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Managing Smaller Projects
The major drawback with PRINCE2© over the years has been its application to small projects. The PRINCE2 2009 literature includes a section on tailoring for the PRINCE2 Environment which is a substantial step forward but still doesn’t address all the issues.
The problem is that project managers and team members are always trained on the full PRINCE2 method but in most cases the projects they then work on do not justify the full weight of the method (and its documentation) being applied.
This leaves the new project manager with a problem....the first thing they are faced with doing on a new project is to tailor or scale the method to match their particular project environment. As these project managers lack experience in PRINCE2 it should hardly be a surprise that most of them either cut too much resulting in PINO (PRINCE2 In Name Only) or apply too much and get DBP (Death By PRINCE2).
The PRINCE2 2009 version is definitely better in this regard providing some useful recommendations about how particular PRINCE2 environments can be addressed but it is still left to the project manager to propose an approach. Of course with every PM in the organisation doing their own tailoring of the methodology very soon the organisation are not all running PRINCE2 but are running a wide range of tailored PRINCE2 methods.
This isn’t too much of an issue for each project manager, but for team members working on multiple projects each of which will have been tailored differently this is very confusing.
The same issues occur with other methodologies too which is why at PROJECT in a box we have developed some generic methods based on best practice and our experience to better fit low and mid complexity Projects.
The n Step Family of Generic Methods
Using our extensive project management experience across a wide range of sectors and countries and fifteen years of personalising or creating Project Management methodologies for organisations we have created our own n Step family of methods.
This set of methods fits very well into the place where the traditional methods like PRINCE2, PMBOK and Agile are difficult to operate with. See the video to find out more.
This family are pre scaled to support tasks from below the traditional project limit through to your more complex projects. The methods use consistent processes and documentation terminology to help users move between methods and they are all provided with templates, some of these are the official PRINCE2 templates (which we are the original authors of), some are the official DSDM Atern templates and others we created ourselves based on our extensive experience.
The right hand side of this page introduces you briefly to the four current n Step Generic methods and the video tours will provide a good feel for how these are used in practice.
Making Methods your own
Community Edition users will find their methods are fixed and can only be used in the format they were provided in but our commercial customers can use the method authoring tools provided to personalise the methods, changing the documents, templates, navigation diagrams etc.
As we have done all the hard work for you of assembling a scaled set of methods containing years of best practice learning, many organisations use these are the starting point for their maturing in-
Note: this is permitted within your licence only for use via PROJECT in a box Software, not for use outside in an alternative document repository.
1 Step Project Management Method
Technically the 1 Step method is for the activities which traditionally sit below the project level, perhaps repetitive tasks or the thousands of micro projects which happen in organisations but the cost of applying a formal PM method to them makes them uneconomic to deliver.
Generic
Methods
“We have produced these Generic methods to help with the traditionally knotty problem of smaller less complex projects as most published methods are produced with large complex projects in mind. Both 3 and 5 steps are based on industry best practice and many years experience and they include full sets of templates, hints and guidance materials saving valuable time and improving quality of delivery.”
All PROJECT in a box versions provide the PRINCE2 resource pack and the generic methodologies which are suitable for smaller less complex projects.
Community Edition is free software to use as long as you want. Download here.
PRINCE2 Method Template available as a commercial add on Find out More
Product Focus (click icon for full info)
PRINCE2 Resources
The following links allow you to explore some of the PRINCE2 areas:
Or why not find out more about other project and programme methodologies:
1 Step is great here as it is the very basic work package definition and collection of controls data if you want (task, cost, risk and issue). So if you are working in a Multi user environment the task information can integrate into users resource requirements and other reporting. Provided as standard across all the PROJECT in a box products.
3 Step Project Management Method
For your least complex projects, the 3 Step Project Management method provides definition, control and closure on your projects. Usually organisations have hundreds, even thousands of these projects, often treated a bit laxly or run by people with little formal PM training.
3 Step method will make sure the project is set up quickly and consistently allowing the PM to focus on managing delivery, it includes tools for tasks and plan management, risk, issues and finances....everything you need for your low complexity projects and as it is a PIAB method you can tailor it for your precise needs when the time arises.
4 Step Project Management Method
The 4 Step Project Management method helps you where the structure of the project is uncertain or odd and it literally has flexibility at its core.
The project level is essentially 3 Step with the same helpful starting, delivery control and closing materials but here the delivery is assembled at a work package level to match the needs of the project, four different work package types are provided but you can add to these when ever you want even once the project is in flight:
- Desk study -
documentation exercise - Purchase -
external purchasing exercise - Planned -
stage plan, product description and work package ‘stage’ as provided in a 5 Step project - Evolving -
using an Iteration as provided in the DSDM Atern method template
You choose how you want to mix these together and how many you want and as discussed you can add additional ‘types’ when you need them. This flexibility is real world and reflects the dynamic nature of many projects rather than the rigid nature of many methods and software tools.
5 Step Project Management Method
The 5 Step method has been set up for your mid to high complexity projects, those with deliverables which need dividing and managing either as gated stages or perhaps from different suppliers. Recognisably similar to 3 Step it adds further controls and a clear accountability to those sponsoring or directing the project recognising that change is more likely in the more complex environment.
As with 3 Step the tools and reporting structure are preset to save you time and allow you to focus on delivery.
As with 4 step you can add as many ‘stages’ to this project as you wish. As standard it only comes with the one ‘planned’ stage type but learning from 4 step you can add additional ones as you find them helpful.