Frequently Asked Questions

What is this course about? This is not an exam preparation course. It is an opportunity to use PRINCE2™ to run an exciting and unusual project. This course focuses on the questions and challenges of tailoring and scaling the PRINCE2™ process in the practical application of the method. Also addressed is the business case behind implementing PRINCE2™ in an organisation. What background do I need to take this course? Project mangement experience at the level of Course 296, Project Management: Skills for Success, or Course 340, Project Management for Software Development, is recommended. PRINCE2™ Foundation or Practitioner knowledge is particularly beneficial. Who will benefit from this course? For PRINCE2™ practitioners or foundation holders, this course provides an opportunity to experience the process in action. You take part in the key aspects of tailoring and scaling a project and apply best practices. For experienced project managers or team leaders who are not familiar with PRINCE2™, you get to experience the PRINCE2™ model in practice and discover how the model ties together many of the loose ends project managers deal with on a day to day basis. For those who are involved in projects but do not manage them, this course gives you an introduction to PRINCE2™ and shows you how it can benefit you and your projects. Why should I use PRINCE2™? Organisations seeking to improve their practices in managing projects have consistently found structured methodolgies to be of immense benefit. PRINCE2™ is a well-established standard, structured method for managing projects and reducing uncertainty in project delivery. PRINCE2™ is now used by numerous private sector organisations both in the UK and worldwide. It is mandatory on many Eurpoean public sector projects. PRINCE2™ is provided license-fee free by the UK Government and is subject to a comprehensive review and update process to ensure quality standards. Is PRINCE2™ certification important? Yes! Certification in project managment skills is a growing expectation in many organisations. The PRINCE2™ Foundation and Practitioner certification increases your credibility and demonstrates a thorough understanding of project processes and the PRINCE2™ method. For more information on certification, please see Course 177, PRINCE2™: Achieving Practitioner Certification. Which edition of the PRINCE2™ manual is used in the course? This course uses the Second Impression of the November 2005, 4th edition manual, Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2™. This is the latest and most current release of the PRINCE2™ manual. How does PRINCE2™ relate to the PMI? PMI and PRINCE2™ are both world class project management standards. As such, they have a great deal in common. PMI is comprehensive in nature and documents project management competencies in an excellent manner. PRINCE2™ is focused on a core set of skills that project managers need to succeed, and provides a detailed process for implementing them. Do I need to have my PMP certification to take this course? No, having a PMP certification is not required to take this course. If you are PMP certified, you may find this course very exciting. PRINCE2™ has a narrower focus than the PMI, but it goes into greater detail on how to apply the principles and make them work in your organisation. This course takes a "how to" approach and brings the method to life with a strong practical emphasis. Do I need to have achieved Practitioner or Foundation level in PRINCE2™ to take this course? No. If you have achieved PRINCE2™ certification, this course builds on your knowledge and helps show you how to use PRINCE2™ in the "real world." If you are not certified, this course provides an introduction to how PRINCE2™ can help you deliver projects successfully. If I am already a PMP, is it worth learning about PRINCE2™? Yes! PRINCE2™ provides you with an implementation strategy for much of your current knowledge. Achieving your PMP has consolidated your knowledge of all aspects of project management theory. PRINCE2™ provides you with the tools to implement that knowledge. In a market where it is important for talented individuals to stand out from the crowd, PRINCE2™ gives you the edge you need. Will this course provide me with PDUs? Yes. For those who are currently PMP certified, completion of this course counts as 17 professional development units (60 units must be completed every three years to maintain certification). For more details, please see the Learning Tree PMI Registered Education Provider Q&A. Will this course help me prepare for the PMP exam? No. If PMP certification is your goal, you should take Course 276, Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP®) Exam. Will this course help me prepare for my PRINCE2™ certification? Yes. This course provides you with the perspective and the background you need in order to bring PRINCE2™ to life. However, Course 177, PRINCE2™: Achieving Practitioner Certification, is designed to help you gain the Practitioner level certification. This course can precede 177 as an introduction to the advantages of the method and as a guide for the practical implementation of the method. Should I have taken a PRINCE2™ Practitioner preparation course like Course 177, PRINCE2™: Achieving Practitioner Certification, prior to enrolling in this course? No, you do not need to have taken a preparation course before taking Course 916. This course can precede Course 177 as an introduction to the advantages of the method and as a guide for the practical implementation of the method. How much time is spent on each topic? Content Hours Introducing the PRINCE2™ model 2.0 Starting up a viable project 3.0 Confirming project costs and controls 3.0 Managing the work 3.0 Expecting the unexpected 2.0 Closing the project 2.0 Implementing PRINCE2™ in your organisation 2.0 Times, including the workshops, are estimates; exact times may vary according to the needs of each class. How is this course structured? This course is structured around a dynamic style of learning created by Learning Tree called RealityPlusTM - an immersive experience that engages you in authentic tasks within a simulated real-world context. Through media-rich case studies, role playing, and video/computer-based activities, you are immersed throughout the course in an evolving scenario where the decisions you make affect the outcome of the simulation. The RealityPlus learning method is presented in a safe environment where you gain new skills and practice the most effective techniques to bring back to your job. At the end of your course, you are prepared to immediately and successfully apply these new skills within your organisation! How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses? Learning Tree offers a number of courses that will help you expand upon the knowledge gained in this course and further your skills in several key areas. Those courses include: 177, PRINCE2™: Achieving Practitioner Certification  296, Project Management: Skills for Success  340, Project Management for Software Development  288, Change Management: People and Process  290, Management Skills  292, Communication Skills: Results Through Collaboration  297, Personal Skills for Professional Excellence  294, Influence Skills: Getting Results Without Direct Authority

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