Every stage after the initiation stage is focussed on product creation. In contrast everything within PRINCE2® is about project control. After all PRINCE is an acronym for PRojects in Controlled Environments. Somewhere some real work, product creation work, must be being done for there to be something to control. The controlled product creation activities happen iteratively and repeatedly in Managing Product Delivery (MP).
The
clean break: CS and MPThe work of creating products does not have to be conducted using PRINCE2®’s control structures as long as three simple interface elements are agreed:
1. (A.36) Work Packages are use to define the work to be done, the reporting and escalation mechanisms and the arrangements for handover of completed products,
2. (A.3) Checkpoint Reports are created by the (B.6) Team Managers at agreed times to report on activity versus plan and
3. at commencement of work a (A.32) Quality Log defines the tests that will be performed (and these test are scheduled and resourced in the team plan or the (A.35) Stage Plan. Work to perform quality activities is known as the Team or Stage Quality Plan TQP/ SQP), the tests are subsequently performed and at termination the log show all tests eventually recorded an acceptable result.
MP operates in close cooperation with CS.
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Accepting a Work-Package (MP1) and Authorising Work-Package (CS1) agree the assignment of work, | |
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Executing a Work-Package (MP2) executes it and reports progress to Assessing Progress (CS2) and | |
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Completing a Work-Package (MP3) hands over the results of completing a delegated work-package to the relevant recipient and then reports the fact via Receiving Completed Work-Package (CS9) back to the Project Manager via Assessing Progress (CS2) to arrive with the (B.5) Project Manager at Reviewing Stage Status (CS5) for full consideration. |
The next step is normally to assign another work package but might equally be to start the cycle of stages via SB or the project's natural closure via CP.
Note Completing a Work-Package (MP3) hands over the product to the recipient and notifies Receiving Completed Work-Package (CS9) of the fact. The recipient may be the end-user, the (B.9) Configuration Librarian or other person/ group defined in the (A.36) Work Package. Confirmation that all handovers, including those from operations and maintenance staff have been secured happens in Decommissioning a Project (CP1).
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