What is PRINCE2? A Beginner’s Guide for Australians

What is PRINCE2? A Beginner’s Guide for Australians

PRINCE2 certification Australia — if you are researching project management qualifications, this is where most professionals start. PRINCE2 stands for Projects in Controlled Environments and ranks as the world’s most widely used project management method. Organisations across government, IT, construction and finance in over 150 countries adopt it. In Australia, many government departments and large organisations use PRINCE2 as their de-facto project management standard.

What does PRINCE2 stand for?

Developers in the UK created PRINCE2 and have continuously updated it since the 1990s. The most recent version — PRINCE2 Version 7 — launched in 2023. It introduced a stronger focus on people, sustainability and digital environments. Therefore, it is more relevant than ever for modern project professionals.

How does PRINCE2 work?

PRINCE2 builds around three core components:

  • 7 Principles — the non-negotiable rules every PRINCE2 project must follow
  • 7 Processes — the steps that drive a project from start to finish
  • 7 Practices — the disciplines that keep key areas managed throughout the project

Together these give project managers a clear, structured framework they can apply to any project — large or small, simple or complex. Furthermore, the method adapts to suit the size and environment of each project.

Who uses PRINCE2 in Australia?

Australian Public Service departments, state governments, defence, IT firms, construction companies and financial services organisations all use PRINCE2 actively. Moreover, many Australian employers list PRINCE2 as a requirement when hiring project managers. As a result, holding this certification gives you a genuine competitive advantage in the job market.

What are the PRINCE2 certification levels?

There are three main levels:

  • PRINCE2 Foundation — proves you understand the method
  • PRINCE2 Practitioner — proves you can apply and tailor it in real projects
  • PRINCE2 Agile — combines PRINCE2 governance with agile delivery methods

How do I get PRINCE2 certified in Australia?

You can study entirely online and sit the exam from home through PeopleCert’s online proctored system. Foundation has no prerequisites — anyone can sit it. Practitioner requires Foundation first. In addition, Ellumina offers PRINCE2 Foundation, PRINCE2 Practitioner, and PRINCE2 Introduction: Version 7 — all fully online and self-paced.

Is PRINCE2 worth it in Australia?

Yes. PRINCE2 certified professionals consistently earn more than non-certified project managers. Specifically, the certification holds value whether you work in Australia or abroad. Therefore, for anyone serious about a project management career, PRINCE2 Foundation is the logical first step.

Can you get PRINCE2® certification without classroom training?  

PRINCE2 course delivery modes

There are a number of ways one can achieve PRINCE2 certification.  Common ways are:

  • classroom training followed by online examinations
  • virtual training followed by online examinations
  • eLearning (self-paced) followed by online examinations
  • Self-learning using eBook followed by online examinations

ELLUMINA provides certification using all of the above methods. You can also contact us on course-info@ellumina.com.au for more information on any of the above delivery methods.

Classroom (and virtual) training

Classroom is the traditional training delivery methods that we are all used to.  This delivery method is led by an instructor and all teaching and learning occurs in face-to-face sessions.  Virtual modes is also led by an instructor, but in an online environment and not in a physical classroom.  This virtual more has been more prevalent since COVID-19 and is popular amongst individuals when transport or getting to a training centre is an issue. Generally speaking classroom sessions will be more expensive than other training modes due to increased cost of hiring a room, transport, meals, and availability of trainers and learners at specified dates. Often, trainers can also come out to your workplace and complete this sessions with course customised to your work environment and minimise the cost to the organisation.

It should also be noted that the classroom is just the start of your learning journey.  Once complete you should use the eBook and the practice exams to strengthen your knowledge and skills in PRINCE2®.

eLearning training

PRINCE2® can delivered at a time and place of your choosing by utilising the interactive modules delivered by the eLearning.  We have adopted the official eLearning developed by PeopleCert. The design of the PeopleCert PRINCE2 eLearning is to empower you with a dynamic, flexible, personalised, and engaging approach.  Online course materials and training modules include multimedia elements, interactive quizzes, and engaging activities. All available on desktop and mobile. This will enable you to sharpen your skills and reach your educational objectives at a time and place best suited for you. 

With eLearning you can say goodbye to rigid timelines and take control of your own learning. You can choose your unique learning path, exploring resources independently and navigating the material at your own speed.

REAL-TIME FEEDBACK AND PROGRESS TRACKING: STAY ON TOP OF YOUR LEARNING JOURNEY

Beyond quizzes and other knowledge check activities, our Learning Process checklists help you test your understanding

and identify areas for improvement.

Please click on link below for additional information on “how to Advance Your Career in Project Management with PRINCE2(R) 7 Official eLearning”

Self-learning using eBook or Examination only mode

This is similar to what traditionally has been known as distance education mode.  With this delivery approach, learners will learn at their own pace using materials provided to them.  For our PRINCE2 course, ELLUMINA will provide the official eBook, Managing successful project with PRINCE2 

What is the best method?

The preferred training method will depend on the individual learning style, amount of time available, cost of training and also time away from office.

We have seen many people who have completed the training by using the official eBook, “Managing Successful projects …”.  We have also seen many who prefer the face-to-face classroom training. One key factor in many choosing the self-learning using the eBook is that it allows them to carry out their normal days work, and can learn using the eBook when they have some spare time.  

Just the classroom training on its own will help, but is no guarantee in passing the certification examination.  Following the classroom training you should familiarise your-self with the topics and contents of the eBook, practising using the two sample papers will prepare you very well for the certification examination. Our recommendation is to complete the examinations a number of times so that you are very familiar with the contents to be covered in the exams.

One advantage which cannot be underestimated is that in the classroom sessions, you are likely to meet others like you and exchange or bounce ideas.  However, if time-away from office is an issue, then the eLearning or the exam only modes are perfect solutions for you.

 

Does this apply to PRINCE2® 7 Foundation and PRINCE2® 7 Practitioner certifications?

The PRINCE2® …

Not sure which course to take on? Please contact us for more information on the different courses as well as personalised recommendations for which course is right for you, your career goals, and general line of work. 

PRINCE2® 7 Project Management and project performance aspects

PRINCE2®

PRINCE2® defines project as “a temporary organisation that is created for the purpose of delivering one or more business products according to an agreed business case”.

PRINCE2® is a structured project management methodology that is flexible, adaptable, and tailorable. Hence, PRINCE2® can be used for organisations of all types (regardless of its size, complexity or industry) looking to use a structured way of managing projects.  

Project management and performance aspects

In order to determine the success of a project, a set of performance target or aspects are defined in PRINCE2® as:

  • benefits – this can be answered by why are we doing this and the project management team must have a clear understanding of the business purpose from the project and its investment justification.
  • costs – throughout the project lifecycle, a number of factors will affect the cost budget.  This aspect ensures for the project to be affordable and within the parameters set by the organisation.
  • time – like cost, project will be associated with start and end dates, as well as key dates for various milestones to be delivered for business. This aspect of project performance addresses the time criteria.
  • quality – the quality criteria ensure the project delivers and meets the specified requirement of the business. Hence, addressing the must be fit for purpose aspect of the business.
  • scope – the scope aspect is defined and agreed at the start of the project to determine what the project will deliver. A list of inclusions, exclusions and assumptions will guide through meeting the scope criteria for a project.
  • sustainability – all projects have an impact on their environment, and project management teams need to know the sustainability performance targets set by the business for the project work and for the products required of the project.
  • risk – all projects involve risk. This aspect addresses the risk that the business is willing to take. By reviewing the risk items with the business, the project management and/or the business can also take actions to minimise risk or to increase the potential opportunities (from a risk with positive benefits) for the business.

If you want to learn more on this from PRINCE2®, you can enrol in the PRINCE2® 7 Foundation course from ELLUMINA.  The course will also include the online certification exam from PeopleCert. You can do the course at any time and from your home or office.

 

Learn the fundamentals of Project Performance with ELLUMINA by enrolling in the PRINCE2® course.

PRINCE2®7 new version and upgrades from previous versions

History of PRINCE2®

PRINCE2® (Projects In Controlled Environments) is the internationally accepted project management methodology adopted by many organisations world-wide for managing projects that is flexible, adaptable, and tailorable. It is commonly used as a de-facto project management methodology in many government organisations.

History

PRINCE2® is an international standard used throughout the world.  The project management method originated from the United Kingdom (UK) government developed by Simpact Systems Ltd in 1975 and initially known as PROMPT II (Project Resource Organization Management and Planning Techniques). Since then it has been revised and updated a number of times to what it is today as the most internationally practised project management methodology.

Brief history can be seen from below figure.

An overview of PRINCE2® 7

Okay, so what’s PRINCE2®?

PRINCE2® stands for Projects In Controlled Environments. It does not fall under the Agile umbrella, but Agile projects can be done with PRINCE2. Launched in 1996, PRINCE2® is based on seven principles and is now the most widely used project management methodology in the world. So much so, that PRINCE2® qualifications are a standard requirement (or desire) of project management jobs for many companies. 

PRINCE2® is a customer-focused project management system. With a relational set of principles, practices, processes and people management. PRINCE2® helps management think critically about and justify a project. It helps them ask and understand whether they should take on a particular project, and weigh up project performance of benefits, scope, costs, time, quality, risks and sustainability. The methodology also focuses on effective, efficient project and people management. Success on a PRINCE2® project is measured by how well it enables the project’s benefits to be realised by the customer. 

Integrated elements of PRINCE2® 7

PRINCE2® is comprised of the below five integrated elements:

  • Seven Principles
  • Seven Practices
  • Seven Processes
  • Project Context; and 
  • People is the core element of the new PRINCE2® 7

Expansion of the integrated elements will be published in separate posts.
A quick highlights of PRINCE2® 7
What’s new?
 
The integration of People 
PRINCE2® acknowledges the importance of people to successful delivery of projects.
Project Performance
Sustainability has been added to previously 6 aspects of project performance to reflect organisational needs.
Digital and data
Has been added to meet needs of project managers the addition of digital and data management approach.
Digital and data
Has been added to meet needs of project managers the addition of digital and data management approach.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

What are the prerequisites for PRINCE2 V7?

Foundation Level – none, anyone with interest in project management can complete.

Practitioner Level 

  • PRINCE2® 6th Edition (Foundation or Practitioner)*
  • PRINCE2® 7 Foundation
  • Project Management Qualification (PMQ)
  • Project Professional Qualification (PPQ)
  • Project Management Professional (PMP)®
  • Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
  • IPMA Level A® (Certified Projects Director)
  • IPMA Level B® (Certified Senior Project Manager)
  • IPMA Level C® (Certified Project Manager)
  • IPMA Level D® (Certified Project Management Associate)
*Please note due to the extent of the changes between versions, PRINCE2® 5th Edition and all other previous versions will not be accepted as pre-requisites for PRINCE2® 7 Practitioner.
 
Can candidate take PRINCE2® 7 Practitioner exam having done PRINCE2® 6th Foundation exam?

Yes, but recommend starting with PRINCE2® Foundation due to the changes in terminology and with the additional materials in PRINCE2® 7.

What is the target audience for the new edition of PRINCE2® 7?
Foundation Level

Everyone

Practitioner Level
  • Project Managers and aspiring Project Managers
  • Individuals involved with design, development and delivery of projects
  • Individuals working in a program or Project Managment Office (PMO)

As an experienced training provider, ELLUMINA provides online and classroom courses for PRINCE2®, PRINCE2® Agile and Scrum Master. Explore our PRINCE2® courses here, PRINCE2® Agile and Scrum Master here.

Not sure which course to take? Please contact us for more information on the different courses as well as personalised recommendations for which course is right for you, your career goals, and general line of work. 

What is the Difference Between PRINCE2® and Agile?  

What is the Difference Between PRINCE2 and Agile?

There are a plethora of different project management approaches and options out there. Many continue to evolve, and new ones are being introduced all the time. PRINCE2 and Agile are two of the terms you’ve probably come across — but what do these actually mean? And what’s the difference between PRINCE2 and Agile? 

An overview.

What’s Agile?

‘Agile’ is actually an umbrella term that encompasses numerous product delivery methods, frameworks and techniques used by development teams. Agile approaches emerged from the software industry in the 1990s in an effort to combat common development hurdles: late delivery, over budget, low quality, and so on. Although it was founded in the software space, today Agile practices are followed by many companies outside this industry.

There are many different Agile approaches. The most famous is Scrum, with Kanban, Extreme Programming, and Lean also being popular. Although they differ slightly and have their own advantages and disadvantages, all Agile frameworks are founded on the 12 Agile Principles (see the Agile Manifesto for more information).

Okay, so what’s PRINCE2?

PRINCE2 stands for Projects In Controlled Environments and does not fall under the Agile umbrella. Launched in 1996, PRINCE2 is based on seven principles (listed below) and is now the most widely used project management methodology in the world. So much so, that PRINCE2 qualifications are a standard requirement (or desire) of project management jobs for many companies. 

PRINCE2 is a customer-focused project management system. With a relational set of principles, practices, processes, people management PRINCE2 helps management think critically about and justify a project. It helps them ask and understand whether they should take on a particular project, and weigh up project performance of benefits, scope, costs, time, quality, risks and sustainability. The methodology also focuses on effective, efficient project and people management. Success on a PRINCE2 project is measured by how well it enables the project’s benefits to be realised by the customer. 

The seven principles in PRINCE2 are:

  • ensure continued business justification
  • learn from experience
  • define roles, responsibilities, and relationships
  • manage by stages
  • manage by exception
  • focus on products
  • tailor to suit the project.

Key focus points.

Agile focus points.

Unlike PRINCE 2, Agile approaches are not concerned with big-picture questions surrounding project viability or its great impact. Instead, they hone three major areas: delivery of products, collaboration and organisation. 

There’s an enormous emphasis on ensuring customer value by delivering products incrementally and highly efficiently. For example, delivering products that do what the user needs because the customer has been heavily involved in defining and prioritising requirements. Throughout the project, customers are regularly consulted for feedback and testing. The delivery team will ask questions like, “what needs to be done today?”, “What steps do I need to have completed by the end of this week?”. 

Agile’s most well-known point of difference is perhaps the strong focus on collaboration. People and teams must work together internally, and with the customer (or end-user). Self-organisation is also one of the Agile principles. Rather than using tools and techniques mandated by a project manager, Agile teams have flexibility in determining what they use. This provides more freedom and enables the team to utilise the methods they know work well for them. 

PRINCE2 focus points.

Everything in PRINCE2 revolves around its seven principles. These describe the roles and responsibilities of all members of the project management team (from the project board to the team manager). Key project management practices and factors include organisation, change, risk, planning, quality, and progress. 

PRINCE2 also includes a full project management lifecycle. This cycle clearly outlines and defines which role is responsible for key decisions at different times during a project. This clear distinction means responsibilities can easily be passed between teams and individuals, minimising confusion around who is doing what, and when (which often happens during complex projects with many moving parts).  

However, PRINCE2 does not try to govern how teams should work — only guidance on what they should work on and when, with accountability. The framework recognises that there are many different kinds of projects, produced by teams of people with many different personal strengths and specialist skills. PRINCE2 provides flexibility in enabling teams to work in the ways they feel are most effective and efficient. 

A quick summary.

Agile
PRINCE2
Main driver
Utilises a process-based framework through incremental interactions which range from 1 – 4 weeks. This helps ensure development processes are aligned with the customer’s needs at all times.Guides project development by clearly identifying and assigning roles and tasks to different teams and/or team members are different times in the project.
Emphasis
Strong connection to the customer with their involvement and feedback throughout the project.Strong focus ensuring management and individuals are certain of their tasks and responsibilities, with linear steps.
Approach
Adaptive approach that is often changing and evolving as the project progress.Predictive approach that leaves room for flexibility where needed.

Agile and PRINCE2 online courses at ELLUMINA

As an experienced training provider, ELLUMINA provides online courses for PRINCE2 and Agile methodologies, such as Scrum. Explore our PRINCE2 course here, Scrum Master here, or discover the best of both worlds with PRINCE2 Agile.

Not sure which course to take on? Please contact us for more information on the different courses as well as personalised recommendations for which course is right for you, your career goals, and general line of work. 

What are the Fundamentals of Project Management?

What are the Fundamentals of Project Management?

If you’re new to the field of project management, knowing the fundamentals of project management will give you a good footing. By understanding the basic components of management dos and don’ts, you’re well-positioned to build on this foundational expertise with real-life experience or further learning opportunities.  

ELLUMINA’s Fundamentals of Project Management course provides you with the skills required to be a project manager. This course will outline what is meant by the term “project management”, the benefits and risks of projects, and some of the main reasons projects fail, and more.  

Project Management Fundamentals

Laying the foundations for effective project management involves understanding some key concepts. These include: 

  1. Defining what a project is. For example, what’s the difference between a project and a task? How can we define the parameters of a project? 
  2. Defining what is meant by “project management”. This includes pinpointing the role and responsibilities of a project manager, the teams they may oversee, and who they might report to.  
  3. Determining project benefits and risks. As a project manager, you’ll have a range of responsibilities, one of which will be determining what a project’s benefits are. Identifying possible risks early — and knowing how to navigate them — is also a key role. 
  4. Pinpointing why projects might fail. Building on risk identification, we can also understand some of the main reasons projects fail. Project failure might come in the form of not meeting deadlines, going over budget, staff not understanding their duties, communication breakdowns, and more.  
  5. Effectively prioritising. In any project, there are many moving parts — prioritise the wrong component, and your project could take a big hit. It’s important to know what to prioritise, when to adjust those priorities, and how to balance competing priorities. 
  6. Understanding the project lifecycle. Every project has what’s called a “project lifecycle”, which depicts the different phases of a project from start to finish. The specifics will look slightly different depending on the project management methodology you adopt. As an example, five stages might be initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure. 
  7. Being aware of project tools and resources. You’ll have many different resources, tools and software available to support your role and project. Knowing which ones will be most effective for which project (and how to use them) will go a long way in ensuring smooth project planning, management, and overall success. 
  8. Exploring ongoing learning opportunities. In a constantly evolving space, it’s crucial to stay on top of project management advancements and methodologies. Too many promising project managers fall behind simply because they aren’t up-to-date with shifting project management frameworks. In our fundamentals course, we’ll clearly outline project management certifications and pathways you can take to ensure ongoing career success.  

Learn the Fundamentals of Project Management with ELLUMINA.

ELLUMINA’s well-regarded Fundamentals of Project Management course has been reduced to a special price of only $99 (inc GST, from $550 inc GST). Delivered online, this course can be completed at your convenience. Get started here, or contact us for more information.