Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 2009 Edition Manual [Paperback]

Office of Government Commerce (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 6, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0113310595 | ISBN-13: 978-0113310593 | Edition: 2009

This publication provides a universally applicable project management method - the principles, processes and techniques that enable individuals and organisations to successfully deliver their projects within time, cost and quality constraints. Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 forms part of a pair of publications that are the result of the PRINCE2: 2009 Project to update the PRINCE2 guidance. Its companion is Directing Successful Projects with PRINCE2. The title has been designed to be a role specific handbook for Project Managers, Team Managers and Project Support.

Product Details

• Paperback: 342 pages
• Publisher: The Stationery Office; 2009 edition (January 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0113310595
• ISBN-13: 978-0113310593
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #103,457 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for any Project Manager, May 28, 2011

By 

Peter Milsom - See all my reviews

This review is from: Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 2009 Edition Manual (Paperback)

The PRINCE2 2009 release has kept up with the times and PM improvements and once again is... brilliant!! Areas such as the principles, focusing on benefits (business case), governance, quality, process, roles and responsibilities are practically and cohesively presented. Also the consistent format and approach of the OGC methods (Managing Successful Programmes (Office of Government Commerce), Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices: P3O (P30), Management of Risk: Guidance for Practitioners (Office of Government Commerce)and now PRINCE2 2009 and Mop Management of Portfolios) is helpful and well integrated. PRINCE2 nicely integrates the six variables involved in any project, and therefore six aspects of project performance to be managed: Costs, Timescales, Scope, Quality, Risk and most importantly Benefits... Most frameworks only really deal with the first three (the traditional triple constraint)... PRINCE2 incorporates all of these sensibly.

For any project manager PRINCE2 is immediately practical and useful and will improve the success of any project. The challenge, however, with less senior project managers is they are uncomfortable with any governance or assurance on their projects or deliverables which PRINCE2 incorporates. They also immediately presume PRINCE2 is an administrative, process heavy, bureaucratic framework... which is a common misconception as it is designed to be tailorable and throughout recommends "common sense"...

For project managers who have been brought up by PMI and PMBOK and who want to write the exams, I strongly recommend taking the course. There are noticeable "philosophical" differences that are best worked through and understood in a classroom environment to truely understand PRINCE2. That said, PMBOK and PRINCE2 are completely complementary and strongly benefit each other, as each improves on the ommissions / weak areas of the other. Keep in mind there is a strong relationship between the course and the PRINCE2 manual. The manual is designed to help practitioners through the exams, though obviously it is also an invaluable reference manual as well. Also, for practitioners that have passed the course and exam, I would also recommend either the online or PDF version as it is nice to have the information, graphics and templates available in electronic format.

3.0 out of 5 stars The intent made sense... but a tough objective., May 29, 2011

By 

Peter Milsom - See all my reviews

This review is from: Directing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 2009 Edition Manual (Paperback)

Part of the exercise for the PRINCE2 2009 release was to shorten the previous 2005 manual from 457 pages to a slimmed down 327... This was accomplished by introducing two books, one for the PM practitioner, Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 2009 Edition Manual, and this one for the Project Executive, Project Board member or Project Sponsor.
If it is for guidance on how to be a Project Executive, Project Board member or Project Sponsor it is a reasonable book... though personally I think it could be shorter. The topic in and of itself is crucial, though I question the notion that a senior manager will read a 166 page manual... this is one of those areas where a half day or one day customized training course may be a better solution. There is no official OGC course at this time associated with this book which is unusual for the suite of OGC Best Practice Methodologies.
There are some other PRINCE2 "project management guides for sponsors" available that are quite good... for example the dated Prince2 for the Project Executive if still available. The Executive Guide to Directing Projects: within a PRINCE2 and MSP Environment (Prince 2 & Mcp Environment) is 124 pages and is an excellent in between option. The Prince2 Pocketbook along with clearly defined Roles and Responsibilities may be enough as well.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PRINCE2 new update, December 24, 2009

By 

ashy (uk) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 2009 Edition Manual (Paperback)

PRINCE2 book is simpler and easier to read and is slimmed down to 327 pages, it still does not have end of chapter questions. The slim down has been achieved by simplification (largely by ditching the so-called 'sub-processes' in the process model). If you want to self study goto [...] for $10 you can practice exam questions and end of chapter questions.