It’s been two years coming, but the new version of PRINCE2 is now here! PRINCE2:2009 was launched in London on Tuesday at an event simultaneously webcast live. Around the world user groups gathered to see the speakers summarise the main changes to the content, publications and exams – including the Slovakian group who were holding their own launch event and watching the event in London unfold over the internet.
PRINCE2 is used in countries all over the world and Practitioners can be found on all 7 continents (even Antarctica!). It has taken a significant effort to update the methodology. Thirteen organisations were involved in piloting the new approaches, which provided the authoring team with the ability to field test their recommendations and new text. For the last couple of years Andy Murray’s name has been synonymous with the Refresh, and as lead author he managed a team of 5 to deliver the new version.
The new version is different in two major ways: the handbook has been split into two and the content has been overhauled.
Instead of the one (iconic) red handbook there are now two guides, tailored to be role specific. Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 is written for project managers, team managers and those involved with project support. It includes all the information you would expect on running a project. Directing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 is aimed at senior managers who have a role on the project board. It covers the project environment, what is expected of the senior stakeholders and how to tailor PRINCE2 to suit your organisation.
Tailoring PRINCE2 for your company is one of the areas that is given more focus. Apparently the team has received feedback over the years highlighting the fact that it is difficult to know exactly how to scale the methodology for different types of project. The new version has specific guidance on that, which should make it easier for new organisations to adopt PRINCE2.
There are other content changes too. The new version is less prescriptive, with fewer management products. There is more emphasis on seeking lessons learned and ensuring these are applied successfully. Quality plays a bigger part, as does the business case and benefits management. There is also more guidance on the use of tolerances, managing issues and changes. Finally, the methodology has been brought into line with other OGC offerings to ensure consistent terminology is used. This also makes it easier for organisations who are using other OGC standards like MSP or MoR, as the approaches are now linked in a more cohesive way.
The exams have not changed as much as you would expect, given the content update. The message from Emma Jones, Chief Examiner, was ‘evolution, not revolution’. The syllabus has been rewritten, but from a candidate’s perspective the exam experience should remain almost the same.
The Foundation paper is still multiple choice. For those candidates who go on to do the full Practitioner certification, the exam is shorter by half an hour, and the pass mark has gone up a little bit. Practitioner certification still lasts for five years, after which point candidates have to take a further exam. Re-certification is still a paper of one hour, and again the pass mark has gone up a little bit.
The new books are available now, but training companies have six months (effectively to the end of 2009) to update their course materials to ensure they are teaching the up-to-date syllabus. The new exams are available from 6 July 2009. Advice from Andy Murray on Twitter recently was that if you are looking to sit the Foundation or Practitioner exams for the first time, you can take either the old or new style, whichever your training provider has available. However, if you are re-certifying, you may be better off taking the exam with the new syllabus.