Crossword of the week

I hope you will enjoy this crossword. Another fun way to increase our PRINCE2 knowledge.

RMP 2008 Paris CNIT

Once again PMGURU France will be present at the RMP Exhibition (Les Rencontres du Management de Projet).

This year the show is at the CNIT in Paris La Défense on the Tuesday 15 April and Wednesday 16 April 2008.

If you need a ticket, let us know and we will send you one free.

John Higham will also do a presentation about PRINCE2 on the Tuesday 15 April in the afternoon.

Looking forward to meeting you there

Keep in touch,

PMGURU.COM
Le Spécialiste PRINCE2 en France.
The French PRINCE2 expert based in France.

TATs and UATs

It is good practice to control the quality of what is produced during a project.
In PRINCE2 this is done in MP2 once the product has been created, manufactured or otherwise assembled.

In other circumstances, these quality checks are often called TAT or Technical Acceptance Test. In reality, PRINCE2 refers to those as product approvals (this can be applied to both management and specialist products).

The method of control for the final product will depend of the environment and will be defined in the Project Quality Plan (IP1) and confirmed for each simple product in the Product Description (in PL2). This Product Description is then added to the Work Package and agreed between the Project Manager and the Team Manager (if there is one) or the Team Member who will do the work (this happens in CS1-MP1).
Once products have been approved, they still need to be accepted by the Project Board.
This happens at the end of each stage during the End Stage Assessment (in DP3) for each product created during the previous stage, and at the end of the project for the final product (in DP5).
These are often referred to as UAT or Users Acceptance Tests.

Which tool for which project.

Often people want to know which tool or software should be used when applying PRINCE2 to a project.
The answer to this question can be quite tricky as there is no unique definite answer.

There are many tools available, from pen and paper to the most sophisticated networkable collaborative application.

This choice is often made by the company’s quality and systems department who has decided once and for all on the tool of choice (mainly because had a good deal or a good price for a large number of licenses and not because it fits the company’s requirements…).

You really need to see the needs for the particular project you are working on more than which tool is available to you.
In fact, if the tool is a hindrance to you, change it as quickly as you can to adopt a more flexible solution. In some cases, management will expect the use of certain tools and you then have to comply to their expectations.

A simple rule though, keep your reporting simple and to the point. Remain flexible and use as many generic tools as you can.
This way you will be able to drive your project and not administer it.

The role of a project manager is to ensure the project is done (on Time, on Cost and on Quality …) not that it is beautifully documented.
If documentation is a requirement, ask for some project support to assist you.

john higham

PRINCE2 in french

Soon there will be a french version of the manual.

Currently, we expect there will be a french manual available early February, but that can still change at this stage.
A couple of very good signs however is that an ISBN number has been allocated for the manual and that there is some intensive pre-production work going on.

I’ll keep you informed as i’m told of progress.

take care and keep in touch,

john higham

Technorati Tags: manual, prince2, project management

PRINCE2 Memo Chart English

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john higham