Archive for the ‘prince2’ Category
Today I’ve been answering some questions from a student about Lessons Learned. At the end of the questions he asked me if I had a nice Lessons Learned template. I did not have anything available at the moment and had a quick look on the internet. There I found this nice and clean template.
Download the Lessons Learned Template by clicking the next link:
This blog provides a free on-line Prince2 Health Check. Perform it now at: http://healthcheck-online.com
MgmtPlaza (iplazza) has created a new series of PDF files about Prince2:2009. The series are filed under the obvious name: What is new in PRINCE2:2009?
Content Part II: What is New in PRINCE2:2009?
- Processes Changes, Process Model Overview
- Themes: Introduction to Changes, Themes: What is new for each theme?
- Management Products
- Tailoring (Tailoring & Embedding)
- Manual: Directing Successful Projects changes
- Manual: Managing Successful Projects changes
Link to the PDF-file: New 2009 Part II.pdf
Link to the SWF-file: New 2009 Part-II.swf
MgmtPlaza (iplazza) has created a new series of PDF files about Prince2:2009. The series are filed under the obvious name: What is new in PRINCE2:2009?
Content Part I: What is New in PRINCE2:2009?
- Introduction to PRINCE2:2009,
- Overview of changes & Changes from a Project Manager Point of View
- Lessons Learned, Principles and Activities
Link to the PDF-file: New 2009 part-I.pdf
Link to the SWF-file: New 2009-Part-I.swf
The area of benefits realisation is frequently glossed over in favour of other areas of project management. During project initiation, the structure is put in place, the budget is approved and often vague benefits are documented in the business case. Once the money is spent there are little effective mechanisms in place to track how the project has impacted the organisation and so it is difficult to show how the business will release the value of its investment over time.
Managing benefits from OGC
The Office of Government and Commerce (OGC) has written an excellent document on this subject last year, outlining the background of benefit management and providing an example framework:
- role in the business case,
- benefits realisation strategy & plan,
- benefits management action plan,
- programme roles & responsibilities.
This also includes examples from Inland Revenue & CJIT (with Capgemini) and a sample Benefits Profile template: See www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/ManagingBenefitsV101.pdf
Change Program Benefits Management from DVLA
This is also an excellent example on the website from DVLA:
www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/CP0019_DVLA_Change_Program-Benefits_Management.pdf
The OGC has incorporated the benefits framework into their Prince 2 2009 and Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) products. There is a lot more emphasis on benefits in the new Prince 2 2009 course; in particular around how these need to be tracked and realised post project and how this works in a programme environment.
For current literature on the subject, Steven Jenner has produced some fine work in his book “Realising benefits from ICT – a fools errand” and he is the former Director of Criminal Justice IT programme in the UK. Link:
http://academic-publishing.org/Stephen_Jenner.htm
Benefits management is particularly important in difficult times where project funding is limited and prioritisation by business benefits will need to take precedence.
Amands Symonds
Amanda has previously worked as a benefits management course facilitator for Sigma UK, in Surrey. She holds ITIL, Prince 2 and MSP certifications and is currently working as a consulting project manager for MetaPM in Melbourne, Australia (www.metapm.com.au).
From Parity Training I have received the following message:
Evolve with PRINCE2®: 2009
Do you want to find out more about how the PRINCE2®: 2009 refresh will affect you and your business?
If so, don’t miss one of our FREE PRINCE2®: 2009 seminars taking place on Thursday, 23rd July 2009 at our London Moorgate Training Centre.
We will be running seminars for Learning & Development Buyers and Practitioners: Learning & Development Buyers
We will be providing information on:
- What’s new in PRINCE2®: 2009
- Why Parity Training? How we can help your organisation and individuals prepare for PRINCE2®: 2009
- The different courses, pathways and qualifications available for PRINCE2®: 2009
The seminar will run from 9.00am – 12.00pm
Contact me direct to book your place.
Practitioner seminars will be running in the afternoon and evening on the same date.
Afternoon Session: 1.30pm – 4.30pm
Evening Session: 5.00pm – 7.45pmContact me direct to book your place.
** All delegates will receive our ‘Introduction to PRINCE2®: 2009’ Podcast **
We will send you full details once you have booked your place.
If you can’t make one of these events, we will be running further PRINCE2®: 2009 seminars around the country later in the year. Please contact me direct to register your interest.
For more information on PRINCE2®: 2009 including our new range of courses, visit www.paritytraining.com/prince2
Kind regards,
Jamie Brown
Account ManagerParity Training
DL 0121 233 6036
E: j.brown@parity.net
In one of the groups of LinkedIn I am following a discussion about certification. The question asked by Paul is:
“If certifications such as PMI’s PMP or OGC/APM’s PRINCE2 are REQUIRED as a precondition to getting a job interview, isn’t this a defacto license? And does this represent a restraint of free trade? If yes, what can or should be done about it? If no, why do you think this is a good thing? “
The question can be divided in several parts on which you can agree or disagree. Lets have a look:
- When asked for Prince2 certified project managers it does not always mean that it is REQUIRED. Applying for the job you can stress the experience you have and let the company decide if it meets the requirements. It can be that you’re a specialist on just the topic the need.
- If Prince2 is REQUIRED but you don’t have the certificate, it can also be part of the negotiation. If you have the drive and the right elevator pitch, it can make the difference.
- The restraint of free trade part is not applicable. Perhaps for this one company, but not for the market as a whole.
- Requiring certification can mean two things: the company has no clue what it is asking and just sticks to the defacto standard and hopes that they so meet their requirements or the company knows what it is talking about and requires the Prince2 certificate so everybody speaks the same language.
Overlooking the question and the answer I must say that I normally use the job description as a ’soll’ situation. The ideal situation. It is up to the applicant or account manager to understand what I’m looking for and to convince me.
The Prince2 certificate is then nice to have, but the right skills and experience is more a necessity then the certification. What do you think?
On the various Prince2 websites I’m following the evolution of Prince2. Everybody knows that the current version of Prince2 has some faults and could be improved at a lot of points. It is also know that Prince2 lacks the attentions of soft skills for the project manager. Another problem is that the current Prince2 manual will be changed. In the future there will be two manuals: one for the project board and one for the project manager!
If you want to have a brief overview form the changes that are comming up I can recommend the presentation from Frank Turley of iplazza.eu. Go to his site and check the article posted as “PRINCE2 2009 Course & Exam FAQ “. Download the executable and see and hear what Frank can tell you about the changes that are coming up!
The Prince2 changes will be launched at the 16th of june this year! Be prepared.
So you think you are prepared for the Prince2 Practitioner Exam? Well why don’t you try and test your knowledge with this HealthCheck-Online.com Quizz. The questions are of Practitioner Level but do not represent in any way the real Practitioner Exam. This one is for free and is just to test you.
This edition of the HCO quizz is about Organisation. Try it. (If you don’t see the questions just click on more….) Read the rest of this entry »
So you think you are prepared for the Prince2 Practitioner Exam? Well why don’t you try and test your knowledge with this HealthCheck-Online.com Quizz. The questions are of Practitioner Level but do not represent in any way the real Practitioner Exam. This one is for free and is just to test you.
This edition of the HCO quizz is about plans. Try is. (If you don’t see the questions just click on more….) Read the rest of this entry »
Prepare yourself for the Prince2 foundation exam. This test contains sample Questions with Answers for the Prince2 Foundation Exam.
The Prince2 Foundation Exam consist of 75 multiple choice question with one correct answer. A candidate is expected to score 36 correct questions. The duration of the exam is one hour (60 min).
Here at the Prince2 Weblog you can take your time. At the end of the test you’ll see your score and the questions and answered, together with a short explanation. Good luck with this Free Online Practise Exam.
The Sample Exam has not been finished yet. It contains > 40 questions right now. Just give it a try. I’ll add the additional questions soon. (Don’t see the Foundation test? Click more to continue….) Read the rest of this entry »
