The minimalist guide to PRINCE2

By Sarah Morgan

Whether you want to lead your own projects or need to work alongside other PRINCE2 qualified – it’s becoming increasingly important in business for both employers and employees.

PRINCE2is the de-facto standard for project management in the UK. According to arras People’s 2013 UK Project Management Benchmark, the PRINCE2 qualification is held by 63% of all Project management professionals - that’s markedly more than the competing PMP (9%) and MSP (23%) accreditations.

With over a million exams taken globally, it’s already recognised as the world’s most popular project management methodology. Unlike its predecessor, PRINCE, the PRINCE2 is designed to be general and useable in all projects from small to large.  

The qualification covers the management, control and organisation of a project. It embodies years of best practice in project management and provides a flexible and adaptable framework to suit different projects. 

But perhaps the most important aspect of PRINCE2 is that it’s so widely recognised and understood. As a result, those experienced in PRINCE2 will find they share a common language, enabling a more streamlined and standardised process when cooperating on projects.

There are two levels of certifications within PRINCE2:

Foundation

The foundation exam measures whether a candidate would be able to act as an informed member of a project management team using the PRINCE2 methodology. Though there are no formal pre-requisites, though you’ll need to show understanding of the principles, terminology of the PRINCE2 methods to pass the exam.

The certification is recommended for:

•           New and experienced project staff
•           Project Managers
•           Team managers
•           Support staff

Practitioner

As the name suggests, the Practitioner exam tests whether a candidate would be able to apply the PRINCE2 methodology to the running and managing of a project. You must be able to exhibit the competence required to apply and tune PRINCE2 to address the needs of a specific project scenario.

This certification is recommended for:

•           Project Managers
•           General Managers
•           Programme Managers
•           Project Management consultants

To become a Registered PRINCE2 Practitioner you’ll have to pass both the ‘Foundation’ and ‘Practitioner’ exams.

What’s in it for me?

PRINCE2 certified professionals earn an average salary of £50,000 in the UK, with that figure rocketing up to £75,000 for senior-level roles. You’ll gain the skills needed to feel confident in the management of your own projects and you’ll gain the know-how to work effectively alongside others using the common PRINCE2 systems and procedures.

It’s also a great certification to have on your resume. PRINCE2 is an international product with hundreds of companies around the world wanting new and existing staff to be certified. Just a cursory glance at online job postings yields a wealth of companies searching for employee’s that can prove they are experienced with PRINCE2.

And my organisation?

The Harvard Business Review found that, after an analysis of 1,471 IT projects, 1 in 6 projects had a cost overrun of 200% and a schedule overrun of nearly 70%.

Adopting PRINCE2 as your organisations standard will improve your ability to deliver projects. With a widely recognised standard, your projects will be more efficient, both in terms of cost savings and smart use of resources. You’ll be able to clearly measure the success of your endeavours within a standardised system which in turn will give you a clear goal to strive towards.

Already have the PRINCE2?

Candidates that have passed both PRINCE2 exams can undertake the PRINCE2 Professional qualification. 

Get PRINCE2 certified in the fastest way possible

If you want to get the PRINCE2 certifications, but don’t have the time to spend every other evening locked away self-studying, there is another option. Complete both the Foundation and Practitioner certifications in just 3-days on the fastest PRINCE2 course in the world.

Get a career boost for yourself and improve your organisations efficiency with a PRINCE2 certification.

About the Author:       
Sarah writes for Firebrand Training on a number of IT related topics. This includes exams, training, certification trends, project management, certification, careers advice and the industry itself. Sarah has 11 years of experience in the IT industry.