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What does PRINCE2 conjure up for you? Prince Harry? Our Number 2 Prince, after William, guaranteed to hit the headlines regularly as he stretches his wings and learns the ropes of being in the public eye?
Or the artiste formally known as PRINCE…finding yet another persona?
Or do you immediately think “Ah yes – Project Management! – how fascinating!”
I’ve come across some people who think PRINCE2 is the best thing since sliced bread, and swear by its structure and process to manage projects in a very precise and pure way. Others see it as obstructive and convoluted, hindering the normal workings of everyday business.
For those who work in the world of project management it is probably a pre-requisite for success, and at the heart of business. But what about the NHS? Does it have a place?
I think it does – with reservation. It is, after all, just a tool, and one of many in our toolkit. It’s there to help, not hinder, and shouldn’t be seen as something to slavishly follow, becoming an end in itself.
It can provide structure and order and sense in a world that is changing constantly, and help to ensure all the different elements are dealt with in the right order, and should save time, energy and effort – if it is applied appropriately.
So don’t dismiss it out of hand – understand what it can and can’t do – and make it work for you when it is useful.
Meanwhile – I’m working on PRINCESS1 – a methodology for my 3 year old granddaughter to manage her little sister. I think I might have hit on something that all big sisters should have.
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From The People Grower
Anne Axford is associate director for learning and development at Portsmouth PCT.
Readers' comments (2)
David Perton | 12-Nov-2009 1:35 pm
The principles are essential, the themes ensure success the process useful.
The 2009 version is a major step forward in emphasising this hierachy of usefulness.
The skill is to be able to tailor the use of PRINCE2 for your project
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Mili Patel | 25-Nov-2009 11:03 am
In essence having the qualification PRINCE2™ does not make you a project manager. It teaches you a method that a number of organizations use or a variation of, for controlling their projects.
In some cases a Job Specification will mandate that a PRINCE2™ or similar qualification is required. Having the qualification will get you past that hurdle however a good recruiter or hiring manager will be looking for your experience of project management within an environment of PRINCE2™ or other methodology.
Ideally PRINCE2™ courses are recommended to people who may have already been working with an implementation of the method for a while and are looking to formalize their knowledge. By all means go ahead and do the introduction or foundation course but hold off on the practitioner until you have some recognized project management experience.
Simply put, having PRINCE2™ accreditations do not qualify you to perform the role. PRINCE2™, interestingly, has become a popular training course in project management but it is not the best course to take for a novice. PRINCE2™ is just a method of delivering a project and the course does not actually go deep into the capabilities and skills of a project management.
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