les 34 - plans practice 3- stages and work packages

Question 1

What does the project manager do at the end of each stage from a planning point of view?

Answer 1

The project manager will do the following:
* Create a plan for the next stage.
* Update the project plan to show what has been done and may update other data.

Question 2

What should a PRINCE2 project consider when deciding the number of stages?

Answer 2

The project can take the following into account

How much control is required by the project board? The more control, the more stages they can check at each stage.
The level of risk (the more risk, the more stages).
Project complexity, as this brings another element of risk.
Critical decision points, if needed, should be made by the project board.

Question 3

What is the minimum number of stages in a project, and what are these stages?

Answer 3

There is always a planning (initiation) stage for small projects and then at least one delivery stage.
* Planning (initiation) stage
* At least one delivery stage
* Closing a project process is part of the last stage.

Question 4

Do PRINCE2 stages overlap?

Answer 4

No, PRINCE2 stages do not overlap.
So, a new stage cannot start until the previous stage is completed and the project board decides.

Question 5

How does PRINCE2 say that work is organized?

Answer 5

Project work is organized into logical groups of work packages. Remember, a work package is a package of products to be delivered with names like design, groundworks, and substructure.

Question 6

Can work packages overlap?

Answer 6

Work packages can overlap as the PM can give out multiple work packages within one stage. It is good practice to fit work packages on stage so you can see if the work package was delivered at that stage. Allowing a work package to span 2 or 3 stages makes managing it harder.

Question 7

Why are tolerances used in a stage?

Answer 7

Tolerances help the level above (project board) control the level below (the stage); at the same time, they enable the level below to get on with their work.
Without tolerances, the project board would end up managing the stage.

Question 8

How would you define time tolerance?

Answer 8

Time tolerance is the allowable deviation in a plan’s time before the deviation must be escalated to the next management level.

Question 9

How would you define cost tolerance?

Answer 9

Cost tolerance is the allowable deviation in a plan’s cost before it must be escalated to the next management level.