Prince 2
Author
Discussion

jonah35

Original Poster:

3,940 posts

186 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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Can anyone explain simply what it is and whats the easiest option to get qualified?

lorenzo458

39 posts

148 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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Prince2 is simply a methodology. Originates from government and public sector, very heavyweight and slow way of approaching a project.

To get certified you can attend a 5 day training course for around £600-1000 depending on location and training provider. Intermediate exam mid week and then the practitioner exam on the final day.

Many jobs advertised ask for Prince2, most do not use it to it's full extent. My advice would be to read the PMBOK project management book (£30) rather than spending a whole load of cash on an intensive course or online training. But then again many employers will use the Prince 2 certification as a 'pre-requisite' qualification for the job.

jonah35

Original Poster:

3,940 posts

186 months

Saturday 2nd August 2014
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Lovely, thanks.


triggerh4ppy

422 posts

155 months

Wednesday 6th August 2014
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Im currently studying for the Foundation exam in October. So far most of it just seems like common sense.

Nick Grant

5,491 posts

264 months

Wednesday 6th August 2014
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I did it in March. As long as you don't try and apply real world scenarios to it during the course it's straight forward.

sideways sid

1,465 posts

244 months

Thursday 7th August 2014
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OP, unless you actually need a qualification, an hour or two with Wikipedia & google, and a bit of common sense and you'll pick up a working knowledge to get through basic projects.

ewenm

28,506 posts

274 months

Thursday 7th August 2014
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I did the foundation course years ago at the behest of my then-employer. Since then I've worked in several public sector clients on fairly major projects and not once have I seen Prince2 methodologies formally applied rolleyes

So, on my experience, it's a CV box-ticking exercise. Others may have different experiences.

TheAngryDog

13,216 posts

238 months

Sunday 10th August 2014
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Reading the PMBOK is ok if you do not want to sit a PM I exam. One of the prerequisites for doing the exam is 24 hours of training or having experience doing the role.

oldbanger

4,328 posts

267 months

Sunday 10th August 2014
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I'm doing it online through a training course advertised on Amazon Local. The plan is to book the foundation exam for September which should just give me time to take the professional exam if I think I can manage it. I have to take the exam it in under 6 months of starting the course.

I'm finding the manual more useful than the online training presentations but to be quite frank it's an incredibly dry course so far.

littlegreenfairy

10,134 posts

250 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
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sideways sid said:
OP, unless you actually need a qualification, an hour or two with Wikipedia & google, and a bit of common sense and you'll pick up a working knowledge to get through basic projects.
This. This and this.

I went for an interview for a junior PM role and 'impressed them with my in depth knowledge of the methodologies' when really I had read the wiki page and applied some common sense to the questions. Didn't get the job as when down to the final 2, I didn't have some obscure piece of something or other.

Cyder

7,186 posts

249 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
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Prince2 and lean six sigma are just bullst ticks for CV boxes aren't they?

Nick Grant

5,491 posts

264 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
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Cyder said:
...lean six sigma are just bullst ticks for CV boxes aren't they?
I think Toyota may disagree with you on that one, and subsequently any major car manufacturer.

Podie

46,649 posts

304 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
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Nick Grant said:
Cyder said:
...lean six sigma are just bullst ticks for CV boxes aren't they?
I think Toyota may disagree with you on that one, and subsequently any major car manufacturer.
In manufacturing Six Sigma has it's place. The bastardised versions to work on IT projects are a pet hate.

P2 has it's place, but by their own admission - follow it to the letter and your project will most likely fail.

Methodologies have their place, but a qualification does not make you a good PM.

Nick Grant

5,491 posts

264 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
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Podie said:
In manufacturing Six Sigma has it's place. The bastardised versions to work on IT projects are a pet hate.

P2 has it's place, but by their own admission - follow it to the letter and your project will most likely fail.

Methodologies have their place, but a qualification does not make you a good PM.
Agree completley. I have seen Lean work in IT but in a service environment rather than projects.

Cyder

7,186 posts

249 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
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Nick Grant said:
Cyder said:
...lean six sigma are just bullst ticks for CV boxes aren't they?
I think Toyota may disagree with you on that one, and subsequently any major car manufacturer.
Odd, I'm an engineer for an OEM and have never heard lean six sigma mentioned.

otolith

68,624 posts

233 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
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I did the week long practitioner course a decade ago. Most boring week of my life.

Nick Grant

5,491 posts

264 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
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Cyder said:
Odd, I'm an engineer for an OEM and have never heard lean six sigma mentioned.
I'm sure you use "Just In Time" ordering on the production line, this was a product of Lean.