PRINCE2 Foundation (PRINCE2) study guide
PRINCE2 Foundation · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
PRINCE2 Project Management Foundation (Version 7) is an entry-level certification in the PRINCE2 project management method, administered by PeopleCert. PeopleCert describes it as a way to "Learn the principles of a best-practice method, trusted by over 2M professionals worldwide, and build a strong foundation for a career in project management." It suits aspiring and practising project managers, project team members, PMO and assurance staff, and anyone who needs a shared vocabulary for managing projects in a controlled, stage-by-stage way. The PRINCE2 Foundation study guide has 4 sections and about 1,362 words.
01Principles: the non-negotiable foundations of PRINCE2
PRINCE2 has seven principles: continued business justification , learn from experience , defined roles and responsibilities , manage by stages , manage by exception , focus on products , and tailor to the project environment . In the current edition they sit alongside the practices and the People element as one of the method's core elements.
352 words, about 2 min02People: leadership, roles and working together
The People element recognises that projects are delivered by human beings, not by documents. It covers good practice in leading successful teams (the difference between management and leadership, motivating and developing the team, adapting your style to the situation and to the individuals), communication (planning who needs what information, when, and in what form), collaboration and self-management (empowering teams with clear objectives and the authority to act), and the influence of organisational culture on how a project runs.
312 words, about 2 min03Practices: the seven management disciplines
PRINCE2 has seven practices: business case , organizing , plans , quality , risk , issues and progress . Each is described by its purpose, its key concepts, the roles involved, the products it creates and how it can be tailored.
344 words, about 2 min04Processes: the seven-step project lifecycle
The seven processes, in lifecycle order, are: starting up a project (SU) , directing a project (DP) , initiating a project (IP) , controlling a stage (CS) , managing product delivery (MP) , managing a stage boundary (SB) and closing a project (CP) . Each has activities, and each activity has recommended actions and outputs - none of which are mandatory in detail once tailored.
354 words, about 2 min