Managing versus Directing: PRINCE2 2009
As I mentioned last week, the PRINCE2 project management methodology is currently undergoing a ‘refresh’ to make sure it fits the requirements of the marketplace. The new version, PRINCE2 2009, will be released on 16th June.
One of the major changes has been to slim down the PRINCE2 manual… by splitting it into two. The new version will have two different volumes, Managing Projects Using PRINCE2 and Directing Projects Using PRINCE2.
As you will have guessed, the two volumes are aimed at different users. Those of us who are project managers will be interested in the Managing manual, while senior managers and executives who will be involved at the project board level will be interested in the Directing manual.
Now, in a way I can see the sense of this split. The current PRINCE2 manual does talk about the various responsibilities and duties that project board members need to be aware of, but much of this information is buried amongst the nitty gritty of applying the methodology as a project manager. I can certainly understand that senior staff simply aren’t going to plough through a manual like that.
Indeed, I still think one of the most important things I do as a project manager is to sit down with senior management involved with the project and explain exactly how they fit into the project world – including how they need to hold me to account!
So I can see this splitting of the manual going one of two ways. It is possible that the Directing manual will start to be seen as vital reading for executives. Because they are involved in projects, they will work to make sure they understand their responsibilities, duties, and powers, and we as project managers will gain the benefit of informed and aware executives.
Or, of course, it could be that executives won’t pay a blind bit of notice to the Directing manual – without any qualification (yet) based on it, they may just not waste their precious time reading a rather dry text. Which would leave us as project managers buying both manuals, just so that we can again sit down with our project board and brief them on what they need to do in the project…
Maybe it’s the incorrigible cynic in me, but I rather suspect the second scenario is more likely. But at least we’ll know exactly where to find the information for our briefings…
What do you think? Do you think I’m being too cynical? Can you see other advantages to this split? Let me know!
I would hope that if the project board members are not proactive enough to pick up the Directing guide for themselves, that have a copy to put in front of them will give the PM some real ammunition to show that there is best practice out there that applies to senior management (ie them!) that should be followed for good business reasons….
Anne-Marie,
I can absolutely see the Directing guide being some great ammunition for a project manager. It will certainly make the briefings I seem to give on every project a little easier, and if nothing else, that makes the Directing manual useful!
Hi Trevor
It will be really interesting to see how the new Directing guide gets used. We created it based on the Public Consultation in response to the question “what else would you like to see in PRINCE2?”, lots of people requested guidance targetted at Project Boards.
The feedback from the pilots was that for some project board members a 120 page guide is still 119 pages too long, but others found it really useful.
We took a different approach to the structure of Directing compared to Managing in that while we expect a PM to know the method front to back and only occasionally refer to it, we do not expect Project Board members to read the Directing guide front to back but to dip into it at key times in their projects. That’s why the guide is chronologically ordered (as far as possible).
The feedback from the pilots also highlighted that PMOs/COEs were using the Directing guide to coach Project Board members or as part of their assurance role.
By the way, I’d like to correct the statement that we have split the current manual into to. The new Managing guide is equivalent to the old managing guide in that it still has the Directing a Project processes and all the project board role descriptions. It’s just that we have added to the method by creating an essential role specific guide.
Thanks once again for prompting some useful debates about the upciming release!
Kind Regards
Andy
PRINCE2 Lead Author
Hi Andy,
As I said, I can see how the Directing guide could be useful. I certainly have spent a lot of my time in project management explaining to board members the responsibilities of the roles they are taking on, and why they are important.
It may just be a reflection of the specific people involved, but I’m not completely convinced a Directing guide would have made much difference to this. But, I may just be being too cynical, and a chronological guide could indeed be a useful tool for project board members – maybe if more of them understand before getting involved that project management involves more that just a project manager, we’ll all have better projects!
I’m looking forward to getting my hands on the two manuals – certain aspects of the refresh sound very interesting. Good luck with the launch!
[…] on from my post last week, Managing versus Directing: PRINCE2 2009, here is a video in which the Lead Author, Andy Murray, takes us through the two new publications […]
Hi,
I think the splitting of the manual is good because it gives the opportunity to tune the “Directing..” manual to specific needs, which are probably not appropriate in “Managing..”. I hope the opportunity will be taken! I have elaborated on this and other PRINCE2:2009 issues and advantages in http://www.oaklodgeconsulting.co.uk/Articles/PRINCE2009.pdf . Also,there are other relevant documents at http://www.oaklodgeconsulting.co.uk/Articles/
As ever, if you want to discuss any of these pelase contact me