Understand Project Board responsibilities throughout the project.
Covers the Directing a Project process which enables the Project Board to exercise overall control while delegating day-to-day management. Focuses on understanding the purpose, objectives, and context of authorizing initiation, authorizing the project, authorizing stage or exception plans, giving ad-hoc direction, and authorizing project closure.
5 minutes
5 Questions
The Directing a Project process in PRINCE2 7 is a critical process that runs throughout the entire project lifecycle and is owned by the Project Board. This process enables the Project Board to exercise overall control and make key decisions while delegating day-to-day management to the Project Manager.
The primary purpose of Directing a Project is to enable the Project Board to be accountable for the project's success by making key decisions and exercising overall control. The Project Board members typically have other responsibilities, so this process allows them to manage by exception rather than being involved in every detail.
Key activities within this process include authorizing initiation, authorizing the project itself, authorizing stage or exception plans, giving ad hoc direction when needed, and authorizing project closure. The Project Board reviews progress through highlight reports and exception reports, intervening only when tolerances are forecast to be exceeded.
The process begins when a project mandate triggers the need to authorize initiation. From there, the Project Board decides whether to approve the project based on the Business Case viability. Throughout delivery stages, they authorize each subsequent stage boundary, reviewing performance and plans.
Communication is essential in this process. The Project Board provides guidance to the Project Manager, makes decisions on escalated issues, and ensures stakeholder engagement remains appropriate. They also confirm that project controls are being applied effectively.
At project end, the Project Board authorizes closure, confirming that objectives have been met or that the project should close prematurely if continuation is no longer justified. They approve lessons learned documentation and ensure proper handover arrangements are in place.
This process ensures executive accountability while maintaining efficient governance, allowing senior management to oversee projects alongside their regular organizational duties through structured decision points and exception-based management.The Directing a Project process in PRINCE2 7 is a critical process that runs throughout the entire project lifecycle and is owned by the Project Board. This process enables the Project Board to exercise overall control and make key decisions while delegating day-to-day management to the Project Man…