PRINCE2 is based on five integrated elements
PRINCE2 principles The
principles are the guiding
obligations that determine
whether the project is
genuinely being managed
using PRINCE2. There are
seven principles, and unless all
of them are applied, it is not a
PRINCE2 project.
The project context
The principles,
practices, and
processes are
applied by the
people involved to
ensure that the
method is fit for the
project context.
PRINCE2 processes The seven
processes describe the entire
project lifecycle, from activities
before getting started, through
the stages of project delivery, and
to the final act of project closure.
Each process has checklists of
recommended activities and
related responsibilities.
PRINCE2 practices The practices describe
essential aspects of project management
that must be applied consistently and
throughout the project lifecycle. The
seven practices explain the specific
treatment required of that aspect of
project management for the PRINCE2
processes to be effective and why they
are necessary.
People Projects need people,
mainly those working on the project
and those affected by the project.
An understanding of the needs,
capabilities, and motivations of the
people involved and the
relationships between them is
crucial to how the project is
established and managed.
Quick Reference Card PRINCE2®7
Based on Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2®, QRC by Henny Portman, July’23
PeoplePractices Processes
Principles
Project
context
Organizational and project eco systems
PRINCE2 Project management team structure
People or groups
Relationships
Project
ecosysteem
Organizational
ecosysteem
Business
Users
Suppliers
Business layer
Project board
Executive
Senior
user(s)
Senior
supplier(s)
Team members
Project
assurance
Project
manager
Project
support
Team
manager(s)
Within the project
management team
From the business
From the supplier
Lines of authority
Project assurance
responsibility
Lines of support/
advice
Project log
End project
report
Lessons
report
Initiating
a
project
Manage
a
stage
boun-
dary
Project
Mandate
Review
Daily log
Lessons
register
(Initiation) stage
plan
Project briefCreate
Create
Create
Review
Approve
Project initiation documentation
Risk register
Issue
register
Create/
update
Product
register
Quality
register
Stage plan
Team plan Work
package
Description
Create
Review
Review
Update
Update
Update
Highlight
Report
Create
Checkpoint
report
Review
Issue
Report
Update
Previous
Highlight
Report
Approve
Exception
report
Create
Update
Create Approve Create
Createbenefits
management
approach
End stage
report
Create
Exception
plan
Create
Create
Close
Approve ApproveApprove InspectRespond Approve
Approve
Review
Respond
Business case
(Detailed)
Quality
management
approach
Change
management
approach
Risk
management
approach
Communication
management
approach
Project Plan
Project
product
description
Product
Description(s)
Project
product
description
Business case
(Outline)
Lessons
report
Update/
Review
Update
Review / Update
Review
Review
Review
Review
Update
time
driven
time
driven
Previous
checkpoint
report
Review
Create /
assemble
Directing a Project
Closing a
project
Controlling a stage
Managing product delivery
Starting
up a
project
Sustainability
management
approach
Commercial
management
approach
Digital and data
management
approach
Product
description(s)
Product
description(s)
Business
case
Organizing
Plans
Quality
Risk
Issues
Progress
colour of the edge of a
management product
shows relationship with
practice
Principles
Project
management
team structure
Project
management
team
structure
ensure continued
business
justification
learn from
experience
define roles,
responsibilities
and relationships
manage by
stages
manage by
exception
focus on
products
tailor to suit the
project
Issue
management
approach
colour of an arrow
corresponds with the
input or output to the
related process
Baseline
management product
Record
Report
Practices
Project controls
Benefits
Time
Cost
Quality
Scope
Sustainability
Risk
PRINCE2 process
PRINCE2 practices
PRINCE2 principles
Initiating
a project
Managing
product
delivery
Starting up
a project
Directing a
Project
Manage a
stage
boundary
Controlling
a stage
Closing a
project
Processes
PRINCE2 project performance aspects There are seven aspects: benefits, costs, time, quality, scope, sustainability, and risk. For each aspect tolerances are to be agreed to
facilitate decentralized decision-making.