When it comes to IT project management training, the lessons learned are applicable to much more than just a business venture. They can provide guidance for many tasks, such as the decision to name an heir to a vast empire.
Conversely, those lessons can be ignored, and that empire can be torn apart by discord and chaos. Such was the fate of the monumental empire of Alexander the Great – another ruler that should have set aside time for PRINCE2 training courses.
Ending a project with PRINCE2
Missteps in the last leg can completely undo even the most successful project.
Napoleon Bonaparte showed us the importance of organised and controlled management in the middle of a venture, but the ending can be just as important. Missteps in the last leg can completely undo even the most successful project.
It is hard to argue that Alexander the Great had anything other than an incredibly successful undertaking with the foundation of his Macedonian Empire. In just 10 years, he established a dominion that spread over three continents from Greece to Egypt and India.
While Alexander's empire was formidable, it fell victim to a lack of planning in the end stages. When Alexander died in 323 B.C., his generals – known as the Diadochi, or successors – fought bitterly for control. The great Macedonian Empire was eventually broken up, and control of the provinces went to powerful members of the Diadochi.
Defining roles in PRINCE2
We've seen that one of the key principles in PRINCE2 methodology is the importance of roles and duties. According to Deloitte, if business leaders want to ensure a lasting future and maintain financial success, they must develop a strong succession plan early on.
Whether for a single project or an entire business, it is crucial to know who will take up the mantle of leadership if the current head leaves. Defining this and other key responsibilities is one of the main principles of PRINCE2 training.
No matter what business you're in, it is never a good idea to pass the reins off "to the strongest." According to Greek historian Diodorus Siculus, that was Alexander's response when asked to whom he would leave his kingdom. Without a legitimate heir and no clear successor, Alexander neglected to clearly define project roles at the end of his imperial venture.

Alexander's PRINCE2 failure led to the fighting amongst the Diadochi and the dissolution of his once-great empire.
Business leaders can take a lesson from Alexander's blunder by taking lessons from ALC Training. Get in touch today to find out about our PRINCE2 training offerings.
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