S1 Course overview

Question 1

What is the main purpose of Session 1 of the PRINCE2 course?

Answer 1

To provide a basic appreciation of what PRINCE2 is and its relevance

This session sets the stage for the entire training programme.

Question 2

What will you be able to do by the end of Session 1?

Answer 2

State the objectives of the course, recall the benefits of using PRINCE2, state the five ‘integrated elements’ of PRINCE2, and list the main roles involved in a PRINCE2 project.

Question 3

What is a prerequisite for sitting the Practitioner examination?

Answer 3

A pass at the Foundation level.

Question 4

What is one major advantage of PRINCE2?

Answer 4

Universally recognised set of examination standards independent of training providers.

Question 5

What is the importance of the PRINCE2 Manual in the course?

Answer 5

It is essential for understanding PRINCE2 and is provided as an eBook with the Foundation exam voucher.

Question 6

Who is ultimately accountable for the project in PRINCE2?

Answer 6

Project Executive

Question 7

What are the five integrated elements of PRINCE2?

Answer 7

• PRINCE2 principles
• People
• PRINCE2 practices
• PRINCE2 processes
• The project context

Question 8

What do the seven principles in PRINCE2 represent?

Answer 8

Guiding obligations that determine whether the project is managed using PRINCE2.

• ensure business justification
• learn from experience
• define roles, responsibilities
• manage by stages
• magage by exception
• focus on products
• tailer to suit the project

Question 9

What is the focus of PRINCE2 in terms of project management?

Answer 9

What needs to be done to manage the project rather than how work is done.

Question 10

Fill in the blank: PRINCE2 is designed to be adaptable so it can be applied to any project, separating the management of project work from the _______ development aspects.

Answer 10

Specialist

Question 11

What does the project context in PRINCE2 include?

Answer 11

• Organizational context
• Commercial context
• Delivery method
• Scale of the project
• Sustainability objectives

Question 12

True or False: You are allowed to take the eBook or physical manual into the Foundation examination.

Answer 12

False

Question 13

Which role is responsible for ensuring required products are produced to the required standard?

Answer 13

Project Manager

Question 14

Identify two of the common contexts of the fifth integrated element of PRINCE2, ‘project context’.

Answer 14

• Commercial
• Delivery method

Question 15

What is the role of Team Managers in a PRINCE2 project?

Answer 15

Responsible for delivering the products.

Question 16

What is a recommended document to download for monitoring progress during the course?

Answer 16

Foundation Syllabus

Question 17

What does PRINCE2 achieve by separating the management of project work from specialist development activities?

Answer 17

Allows specialist activities to be integrated into a controlled environment for the project.

Question 18

Definition project

Answer 18

A temporary organization that is created for the purpose of delivering one or more business products according to an agreed business case

Question 19

Definition project management

Answer 19

project management is the application of methods, tools, techniques and competencies to enable the project to meet its objectives

Question 20

5 integrated elelements of PRINCE2

Answer 20

The five integrated elements of the PRINCE2 method are designed to work together. The practices ensure that the principles are continually applied during the processes in a way that is specific to the project context and consider the relationships and requirements of people within the project team and those outside the project team.

Question 21

PRINCE2 principles

Answer 21

he principles are the guiding obligations that determine whether the project is genuinely being managed using PRINCE2.
There are seven principles, and unless all of them are applied, it is not a PRINCE2 project.

Question 22

people

Answer 22

projects need people, mainly those working on the project and those affected by the project.
An understanding of the needs, capabilities, and motivations of the people involved and the relationships between them is crucial to how the project is established and managed.

Question 23

PRINCE2 practices

Answer 23

The practices describe essential aspects of project management that must be applied consistently and throughout the project lifecycle. The seven practices explain the specific treatment required of that aspect of project management for the PRINCE2 processes to be effective and why they are necessary.
* business case
* organizing
* plans
* quality
* risk
* issues
* progress

Question 24

PRINCE2 processes

Answer 24

the seven processes describe the entire project lifecycle, from activities before getting started, through the stages of project delivery, and to the final act of project closure. Each process has checklists of recommended activities and related responsibilities. The PRINCE2 processes are provided in Chapters 12 to 19.

Question 25

the project context

Answer 25

the principles, practices, and processes are applied by the people involved to ensure that the method is fit for the project context. How PRINCE2 can be applied to common contexts is outlined in section 1.5.

Question 26

Definition: project

Answer 26

A temporary organization that is created for the purpose of delivering one or more business products according to an agreed business case.

Question 27

There are five characteristics of a project that distinguish it from business as usual:

Answer 27

● change: projects are the means by which we introduce change. ● temporary: projects are temporary in nature. When the desired change has been implemented, business as usual resumes (in its new form), and the need for the project is removed. As projects are temporary, they should therefore have a defined start and a defined end. ● cross-functional: a project involves a team of people with different skills working together on a temporary basis to introduce a change that will impact others outside the team. Projects often work across the usual functional divisions within an organization and sometimes span different organizations. This frequently causes stresses and strains both within and between organizations (for example, between customers and suppliers). Each has a different perspective and motivation for getting involved in the project. ● unique: every project is unique. An organization may undertake many similar projects and establish a familiar, proven pattern of project activity, but each one will differ in a certain way. This can mean a different team, customer, supplier, product, location, or timeframe. All these factors combine to make every project unique. ● uncertainty: the characteristics already listed will introduce threats and opportunities over and above those typically encountered within business as usual. Projects are riskier than any operational aspects of an organization.

Question 28

Definition: project management

Answer 28

Project management is the application of methods, tools, techniques, and competencies to enable the project to meet its objectives.

Question 29

What does the sustainability management approach scope describe?

Answer 29

What sustainability targets ## Footnote It outlines the specific sustainability goals that need to be achieved.

Question 30

What does the measurement aspect of the sustainability management approach describe?

Answer 30

How to measure achievement of sustainability targets ## Footnote This involves the methods and metrics used to evaluate progress towards sustainability goals.

Question 31

What are the key components of the sustainability management approach?

Answer 31

* Responsibilities * Resources for sustainability management activities * Supporting tools and techniques * Standards * References for associated documents or products ## Footnote These components help organize and implement sustainability initiatives effectively.

Question 32

What is the purpose of the benefits management approach?

Answer 32

To define the benefits management actions and benefits reviews ## Footnote This ensures that project outcomes are achieved and that benefits are realized.

Question 33

What does the business case executive summary highlight?

Answer 33

The key points ## Footnote It provides a concise overview of the project's main aspects.

Question 34

What does the reasons section of the business case define?

Answer 34

The reasons for undertaking the project ## Footnote This outlines the justification for initiating the project.

Question 35

What is included in the business options section of the business case?

Answer 35

Analysis and reasoned recommendation ## Footnote It evaluates different options and suggests the best course of action.

Question 36

What are expected benefits and dis-benefits in a business case?

Answer 36

Benefits and dis-benefits of the project ## Footnote This section assesses the positive and negative impacts of the project.

Question 37

What does the sustainability targets section of the business case refer to?

Answer 37

The sustainability targets for the project ## Footnote This specifies the environmental goals the project aims to achieve.

Question 38

What does the time section in the business case indicate?

Answer 38

The period over which the project will run ## Footnote This defines the timeline for project implementation.

Question 39

What is summarized in the costs section of the business case?

Answer 39

A summary of the project costs ## Footnote This provides an overview of the financial requirements of the project.

Question 40

What is included in the investment appraisal of the business case?

Answer 40

Assessment of the project's financial viability ## Footnote This evaluates whether the project's benefits justify the costs.

Question 41

What does the major risks section of the business case summarize?

Answer 41

The key threats and opportunities ## Footnote This identifies potential challenges and advantages related to the project.

Question 42

What are the high-level contents of a project brief?

Answer 42

* Project definition * Outline business case * Project product description * Project approach * Project management * References for associated documents or products ## Footnote These elements provide a comprehensive overview of the project.

Question 43

Defining and analyzing products, what sub steps?

Answer 43

Write a project product description Create a product breakdown structure Write product descriptions Create a product flow diagram Ref 7.3.2 Defining and analyzing the products.

Question 44

Sustainability Plans can address sustainability in at least three different ways:

Answer 44

Product sustainability Delivery sustainability Benefits sustainability

Question 45

Delivery sustainability

Answer 45

Projects often face choices in planning work packages and stages that can affect the climate impacts of the delivery activities. Agreeing to sustainability tolerances is an effective way in which the project manager and project board can keep things like fuel consumption and production wastes aligned with the organizational strategy.

Question 46

Quality management focuses on three elements: quality planning, quality control, and quality assurance. Quality planning involves:

Answer 46

- identifying the major products of the project and documenting them - eliciting user requirements - developing the quality management approach - obtaining the project board’s approval

Question 47

Definition: User’s quality expectations

Answer 47

A statement about the quality expected from the project product, captured in the project product description. All project stakeholders have expectations of how the project will be performed and of the products it will deliver.

Question 48

The purpose of the quality practice is:

Answer 48

The purpose of the quality practice is to document the user’s requirements of the project products and to establish the means by which they will be met. The quality practice addresses the quality concepts, guidance, techniques, management products, and responsibilities for the project products.

Question 49

10.2.4 Delegating authority for changes

Answer 49

The project board is the ultimate authority for reviewing and approving requests for change and offspecifications. However, the project board may delegate authority to approve changes. Delegating authority for effective change control is a matter of balancing efficiency and control. If there is too little delegation, the project board is likely to slow the progress or be asked to review changes that others are better able to decide.

Question 50

Risk versus Threat

Answer 50

Risks can have a negative or positive impact on objectives if they occur. PRINCE2 uses the terms ‘threat’ for uncertain events that would have a negative impact on objectives and ‘opportunity’ for uncertain events that would have a positive impact on objectives. Threats and opportunities can impact the project’s objective of delivering an agreed scope and benefits to an agreed time, cost, and quality, as well as within agreed sustainability targets. Ref 9.1 Risk

Question 51

Issue types are:

Answer 51

Problem, Concern, External event, Business opportunity, Request for change, Off-specification

Question 52

The purpose of the issue report is

Answer 52

The purpose of the issue report is to describe the issue’s impacts on the project baseline and identify ways to resolve the issue or address off-specification and recommend a decision.

Question 53

Definition: Problem or concern

Answer 53

A problem is an issue with an immediate and negative impact. A concern is an issue whose timeliness and impact need to be assessed

Question 54

During the decide step, the project board can respond as follows to a request for change:

Answer 54

Approve Reject Ask for an exception plan Request more information The steps are: Capture, Assess, Recommend, Decide, and Implement. CARDI

Question 55

a. End stage report: High-level content

Answer 55

Executive summary Performance review Summary of follow-on action recommendations Key issues and risks Forecast

Question 56

b. Issue Report High-level content

Answer 56

* Unique identifier & Product identifier(s) * Date raised and Type of problem * Type of issue * Severity and priority, * Description (a summary of the issue) * Options to deal with the issue * Recommendation * Decision

Question 57

c. Highlight Report: High-level content

Answer 57

Executive summary * Period the reporting period covered * Follow up the outstanding items from previous reports * This reporting period * Next reporting period forecast * Stage and project tolerance status * Key issues and risks

Question 58

d. Checkpoint Report High-level content

Answer 58

Executive summary team manager’s report Period the reporting period covered by the checkpoint report Follow up the outstanding items This reporting period Next reporting period Work package tolerance status Issues and risks

Question 59

Work package level exceptions

Answer 59

After agreeing to work package tolerances with the team manager, the project manager should be informed of progress with regular checkpoint reports.

Question 60

the purpose of the project log is

Answer 60

to capture the continually changing records of issues, lessons, products, quality, risk, and other formal/informal actions or events.

Question 61

End stage report

Answer 61

An 'end stage report' is given by the project manager to the project board at the end of each stage. This provides information about the project’s performance during the stage and the project status at the stage end

Question 62

Team Plan

Answer 62

A team plan is used as the basis for organizing and controlling the work of a team when executing a work package. Team plans are optional in PRINCE2 and are usually created by the Team Manager.

Question 63

Sustainability management approach

Answer 63

This is one of the nine approach management products (documents) created in the "initiating a project" process by the project manager. As you can see, this adds a lot of documentation to a PRINCE2 project.

Question 64

Stage plan (for initiation stage)

Answer 64

A stage plan is a detailed plan used as the basis for project management control throughout a management stage.

Question 65

The purpose of the "business case" practice and not any of the seven processes

Answer 65

The purpose is to establish mechanisms to judge whether the project is (and remains) desirable, viable, and achievable, which will support decision-making regarding its continued investment.

Question 66

Controlling a stage - purpose

Answer 66

The process's purpose is to assign work, monitor such work, handle issues, report progress to the project board, and take corrective actions to ensure that the stage remains within the project board's tolerances.

Question 67

Initiating a project - purpose

Answer 67

To prepare the contract for the project to enable the project board to commit to delivery

Question 68

Directing a project - purpose

Answer 68

This process allows the governing body to be accountable for the project’s success by making key decisions and exercising overall control while delegating day-to-day project management to the project manager.

Question 69

Action: Increase the frequency of reports to report on the performance of the stage.

Answer 69

This action directly assesses the effectiveness of the project management process and the current status of the project stage. If issues are left left unresolved, then the project is quickly going to get out of hand.

Question 70

In which PRINCE2 process is the work to deliver a stage's products assigned?

Answer 70

Controlling a stage Keyword in question is assigned 16.1  Purpose The purpose of 'controlling a stage' is to assign work, monitor such work, handle issues, report progress to the project board, and take corrective actions to ensure that the stage remains within the tolerances set by the project board. 16.3  Context Work package descriptions are used to define, assign, and control the work to be done, as well as to set tolerances for the team managers.

Question 71

What action should the Project Manager take to ensure effective progress management when a Team Manager lacks experience?

Answer 71

Increase the frequency of checkpoint reports. When a Team Manager is inexperienced, increasing the frequency of checkpoint reports ensures that the Project Manager receives regular updates on progress. This allows for closer monitoring and early identification of any issues, helping to maintain effective progress management and providing the necessary support to the Team Manager.