Prince2 Study Guide ^{2nd Ed.}

Everything you need to pass the PRINCE2 with flying colors

The PRINCE2 Study Guide, Second Edition, offers comprehensive preparation for the latest PRINCE2 exam. Covering 100 percent of the exam objectives, this guide provides invaluable guidance that will help you master both the material and its applications; indeed, a practice-centered approach helps you "learn by doing" to help you internalize PRINCE2 concepts on a deeper level. Although the exam is heavily focused on detailed business process, this guide's accessible writing and real-world approach make learning fun. Each chapter poses a common project challenge, and walks you through the solution based on essential PRINCE2 principles. A year of FREE access to electronic study aids allows you to study anywhere, at any time, and expert instruction throughout breaks complex topics down into easily-digestible concepts.

The PRINCE2 exam is challenging, but thorough preparation is your best defense. Conceptual knowledge is important, but it isn't enough — knowledge is only useful if you can apply it. This book is designed as your personal PRINCE2 coach:

• Master 100 percent of the PRINCE2 exam objectives
• Apply your knowledge to real-world workplace scenarios
• Test your understanding with challenging review questions
• Access sample questions, electronic flashcards, and other study aids

PRINCE2 is globally recognized as one of the premier project management credentials; while less expansive than the PMP, the PRINCE2 is more intense and tightly focused on detailed business processes. Companies around the world are in need of qualified project management professionals to optimize processes and boost organizational performance — and the PRINCE2 certification puts you on the map as a validated professional. If you’re ready to take on your next challenge, the PRINCE2 Study Guide, Second Edition,is your ultimate companion for complete preparation.

1. Overview of PRINCE2
• Project Work
  • What Is a Project?
  • What Is Business as Usual?
  • What Is Project Management?
  • Measuring the Performance of a Project
• Introducing PRINCE2
  • The Structure of PRINCE2
  • Other Parts of PRINCE2
  • What PRINCE2 Does Not Cover
  • Benefits of Using PRINCE2
• PRINCE2 Principles
  • Continued Business Justification
  • Learn from Experience
  • Defined Roles and Responsibilities
  • Manage by Stages
  • Manage by Exception
  • Focus on Products
  • Tailor to Suit the Project
  • Tailoring PRINCE2 to Different Project Types and Environments
• What Is Tailoring?
  • What Cannot Be Tailored?
  • Why Tailor PRINCE2?
  • What Can Be Tailored?
  • Simple Projects
  • Programme Environments
  • Commercial Customer and Supplier Environments
  • Agile Environments
• An End-to-End Walk-Through of PRINCE2
  • Pre-Project Activities
  • Activities at the Beginning of the Project
  • Activities in the Middle of the Project
  • Activities at the End of the Project
• Summary
• Foundation Exam Essentials
• Practitioner Exam Essentials
• Review Questions
  • Foundation Exam Questions
  • Practitioner Exam Questions
2. Starting a Project Successfully with PRINCE2
• Beginning a PRINCE2 Project
• The Starting Up a Project Process
  • Starting Up a Project Process Activities
  • Key Facts for Starting Up a Project
  • Tailoring the Starting Up a Project Process
• The Directing a Project Process - Part I
  • Authorize Initiation
• The Initiating a Project Process
  • Initiating a Project Activities
  • Key Facts for Initiating a Project
  • Tailoring the Initiating a Project Process
• The Directing a Project Process - Part II
  • Authorize the Project
  • Authorize a Stage
• Themes to Start a Project Successfully
  • Business Case Theme
  • Organization Theme
  • Quality Theme
  • Plans Theme
  • Risk Theme
  • Change Theme
  • Progress Theme
• Using the PRINCE2 Principles to Start a Project Successfully
• Summary
• Foundation Exam Essentials
• Practitioner Exam Essentials
• Review Questions
  • Foundation Exam Questions
  • Practitioner Exam Questions
3. Organization Theme
• Common Project Organizational Challenges
• The Three Project Interests
  • The Business Interest
  • The User Interest
  • The Supplier Interest
  • Achieving Consensus Between the Project Interests
• The Four Levels of Management
  • Corporate, Programme Management, or the Customer
  • Directing
  • Managing
  • Delivering
• The Project Management Team
  • The Project Board
  • Change Authority
  • The Project Manager
  • Project Support
  • Team Manager
• Other Stakeholders
• Communication Management Approach
  • Contents
  • The Life of the Communication Management Approach
• Other Management Products Used by the Organization
  • Theme
  • The Project Brief’s Use in the Organization Theme
  • The Project Initiation Documentation’s Use in the Organization Theme
• Organization Theme Responsibilities
• Tailoring the Organization Theme
  • Minimum Requirements
  • Scaling the Organization Theme
  • Commercial Customer/Supplier Environment
  • Projects Within Programmes
  • Projects Within an Organizational Environment
  • Agile Environments
• Linking the Organization Theme with the PRINCE2 Principles
• Summary
• Foundation Exam Essentials
• Practitioner Exam Objectives
• Review Questions
  • Foundation Exam Questions
  • Practitioner Exam Questions
4. Business Case Theme
• What Is the Business Case Theme?
• Outputs, Outcomes, and Benefits
• Business Cases Where Money Isn’t the Motivation
• Using the Business Case Theme
  • Developing the Business Case
  • Maintaining the Business Case
  • Verifying the Business Case
  • Confirming the Benefits
• The Business Case Management Product
  • The Purpose
  • The Contents of the Business Case
• The Benefits Management Approach
• Business Case Responsibilities
  • Corporate, Programme Management, or the Customer
  • Executive
  • Senior User
  • Project Manager
  • Other Roles
• Tailoring the Business Case Theme
  • Minimum Requirements
  • Tailoring the Management Products
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Projects Within Programmes
  • Commercial Customer and/or Supplier Environments
  • Agile Environments
• Linking the Business Case Theme with the PRINCE2 Principles
• Summary
• Foundation Exam Essentials
• Practitioner Exam Essentials
• Review Questions
  • Foundation Exam Questions
  • Practitioner Exam Questions
5. Plans Theme
• Levels of Plans
  • The Project Plan
  • The Stage Plan
  • The Team Plans
  • The Exception Plan
• The Plan Management Product
  • Plan Description
  • Plan Prerequisite
  • External Dependencies
  • Planning Assumptions
  • Delivery Approaches
  • Lessons Incorporated
  • Monitoring and Control
  • Budgets
  • Tolerances
  • Product Descriptions
  • Schedule
• Structuring the Project into Management Stages
• The PRINCE2 Approach to Plans
  • Designing a Plan
  • Defining and Analyzing the Products
  • Identifying Activities and Dependencies
  • Preparing Estimates
  • Preparing a Schedule
  • Analyzing Risks to a Plan
  • Documenting a Plan
• Defining and Analyzing the Products
  • Writing the Project Product Description
  • Creating a Product Breakdown Structure
  • Writing Product Descriptions
  • Creating a Product Flow Diagram
  • Benefits of the Product-Based Planning Approach
• Planning Responsibilities
• Tailoring the Plans Theme
  • Minimum Requirements
  • Tailoring the Management Products
  • Projects Within Programmes
  • Commercial Customer/Supplier Environments
  • Agile Environments
• Linking the Plans Theme with the PRINCE2 Principles
• Summary
• Foundation Exam Essentials
• Practitioner Exam Essentials
• Review Questions
  • Foundation Exam Questions
  • Practitioner Exam Questions
6. Quality Theme
• What Is Quality?
• What Is Scope?
• What Is Quality Management?
• Quality Assurance and Project Assurance
• Quality Planning
  • The Project Product Description
  • Product Descriptions
• Quality Control
  • Using the Quality Register
  • Types of Quality Methods
• Application of the Quality Theme in a Project
  • Step 1: Before the Project
  • Step 2: Initiation Stage
  • Step 3: Product-Based Planning
  • Step 4: Planning the Quality Checks
  • Step 5: Building, Checking, and Approving the Products
  • Step 6: Accepting the Products
• The Quality Management Approach
  • Introduction
  • Quality Management Procedure
  • Tools and Techniques
  • Records
  • Reporting
  • Timing of Quality Management Activities
  • Roles and Responsibilities
• The Quality Review Technique
• Roles Involved with the Quality Theme
• Tailoring the Quality Theme
  • Minimum Requirements
  • Commercial Customer and Supplier Environment
  • Aligning the Quality Approach with Organizational or Programme Approaches
  • Agile Environments
• Linking the Quality Theme with the Principles
• Summary
• Foundation Exam Essentials
• Practitioner Exam Essentials
• Review Questions
  • Foundation Exam Questions
  • Practitioner Exam Questions
7. Risk Theme
• Why Are Projects So Risky?
• The PRINCE2 Approach to Risk
• How Does PRINCE2 Use the Word Risk?
• Planning How to Manage Risk on the Project
  • An Example of a Risk Management Approach
  • Using the Risk Management Approach
• The Risk Management Procedure
  • Identify
  • Assess
  • Plan
  • Implement
  • Communicate
• Roles Involved with the Risk Theme
• Tailoring the Risk Theme
  • Minimum Requirements
  • Scaling the Risk Theme
  • Commercial Customer/Supplier Environment
  • Aligning the Risk Approach with Organizational or Programme Approaches
  • Adapting the Risk Approach to Different Delivery Approaches
• Linking the Risk Theme with the Principles
• Summary
• Foundation Exam Essentials
• Practitioner Exam Essentials
• Review Questions
  • Foundation Exam Questions
  • Practitioner Exam Questions
8. Change Theme
• Change Theme Terminology
  • Baselines
  • Releases
  • Configuration Items
• Types of Issues
  • Request for Change
  • Off-Specification
  • Problem/Concern
• Change Authority
• Change Budget
• Issue and Change Control Procedure
  • Capturing Issues
  • Assessing Issues
  • Proposing Corrective Actions
  • Deciding on Corrective Actions
  • Implementing Corrective Actions
• Tracking and Controlling Configuration Items
  • Tracking Configuration Items
  • Controlling Baselines
• Change Control Approach
• Roles Involved with the Change Theme
• Tailoring the Change Theme
  • Minimum Requirements
  • Aligning the Change Approach with Organizational or Programme Approaches
  • Agile Environments
• Linking the Change Theme with the Principles
• Summary
• Foundation Exam Essentials
• Review Questions
  • Foundation Exam Questions
  • Practitioner Exam Questions
9. Progress Theme
• Purpose of the Progress Theme
• Tolerances and Exceptions
  • Levels of Tolerance
  • Types of Tolerance
• PRINCE2 Controls
  • Project Board Controls
  • Project Manager Controls
  • Event-Driven vs. Time-Driven Controls
  • Controlling the Capturing and Reporting of Lessons
• Roles Involved with the Progress Theme
• Tailoring the Progress Theme
  • Minimum Requirements
  • Tailoring the Management Products
  • Projects within Programmes
  • Agile Environments
• Linking the Progress Theme with the PRINCE2 Principles
• Summary
• Foundation Exam Essentials
• Practitioner Exam Essentials
• Review Questions
  • Foundation Exam Questions
  • Practitioner Exam Questions
10. Managing the Middle of a Project Successfully with PRINCE2
• Overview of the Middle of a PRINCE2 Project
• The Controlling a Stage and Managing Product Delivery Processes
  • Controlling the Delivery of the Specialist Work
  • Reporting on the Progress of a Stage
  • Dealing with Issues and Risks During a Stage
  • Deciding What to Do Next in a Stage
  • Key Facts for Controlling a Stage and Managing Product Delivery
  • Tailoring the Controlling a Stage and Managing Product Delivery Processes
• The Managing a Stage Boundary Process
  • Plan the Next Management Stage
  • Produce an Exception Plan
  • Update the Project Plan
  • Update the Business Case
  • Report Stage End
  • After Managing a Stage Boundary
  • Key Facts for Managing a Stage Boundary
  • Tailoring the Managing a Stage Boundary Process
• The Directing a Project Process
  • Authorize a Stage or Exception Plan
  • Give Ad Hoc Direction
• Themes Used to Manage the Middle of the Project
  • Business Case Theme
  • Organization Theme
  • Quality Theme
  • Plans Theme
  • Risk Theme
  • Change Theme
  • Progress Theme
• Using the PRINCE2 Principles to Successfully Manage the Middle of a Project
• Summary
• Foundation Exam Essentials
• Practitioner Exam Essentials
• Review Questions
  • Foundation Exam Questions
  • Practitioner Questions
11. Managing the End of a Project Successfully with PRINCE2
• Overview of the End of a PRINCE2 Project
  • The Closing a Project Process
  • Prepare Planned Closure
  • Prepare Premature Closure
  • Hand Over Products
  • Evaluate the Project
  • Recommend Project Closure
  • Key Facts for Closing a Project
  • Tailoring the Closing a Project Process
• The Directing a Project Process
  • Authorize Project Closure
  • Key Facts for Directing a Project
  • Tailoring the Directing a Project Process
• Using the PRINCE2 Themes to Close the Project
  • Business Case Theme
  • Organization Theme
  • Quality Theme
  • Plans Theme
  • Risk Theme
  • Change Theme
  • Progress Theme
• Using the PRINCE2 Principles to Close the Project
• Summary
• Foundation Exam Essentials
• Practitioner Exam Essentials
• Review Questions
  • Foundation Exam Questions
  • Practitioner Exam Questions
12. Passing the Accreditation Exams
• Preparing for the Exams
  • Preparing for the Foundation Exam
  • Preparing for the Practitioner Exam
• Taking the Exams
  • General Tips for Taking the Exams
  • Taking the Foundation Exam
  • Taking the Practitioner Exam

• Appendix A Answers to Review Questions
• Chapter 1: Overview of PRINCE2
  • Foundation Exam Answers
  • Practitioner Exam Questions
• Chapter 2: Starting a Project Successfully with PRINCE2
  • Foundation Exam Answers
  • Practitioner Exam Answers
• Chapter 3: Organization Theme
  • Foundation Exam Answers
  • Practitioner Exam Answers
• Chapter 4: Business Case Theme
  • Foundation Exam Questions
  • Practitioner Exam Questions
• Chapter 5: Plans Theme
  • Foundation Exam Questions
  • Practitioner Exam Questions
• Chapter 6: Quality Theme
  • Foundation Exam Questions
  • Practitioner Exam Questions
• Chapter 7: Risk Theme
  • Foundation Exam Questions
  • Practitioner Exam Questions
• Chapter 8: Change Theme
  • Foundation Exam Questions
  • Practitioner Exam Questions
• Chapter 9: Progress Theme
  • Foundation Exam Questions
  • Practitioner Exam Questions
• Chapter 10: Managing the Middle of a Project Successfully with PRINCE2
  • Foundation Exam Questions
  • Practitioner Questions
• Chapter 11: Managing the End of a Project Successfully with PRINCE2
  • Foundation Exam Questions
  • Practitioner Exam Questions
• Appendix B Practitioner Exam Scenario
  • Scenario — Website Project
  • Additional Information
• Appendix C Management Products in PRINCE2
• Appendix D Bonus PRINCE2 Foundation Exam
• • Foundation Questions
  • Answers to Bonus PRINCE2 Foundation Exam
• Appendix E Bonus PRINCE2 Practitioner Exam
• • Project Scenario and Additional Information
    • Project Scenario
    • Additional Information
  • Questions
    • Principles
    • Business Case
    • Organization
    • Quality
    • Plans
    • Risk
    • Change
    • Progress
    • Starting Up a Project
    • Directing a Project
    • Initiating a Project
    • Controlling a Stage
    • Managing Product Delivery
    • Managing a Stage Boundary
    • Closing a Project
  • Answers to Practitioner Exam Questions
    • Answers to Principles
    • Answers to Business Case
    • Answers to Organization
    • Answer to Quality
    • Answers to Plans
    • Answers to Risk
    • Answers to Change
    • Answer to Progress
    • Answers to Starting Up a Project
    • Answers to Directing a Project
    • Answers to Initiating a Project
    • Answers to Controlling a Stage
    • Answers to Managing Product Delivery
    • Answers to Managing a Stage Boundary
    • Answers to Closing a Project

A bit dry, but it covers the subject OK.

Unfortunately, it is a lot about How, but very few explanations on Why.