Previous Topic: Release Notes: PRINCE2 AcceleratorNext Topic: Create a PRINCE2 Project

PRINCE2 Accelerator

PRINCE2 Accelerator

This section contains the following topics:

Why Use the PRINCE2 Methodology?

PRINCE2 Accelerator Overview

How the Document Review and Approval Process Works

Install the Add-in

Why Use the PRINCE2 Methodology?

PRINCE2 is a project management methodology consisting of various processes and controls that you can apply through the lifecycle of a project. You can use PRINCE2 to identify the roles involved in a project and the tasks to assign to the roles and when. The set of processes and controls used by the PRINCE2 methodology help you structure your project and identify the type of information needed throughout the project lifecycle.  

The PRINCE2 methodology also helps you divide the project into manageable stages, allowing you to plan ahead more realistically, and call on your resources at the time they are most required. By incorporating the PRINCE2 methodology in the management of your projects, you can get the following:

How to Use the PRINCE2 Methodology

A variety of ways exist for an organization to implement and manage their projects using the P2 methodology. For example, consider a financial institution that handles everything to do with banking. They are headquartered in the U.K. but have several offices in different countries. They have a project management office that includes a PRINCE2 certified project manager and project support staff. They are currently in the process of adopting PRINCE2 methodology. The PRINCE2 project manager requires to create various reports (controls) throughout the various stages of the project. The goal is to have the reports reviewed and approved in a timely manner and any requests for changes to the reports sent back immediately to the project manager.

The following are some sample workflows involving different PRINCE2 players that can be associated with the above scenario:

Flow 1: PRINCE2 Project Manager Creates a Report
  1. Project manager creates a PRINCE2 report in CA Clarity PPM and submits for review.
  2. Project manager initiates the document review and approval process manually.
  3. Project Board members receive a notification to review the report.
  4. Various Project Board members review and approve the report.
  5. Any changes needed are communicated back to the project manager.
  6. Project manager views report status from the PRINCE2 Dashboard, Project Report Status portlet.
  7. If report is rejected, project manager makes changes and resubmits the report.
Flow 2: Project Board Member Reviews a Report
  1. Project Board member receives a notification asking them to review a specific report.
  2. Project Board member navigates to the Action Items portlet in the CA Clarity PPM Organizer.
  3. Project Board member selects the appropriate action item and drills down to the actual report.
  4. Project Board member reviews the actual report contents and either approves or rejects report.
  5. The approval status of the report changes and is reflected in Reports list view portlet, report properties page, and Project Report Status portlet.
Flow 3: PRINCE2 Senior Executive/Senior User Drills Down to a Project from the Executive Dashboard
  1. In CA Clarity PPM, senior executive navigates to the Executive Dashboard.
  2. Senior executive selects the Project Status page.
  3. Senior executive sees a project that is running behind schedule and falling behind the desired run rate for products completed.
  4. Senior executive selects the specific project to drill down for more details.
  5. At the project level, senior executive navigates to the task list and selects the product breakdown structure filter.
  6. Senior executive drills down to the product details and notices that no one is allocated to a particular product.
  7. Senior executive makes an informed decision on an appropriate response once a checkpoint report is routed for review and approval for this specific project.

PRINCE2 Accelerator Overview

CA Clarity PPM Accelerator for PRINCE2 (PRINCE2 Accelerator) is an add-in that consists of a set of dashboards, portlets, subpages, and processes that allow you to reflect your interpretation and implementation of the PRINCE2 project management methodology. This add-in provides a subset of all the forms from the official PRINCE2 content provided by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC).

Go to http://www.ogc.gov.uk/methods_prince_2.asp for more information about the PRINCE2 methodology.

Note: To download additional PRINCE2 document templates for free, go to http://www.prince2.com/prince2-downloads.asp.

The PRINCE2 Accelerator includes the PRINCE2 Project Template. Associate the projects with this template to access the following project subpages exclusive to PRINCE2:

The PRINCE2 project management methodology is a product-based planning approach. With the PRINCE2 Accelerator, you can track the progress of project tasks as individual products. The add-in lets you label the CA Clarity PPM project tasks as products and manage them as you would manage products in a PRINCE2 methodology.

The add-in provides a starting point to implement the PRINCE2 methodology into your existing project management system. Also, helps customize to the unique requirements of your organization. The content and pages that come with PRINCE2 Accelerator are configurable using Studio. You can add attributes and forms, or let the CA Technology Services (CATS) engagement manager assist you.

You can roll up PRINCE2 projects into other programs and portfolios like you can other CA Clarity PPM projects. They are displayed in various portfolio and program dashboards and dashboard layouts, and in CA Clarity PPM reports.

How the Document Review and Approval Process Works

A series of reports act as controls throughout the project lifecycle. As each report is completed, the Project Board review and approval process is started to review the various reports. The document review and approval process assumes that a PRINCE2 project has already been created and the reports are ready to be submitted.

The following tasks are involved in the creation of the reports involved in the management of a typical PRINCE2 project:

  1. Describe the product to deliver
  2. Formally initiate the project
  3. Create project stage plans
  4. Create checkpoint report
  5. Create a highlight report
  6. Create an exception report
  7. Create an end stage report
  8. Create a lesson learned report

Note: As the PRINCE2 project manager completes and submits each report, the Project Board review and approval process is started automatically to review the report. The attributes on the report properties page become locked and can be edited again only if the report is rejected. The Project Board members (associated with the Senior Supplier access group) play a key role in reviewing the reports.

Project Board Review and Approval Process Workflow

The review and approval process involves the following for each completed PRINCE2 report:

  1. The PRINCE2 project manager submits the report for review and approval to the Project Board members.
  2. The Project Board review process is initiated.
  3. The Project Board members receive a notification to conduct a review of the report. The Project Board members view their pending review items on the Action Items portlet from the overview page.
  4. As Project Board members review the report, comments and requests for clarifications are entered in the Notes page for that action item, or exchanged externally from CA Clarity PPM.
  5. The Project Board members either approve or reject the report from the Action Item Details page.
  6. The PRINCE2 project manager receives a notification about the change in the report status (whether approved or rejected).
  7. After all board members have reviewed the report, the process ends.

Install the Add-in

For complete instructions on how to install an add-in, see the Installation Guide.