and an evaluation of team performance. The report also addresses any issues that remain open and require attention moving forward.
The Project Manager must gather information from various sources including the Quality Register, Issue Register, Risk Register, and actual costs and timescales recorded during stage execution. This comprehensive data collection ensures the report accurately reflects the stage's true performance.
The End Stage Report provides transparency to the Project Board, allowing them to understand what has been accomplished and what challenges were encountered. This information is essential for the Board when deciding whether to authorize continuation into the next stage, request changes, or potentially stop the project altogether.
Additionally, the report contributes to organizational learning by capturing experiences that can benefit future projects. The lessons documented become valuable assets for continuous improvement within the organization's project management practices.
The activity demonstrates PRINCE2's emphasis on management by stages and decision-making based on accurate, timely information rather than assumptions or incomplete data.
Report Stage End - PRINCE2 Practitioner Guide
What is Report Stage End?
Report Stage End is an activity within the Managing a Stage Boundary process in PRINCE2. It involves the Project Manager compiling and presenting a comprehensive summary of what has been achieved during the current stage, comparing actual performance against planned targets, and providing the information needed for the Project Board to make decisions about the project's future.
Why is Report Stage End Important?
Report Stage End serves several critical purposes:
1. Accountability: It ensures the Project Manager formally accounts for the stage's performance to the Project Board.
2. Decision Support: It provides the Project Board with accurate, complete information to authorize the next stage or take corrective action.
3. Learning: It captures lessons learned during the stage for future benefit.
4. Transparency: It maintains clear visibility of project status, issues, and risks for stakeholders.
5. Control: It reinforces stage-gate control, ensuring each stage is properly closed before the next begins.
How Report Stage End Works
The Report Stage End activity involves the Project Manager:
1. Updating the Project Plan - Incorporating actual progress from the completed stage and forecasting future performance.
2. Creating the End Stage Report - This key document includes: - Summary of stage achievements against the Stage Plan - Review of products completed and quality activities performed - Summary of issues and risks - Lessons learned during the stage - Any deviation from the approved plans
3. Updating the Business Case - Reflecting current costs, timescales, and benefits realization forecasts.
4. Reviewing and updating registers - Including Risk Register, Issue Register, and Quality Register.
5. Preparing the Lessons Report - Documenting what went well and what could be improved.
Key Inputs and Outputs
Inputs: - Completed Work Packages - Stage Plan (current stage) - Project Plan - Registers (Risk, Issue, Quality) - Configuration Item Records
Outputs: - End Stage Report - Updated Project Plan - Updated Business Case - Lessons Report - Updated registers
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Report Stage End
1. Focus on the End Stage Report: This is the primary output. Know its contents thoroughly - stage performance, product delivery status, issues, risks, and lessons.
2. Remember the Purpose: Questions often test whether you understand that Report Stage End provides information for the Project Board's stage authorization decision.
3. Distinguish from Other Reports: Do not confuse the End Stage Report with Highlight Reports (regular progress updates) or the End Project Report (final project closure).
4. Know Who Does What: The Project Manager creates the End Stage Report. The Project Board receives and reviews it during the Authorizing a Stage or Exception Plan process.
5. Link to Business Case: Questions may ask about updating the Business Case. Remember this happens during Report Stage End to ensure continued viability.
6. Consider Context in Scenario Questions: When presented with a scenario, identify what stage-related information needs reporting and why it matters to the Project Board.
7. Lessons Learned Emphasis: PRINCE2 emphasizes learning. Expect questions about when and how lessons are captured - Report Stage End is a key point for this.
8. Timing Matters: This activity occurs at the end of each management stage, not at the end of technical phases or arbitrary time periods.
9. Watch for Exception Situations: If an exception has occurred, understand how Report Stage End relates to producing an Exception Plan.
10. Apply Tailoring Thinking: Consider how Report Stage End might be scaled for different project environments - simpler reports for smaller projects, more detailed for complex ones.