Brad Bigelow, a PRINCE2 V7 Author, provides insightful commentary on the nature of project management in contrast to ongoing operations. He emphasizes that project management is a technique used to deliver finite packages of change within organizations, characterized by a distinct beginning, middle, and end. Bigelow highlights the critical aspect of planning in project management, noting that it is often misunderstood.
He points out that in the early stages of a project, particularly during the startup phase in the PRINCE2 framework, it is acceptable to conclude that a project may not be feasible. This acknowledgment is crucial for project managers, who must be able to professionally recognize and communicate when a project is too risky or unlikely to yield the desired results. Bigelow stresses that many high-profile project failures are often rooted in unrealistic expectations, excessive risks, and overly ambitious schedules from the outset.
Bigelow also discusses the importance of evaluating options during the planning phase to select the most viable path for success. He notes that once a project moves from planning to execution, the level of effort and investment escalates significantly, marked by contractual commitments, allocation of resources, and procurement of materials. At this stage, changes become more challenging to implement, underscoring the importance of thorough and realistic planning and the establishment of a well-defined project scope in the project initiation documentation. The planning stage, being mostly conceptual, offers more flexibility compared to the execution phase, where deviation from the set path is less likely.
Up Next in Quality, plans and issues chapters
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PMBOK and PRINCE2
Brad Bigelow, an author of PRINCE2 V7, discusses the relationship between PRINCE2 and the PMI’s PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge), emphasizing that they are often mistakenly seen as competing disciplines. He clarifies that PRINCE2 is a well-established methodology, refined through thou...
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Tolerances
Brad Bigelow, a PRINCE2 V7 author, emphasizes the importance of tolerances in the PRINCE2 project management framework, describing them as one of its "secret sauce ingredients." He explains that tolerances provide a control mechanism that empowers project managers (PMs) to make tactical decisions...
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Iron triangle; time, scope and cost
Brad Bigelow, a PRINCE2 V7 author, discusses the fundamental aspects of project management, particularly focusing on the interrelationship of time, scope, and cost, often referred to as the iron triangle in project management. He emphasizes the crucial trade-offs that project managers must consid...