bharatbhasha.net


Free Articles  >>  Management >>  Page 77  >> 

An Introduction to PRINCE2 Courses For Project Management



What are PRINCE2 Courses?

PRINCE2 stands for Projects in Controlled Environments, version 2. It is a method of project management that was originally created in the late 1980s as a government standard for IT. However, it quickly became widespread both within and outside the IT industry and the second version, released in the mid-1990s, was designed as a more general system. PRINCE2 courses are a popular way to prepare for the accreditation exam, which is now a de-facto standard for both the government and the private sector. Companies that use PRINCE2 include Barclays, British Telecom, GlaxoSmithKline, Tesco and Vodafone.

Format of PRINCE2 Training

PRINCE2 courses provide a structure for project management: ‘a best practice approach to running Projects in a consistent and reference-able framework.’ They aim to establish defined roles for those involved, and to ensure that the different stages and procedures of the project are carefully delineated. PRINCE2 courses focus on eight main processes, divided into 45 different sub-processes. Each phase has key requirements and goals, enabling easy evaluation and efficient distribution of resources. The standard framework means that participants are clear about their own roles, and those of others involved.

Unlike some other project management training methods, PRINCE2 courses concentrate on delivering goals rather than on activities and procedures. The methodology of PRINCE2 is in the public domain, although it is considered normal to learn it through a training course in order to maximise the benefits.

PRINCE2 is fully scalable: because some processes will be unnecessary in many projects, particularly smaller ones, each step contains notes on how much should be applied in different situations. The method can therefore be tailored to the needs of the specific project, rather than being applied rigidly in all cases.

PRINCE2 Courses in Action

PRINCE2 has been described as ‘structured common sense’ – a way of formalising responsibilities, time-scale and outputs, and optimising resources, in the course of a project. There are areas it does not cover, such as budgeting, risk management and people management, and it is therefore better suited as an additional tool for those who already have some project management experience, rather than as a one-stop-shop for beginners.

For example, a broad outline for a software project might be:

1. Start Up (SU): appointing team and creating brief
2. Initiating project (IP): creating project plan
3. Design
4. Development
5. Test
6. Installation
7. Close Project (CP)

PRINCE2 Courses and Accreditation

PRINCE2 courses can help students to gain accreditation by preparing them to pass two exams: Foundation and Practitioner. Those interested may be able to study for the exams themselves, but many prefer to take a course in order to learn directly from an experienced professional trainer. The only requirement is a general knowledge and experience of project management.

The Foundation qualification entails a one-hour exam. The format is 75 multiple-choice questions, with a pass mark of 38 (51%).

The Practitioner qualification entails a three-hour objective-testing exam, consisting of nine 40-mark questions and with a pass mark of 180 (50%). To stay accredited, Practitioners must retake the exam every five years.

Due to the fact that so many organisations use PRINCE2 as standard, the Practitioner qualification may be a necessary job requirement for those who wish to project manage in certain environments. Those involved in a supporting role may find the Foundation qualification useful. Although many people may have been project-managing for years without such a qualification, it can be a very useful way to illustrate competence when changing job.

Finally, organisations that wish to adopt PRINCE2 will need to train a group of individuals and trial a project to see whether it is right for their needs.
About Author Robert Norton :

Project Management' and recommends you visit http://www.afaprojects.com/training_prince2.asp for more information on PRINCE2 courses


Article Source: http://www.bharatbhasha.net
Article Url: http://www.bharatbhasha.net/management.php/110653


Article Added on Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Other Articles by Robert Norton

•PRINCE2 Training Is it Really Necessary For Project Management
Special PRINCE2 training seminar in London, registration details included.’ This was the title of the first email in my mailbox today, with various other promotional emails. My first instinct was to delete the message, or rather mark the source as spam, but just as I was about to accomplish the stated, Jenny interrupted me. Jenny, my colleague was looking over my shoulder and had seen my email. ‘Can you forward that email to me about that PRINCE2 training please? I was just about to Google that...

•Would a P3O Training Course Really Benefit My Business
I was on the train travelling to London, reading the newspaper, when an article caught my eye about the launch of the P3O guidance from the Office of Government Commerce (OGC), and P3O training courses. As somebody who had attended training courses from the OGC, such as PRINCE2, I was immediately intrigued as to what this new course could offer me and my business, so I decided to research around the topic. It wasn’t hard to find information about P3O once I started to look, as the launch had...

•Should I Enrol on a P3O Training Course
P3O training is the latest buzzword, with all professionals keenly looking at the training options. However, in this busy domain, I picture myself standing completely confused with the choices. Is another project management training program really needed, or is it again some kind of marketing influence propagated to entrap naοve professionals like me? We have had PMO earlier and even then the training programs were a big hype, so what is with this newly launched P3O guidance and the associated...

•Why Spend on ITIL Service Management Training
A year ago there was a promotional mail from the Director, a forwarded one, sent by an ITIL service management training company, suggesting us to enrol for the ITIL service management training program. My first instinct was to simply ignore the idea of spending anything on this training. As the department head, I had several aspects to take care of, and I wasn’t in any mood to make any budgetary allocations to ITIL Service Management Training. But the subject of the accompanying letter with...

Publishers / Webmasters
Tell A Friend
Leave A Comment!
Download this article in PDF
Report Article!
Search through all the articles:


194 Users Online !
Related Articles:
Latest Articles:
 
Management >> Top 50 Articles on Management
Category - >
• Advertising • Advice • Affiliate Programs • Automobiles
• Be Your Own Mentor • Careers • Communication • Consumers
• CopyWriting • Crime • Domain Names • DoT com Entrepreneur Corner
• Ebooks • Ecommerce • Education • Email
• Entertainment • Environment • Family • Finance And Business
• Food & Drink • Gardening • Health & Fitness • Hobbies
• Home Business • Home Improvement • Humour • House Holds
• Internet And Computers • Kiddos and Teens • Legal Matters • Mail Order
• Management • Marketing • Marriage • MetaPhysical
• Motivational • MultiMedia • Multi Level Marketing • NewsLetters
• Pets • Psychology • Religion • Parenting
• Politics • Sales • Science • Search Engine Optimization
• Site Promotion • Sports • Technology • Travel
• Web Development • Web Hosting • WeightLoss • Women's Corner
• Writing • Miscellaneous Articles • Real Estate • Arts And Crafts
• Aging


Disclaimer: The information presented and opinions expressed in the articles are those of the authors
and do not necessarily represent the views of bharatbhasha.net and/or its owners.


Copyright © AwareINDIA. All rights reserved || Privacy Policy || Terms Of Use || Author Guidelines || Free Articles
FAQs Link To Us || Submit An Article || Free Downloads|| Contact Us || Site Map  || Advertise with Us ||
Click here for Special webhosting packages for visitors of this website only!
Vastu Shastra

Linux Hosting Provided By AwareIndia