What’s New with PRINCE2 7th Edition Masterclass?
INTRODUCTION
PRINCE2 was first launched in 1996, and has had six editions, the last update being in 2017.
Our Masterclass for PRINCE2 7 responds to several changes that have taken place in our world and the discipline of project management since then.
Integration of People
People always have been and are central to successful projects and now they are integrated into the PRINCE2 method.
Sustainability project performance
Sustainability has been added as a seventh aspect of project performance to reflect modern organisational needs.
Digital and data
To meet the evolving needs of project management professionals this includes the addition of a digital and data management approach. Contained within the PID
PRINCE2 7 Masterclass improvements
Rules have been reduced and chapters streamlined while maintaining core elements of PRINCE2 demonstrating the true value of the method to all projects across all sectors.
Fully tailorable enabling agility
Tailoring is addressed throughout the whole method demonstrated using scenarios, allowing project managers to move quickly and easily in response to change or challenge.
Evolving to changes in the PM space
Meeting new needs and requirements for the ever-changing project management profession.
The essence of what is a project has remained the same – it is temporary, it is product-focused, and there should always be an ongoing business justification.
The overall structure of PRINCE2 is clearly recognisable, as the new PRINCE2 7 has principles, practices (what were previously called themes) and a set of processes that make up the lifecycle of a project in the way that the previous version also did.
However, within and alongside those principles, practices and processes there has been a number of changes, additions and deletions.
Diagrams have been updated, and four project scenarios added to illustrate how PRINCE2 can be used in practice for different types of projects.
The Seven PRINCE2 Principles
PRINCE2 remains a principle-centred method and the previous seven principles still apply, albeit with some changes to the way they are described and minor changes to the titles.
The Seven PRINCE2 Themes/Practices
The seven themes from the previous edition are still addressed and are renamed Practices. There are some changes to these chapters to improve the consistency of how they are explained, together with improved cross-referencing to other parts of the method.
PRINCE2 has a tried and tested process model, and this remains.
As before, it consists of the seven processes that support the three layers of management in a PRINCE2 project. The description of each process and its cross-reference to the rest of the method has also been improved.
New material has also been added, in particular:
The Seven Processes
- The introduction of a new chapter to highlight the importance of ‘people’ in successful projects.
- The addition of a seventh variable/performance target – sustainability.
- Information on the importance of managing project data
Masterclass Introduction Module
The two opening modules in the previous edition have been amalgamated into one chapter to give a strong focus to the start of the method and set the scene for a real understanding of project management using PRINCE2.
This first module is focussed on:
- Introduction
- Purpose
- Structure: the five integrated elements of people, principles, practice, processes, and project context
- What is a project/project management
- Project context: introducing how PRINCE2 can be applied and tailored
- Features and benefits of PRINCE2
- The scenarios there is a clear story to lead people into the rest of the method.
The Masterclass Principles Module
The well-established principles of PRINCE2 have been maintained from the previous edition’s set, with some minor, but important, changes to the titles.
The description of each principle has been developed to include examples of each principle being applied.
The principles are described as “the guiding obligations”, to ensure effective application and tailoring of PRINCE2.
The importance of the principles is stressed, so, they have been overhauled to ensure that they are valid in today’s environment.
The principles all express what it means to be leading a project using PRINCE2 and reinforce the most critical areas for project success.
The Masterclass People Module
The new people module is the largest single addition to PRINCE2.
The core message of the chapter is that “people are central to the method”.
Successful projects need people, and the chapter explores three people-focused activities:
- Leading successful changes
- Leading successful teams
- The module explains how people factors permeate the seven PRINCE2 principles, as well as showing how people factors are important in the practices and processes of PRINCE2.
Introduction to Practice Modules - As well as a general introduction to the seven practices, this explains that there is guidance in each practice chapter on how to apply and tailor PRINCE2.
In this way, tailoring is addressed throughout the whole method, rather than in a single module. Each practice module then follows a common format to enable easier referencing of material.
The format is: - Purpose
- Key relationships with principles
- Guidance for effective use
- Techniques (one main PRINCE2 technique for each practice, plus other supporting techniques
- Applying the practice
- Management products to support the practice
- Focus of key roles for the practice
The Business Case Practice Module
Key change here is the introduction of the sustainability management approach to support the new performance target of sustainability.
The Organizing Practice Module
The slight change to the title of this practice reflects the increasing general use of the word ‘organizing’. There are some links with the people chapter, and the introduction of the technique for organizational design and development.
The Plans Practice Module
All the tried and tested plans elements of PRINCE2 are still here – stages, product-based planning, levels of plan – with the planning procedure having a few changes in detail.
The Quality Practice Module
A product register has been included in this chapter, as a way of identifying all the products to be delivered.
The Risk Practice Module
This practice reflects the latest edition of ‘Management of Risk (M_o_R 4)’.
It is consistent with M_o_R 4 (but does not duplicate it) and also with previous editions of PRINCE2.
The Issues Practice Module
A renamed practice, that reflects the use of the word ‘issue’ within PRINCE2 (any relevant event is an issue, which can then be further described as a request for change, an off-specification, and so on).
The Progress Practice Module
The progress practice contains the expected content – management levels, tolerances, types of control, reporting and escalating – and it goes on to explain the exception procedure in more detail than previous editions.
Introduction to Processes Module
The PRINCE2 process model and the ‘PRINCE2 journey’ are explained in this introduction, plus an explanation of the standard format of each of the seven process chapters:
- Purpose
- Objective
- Context
- Activities
- Responsibilities
- Application of the practices within that process
All Process Modules
- All process chapters retain the same names and relationships between them
- There have been some slight changes to the activity names within the processes
- Improved diagrams with better use of colour, and clearer identification of the ‘triggers’ between each process
- Descriptions of the activities and their associated actions are more focused
- PRINCE2 7th Edition Masterclass
- This contains all you need to prepare and pass your PRINCE2 7 Foundation and Practitioner Exams!
