Project management has changed the way projects are managed and have created a rigorous set of best practices. Project management has enabled fewer people to refer to standard techniques, allowing companies to scale up their operations. PRINCE2 and PRINCE2 Agile® are two of the world’s leading project management practices that leading enterprises utilize to ensure smooth project delivery. While they have existed independently until a few years ago, the unique collaboration of PRINCE2 and Agile PM opens new paths for organizational success. It also raises some questions for project managers.
PRINCE2®, originally released in 1996, is a comprehensive evolution of project management approaches. The practices of PRINCE2 guide practitioners in using project management methods effectively and efficiently while maintaining the quality of products without exceeding budget, enabling on-time delivery, and satisfying customer expectations and requirements at the same time.
The PRINCE2 Agile® course provides businesses with a complementary project management approach. The course is designed to help enterprises deliver products more effectively and efficiently during Agile-based projects.
PRINCE2 Agile® is essentially the same as PRINCE2, and both methods rely on the same principles, themes, and processes. The critical difference is in the guidance that PRINCE2 Agile elaborates on, which guides the use of these elements for Agile projects.
PRINCE2®
Prince2 is a project management course that can help you learn the best practices. The course comes in with a library of project management topics, including business case, organization, transition, risk, planning, quality, and progress.
PRINCE2® Principles
The Seven Principles of the PRINCE2® methodology are outlined. These principles provide a framework for good practice when used collectively. The trick to remembering the seven principles of PRINCE2 is to use the acronym P-JESTER:
- Focus on Products (P)
- Continued business Justification (J)
- Learn from Experience (E)
- Manage by Stages (S)
- Tailor to the environment (T)
- Manage by Exception (E)
- Define Roles and Responsibilities (R).
There are a lot of limitations with PRINCE2®, but on its own, it can provide visibility into project progress and make accountability easier.
PRINCE2 Agile®
PRINCE2 Agile® describes six performance targets in PRINCE2. The performance targets of time and cost are fixed, while you can flex the scope, quality and customer needs depending on the requirements.
The two performance targets of PRINCE2® are benefits and risks. The customer decides how these are fixed or flexed. It’s possible to achieve this with Agile techniques, which PRINCE2 Foundation training teaches extensively.
PRINCE2® vs PRINCE2 Agile® – A Comparison
Let’s compare how two projects approach project management. We’ll take a look at how PRINCE2 and PRINCE2 Agile approach it.
The difference between PRINCE2® and PRINCE2 Agile® is that the former refers to a project management methodology, whereas the latter relates to software development approaches used by teams.
PRINCE2® is a customer-focused project management methodology that helps you justify your points in the project on its seven principles.
Let’s compare the strengths and weaknesses of PRINCE2 and PRINCE2 Agile to understand the differences better.
| PRINCE2® | PRINCE2 Agile® |
|---|---|
| PRINCE2® focuses on the management of projects, so it can remain a worthwhile investment in changing business environments. | PRINCE2 Agile® focuses on delivering products in the most efficient and collaborative way possible. |
| It is a waterfall method that starts with completing and approaching tasks one by one. | PRINCE2 Agile® is more flexible. |
| PRINCE2® helps companies make comprehensive business plans. | PRINCE2 Agile® helps businesses focus on progress and short-term goals. |
| Consists of three different levels which include objectives in a hierarchy based on the phases. | A project following this methodology will be divided into multiple segments across certain time periods. |
Now that we know what PRINCE2® and PRINCE2 Agile® do, it is essential to understand the distinctions between the two approaches.
Get The Best of Both Worlds- Good Governance and Agile
PRINCE2 Agile® was created to answer the feedback from PRINCE2® practitioners. It will help project managers understand the transition process for when organizations turn to agile methods.
Agile concepts, methods, frameworks, behaviours, and techniques incorporated into PRINCE2® showed their effectiveness in the project management course, which worked well with the context of Agile environments where organizations could build on their existing investments.
Business Focused and On-Time Delivery
Project managers can use Agile methodologies without using PRINCE2®, and they will be able to stay on time with the project and still build quality products. Companies can also use PRINCE2 methods when they launch their product to encourage success.
Conclusion – Choosing the Right Certification for You
To choose between PRINCE2® and PRINCE2 Agile®, you need to consider your project context.
PRINCE2®, an agile framework for controlled governance of the organization, might be the one you should be looking for. The framework provides effective and controlled governance within the organization, transitioning itself into an agile environment.
PRINCE2® might be the perfect choice for you if Agile isn’t your thing, and it provides controlled governance in non-Agile environments.
Now that you have a better understanding of what is what and what works where you might be able to make a decision based on your personal and organizational gains in the long term by incorporating Agile in your PRINCE2-based business.