A PRINCE2 project is planned, monitored and controlled on a stage-by-stage basis.
Stages provide senior management with control points throughout the project. At the end of each stage the project's status should be assessed , the business Case and plans reviewed to ensure the project remains viable and a decision made as to whether proceed.
This enables the extent of senior management control over projects to be varied according to priorty, risk and complexity. Shorter stages offer more control, whilst longer stages reduce the burden on senior management.
Planning can only be done to a level of detail that is manageable and foreseeable. A detailed team plan for the short term and an outline plan for the long term is a more effective approach.
PRINCE2 overcomes the problem of not being able to plan for sensible amounts of time by:
✔ Dividing the project into a number of management stages
✔ Having a high level project plan and a detailed stage plan (for the current stage)
✔ Planning, delegating, monitoring and controlling the project on a stage-by-stage basis.
PRINCE2 requires there to be a minimum of two management stages: one initiation stage and one or more further management stages.
