Prince 2 Training Company Recommendations

[beercohol]

i'm actually working my way through a pmi cbt at the moment and the good thing about it is that it does teach you project management tools and techniques

but i think its an addition to prince2, which is a good framework, but pointless if you don't know how to apply it

Across the pond in the big US of A. PMI is their Project Management Institute, and PMP is their project management professional qualification. Their holy book is the PMBOK (pronounced Pimbock by lunatics and pedants), which stands for the Project Management Body of Knowledge. Actually its a pretty good book.

Over here it's Prince2 (Projects in a controlled environment version 2, although v2 underwent a refresh last year but still called Prince2). They are similar in most ways, but quite different in a couple. Planning, for instance is very different. The UK Prince2 method prescribes a Product-based Planning technique which in my view is superior to the traditional WBS style planning used by PMP. Whereas PMP concentrates a lot harder in evaluating and reporting with its Earned-value analysis and accompanying mathematic formulas.

One other major difference is that in PMP (the Americans), the project is driven by the sponsor (the paying customer). Whether or not the project goes ahead is based on the whim of this person. This is the real world, of course.

In Prince2, the philosophy is loftier as the project is driven by the strength of the business case, not the sponsor. This viewpoint suggests that if the business case is not strong enough, then the project cannot start, even if the sponsor who has the money, wants it to happen. Romantic, but not on this planet so far.

Overall, in my experience, America invented modern business project management. They really understand it. Save for a couple of good ideas in Prince2, my favourite is PMP. Its also a tougher qualification to get as you need to have a degree, and at least 3 (iirc) years provable experience in the field before you are allowed to sit the exam.

[RichardCranium]

in PMP, the project is driven by the sponsor (the paying customer). In Prince2, the philosophy is loftier as the project is driven by the strength of the business case. This viewpoint suggests that if the business case is not strong enough, then the project cannot start, even if the sponsor who has the money, wants it to happen. Romantic, but not on this planet so far.

It does happen. If the culture of the organisation supports PRINCE2, then the business case is king. As a public sector PM I have worked this way a number of times.

In my opinion, the greatest strength of PRINCE2 is the business case because (beside other benefits such as helping avoud scope creep) it allows you to terminate a project that needs to be terminated. The DWP did so quite publicly a couple or 3 years ago: they spent something like £1m on a £17m project, got to a review, saw the business case was not going to work and so they terminated the project. Ker-ching, probably £25m to £40m saved. The trade press tried to slate them for wasting £1m and failed.

Overall, in my experience, America invented modern business project management.

Specifically, NASA.

my favourite is PMP. Its also a tougher qualification to get as you need to have a degree, and at least 3 (iirc) years provable experience in the field before you are allowed to sit the exam.

It is much, much tougher. Anyone with some business experience, a little nous, and the ability to communicate can pass the PRINCE2 Practitioner by attending the 5 day course.

PRINCE2 Practitioner is an entry level project management qualification.

[RichardCranium]

I don't suppose anyone really cares, but...

I have just booked on a 5 day refresher with Knowledge Academy (my PRINCE2 expired in the summer) and got it ½ price as it starts in 2 weeks.

... and I passed (the PRINCE2 Practitioner Re-registration).

[MarillionFan]

I don't suppose anyone really cares, but...

... and I passed (the PRINCE2 Practitioner Re-registration).

But as you also cannot get a contract, surely it's just another paper qualification?

[RichardCranium]

But as you also cannot get a contract, surely it's just another paper qualification?

Thanks for the abuse in "Business/Contracts" over my personal success.

<plonk>

[ascender]

I've said it before, possibly in this thread, but I really rate the PMP qualification. I'd never heard of it until I applied for a contract with a US firm operating out of the UK and it was a pre-requisite for their contractors. As they couldn't find any suitable, they took me on with the understanding that I'd complete it within my first few months there. Really glad I did and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a genuinely useful-in-the-real-world PM qualification.