What is a Value Stream?

It may not be obvious, by the concept of a value stream is one of the most important concepts in a digital transformation.  Why?   Because once you understand a value stream, you start to truly understand your business and you’re on a clear path to improving customer experience.  Exceptional customer experience is your key business differentiator in the world of digital disruption and needs to be the core focus of any digital transformation.

Let’s define a value stream.  I’ll use what I consider, to be the best sources of knowledge reference. 

First from Scaled Agile.  

If you click on the image it will take you to the Leading SAFe 2 Day course I run at ALC Training.

Second from the TOGAF certification, written by the Open Group:

And here is a picture of a sample value stream map for an online purchase:

And here is another, outlining an emergency hospital admission:

As you can see it’s a simple overview, usually shown in 5-9 stages, of how a product or service starts life and is delivered to the consumer. 

As you can see, the business processes beneath can vary in complexity.  With an online purchase, the process is relatively simple.  With say intensive care, the process can be extremely complex and there are probably 1000’s or paths, depending on the type of care required.

It can also be known as:

Clearly, there are many values streams and they are quite different between industries.

Once we understand our value stream, we can then consider decomposing each component into systems and people.  An example of this is from Scaled Agile, where they define two types of value streams:

You’ll notice that the operational value stream is the one that is focused on the customer.  Whereas the development value stream is aligned to delivering systems in an agile manner.  In fact, these are development value streams are also known as a CI/CD pipeline:

So what we’ve now done, is to understand our business in the context of delivering value through software.  We cover this in our DevOps Foundation course:

Any questions on Scaled Agile or DevOps concepts, as always please reach out via twitter – @MusicComposer1 or find me on LinkedIn:

What are the current trends in project management?

 

Project management is in a constant of flux, evolving to accommodate the news needs of businesses and their projects. Consequently, it is important to keep up with the current trends in the industry, so you know what kind of expertise and IT project management training you need in order to deliver the best results.

Here are some of the trends we are seeing in project management right now.

Teams are now free to use technology to develop products remotely.

1. Remote project management

These days, it is no longer necessary for a team to be all in the same place in order to work on a project. As a result, more and more teams are operating from different location using virtualisation, rather than being all together in one location.

According to CIO magazine, this development makes logical sense, because the drive to constantly produce more innovative projects naturally results in team members being distributed throughout a range of geographical areas. CIO adds that using offshore development teams can also help to reduce costs, yet project managers are still able to easily oversee the progress using technology.

2. Project managers as thought leaders

Another interesting development for project management is created by the increasing popularity of content marketing. As the experts in their field, many project managers are being looked to by companies to create informative, insightful content that has the added benefit of incorporating SEO, which helps to promote the business.

Project management specialist LiquidPlanner says that it’s important for project managers to establish a greater understanding of the “story” created by the various aspects of the project throughout its lifecycle, as this will better enable them to be thought leaders and pass this knowledge on to others though content.


Project managers are now thought leaders as well.

3. Greater emphasis on change management

Projects are becoming more involved in change management right now than they have been in the past. According to business performance company TwentyEighty Strategy Execution, this is a fundamental skill for all project managers, as change is often an inherent aspect of any project. The company says that technical skills are not enough to oversee a significant change effectively, and as such relational and strategic skills are essential for good change management.

In addition, actively cultivating these skills is essential for a company to ensure it will experience a smooth transition into new undertakings.

The shifting demands of the market mean project managers need to have new skills to draw on.

4. Upskilling and certification

Likewise, the upskilling of project managers is becoming particularly important. The demands of the industry are rapidly changing and professionals need to have the expertise to effectively develop products in the shifting market conditions.

TwentyEighty Strategy Execution reveals there are several skills that project managers need to be able function well, including the ability to think analytically, good communication skills, established technical expertise, a solid grasp of strategy and a business-driven mindset. These skills span a variety of disciplines and work together to make the project managers more effective in the marketplace.

Likewise, having certifications in project management frameworks can be a useful tool to cultivate, and can be achieved though PRINCE2 training and similar methodologies.

5. More focus on Agile project management

Finally, more and more businesses are recognising the benefits of using Agile project management. According to PM Times, the Agile approach was once reserved for software development, but is now being embraced by a variety of industries. It allows for a more flexible, consumer-driven management of projects, increasing efficiency, improving marketability and reducing risk.

Consequently, Agile project management is becoming more more frequently used, and integrated into other methodologies.

It’s apparent that project management is shifting in a number of ways, and it is therefore essential that professionals look for ways to keep up with the current trends. Whether through expanding their knowledge of product development or through IT governance training, ALC Training can help project managers to deliver the best results for their business.

Effective project management with PRINCE2

The benefits of any training course and the new skills gained are clearly apparent once an employee implements these into their working environment. But with the world of information technology such a varied and diverse area to study, choosing the right training course is crucial to your professional development. 

PRINCE2 training allows a team to successfully deliver projects through a universally understood language. With this in mind, we'll look at how PRINCE2 training can increase the performance of a team and bring substantial improvements to their projects.

An effective overview solution

PRINCE2 is comprised of a number of themes that ensure the efficient management of a project.

The world of commercial industry has changed in recent years, with workers spread further across the world and requiring effective communication more than ever. PRINCE2 encourages the organisation of a project by making it clear who is responsible for which processes – right from the start.

Communication between team members will ensure a project runs on time.

Managing risk uncertainty

Projects generally have a time frame for completion. A valid and considered risk-management strategy is just as important as the successful closure of a project – including tying up any loose ends and ensuring the client is contented.

It's not just failure that can set you back though – problems and issues that arise in the process of a project can be countered by implementing improvements along the way.

Having an effective method of communication between team members will ensure a project runs on time and that problems are dealt with swiftly.  

Effective project management training is a great benefit for any team.Effective project management training is a great benefit for any team.

Timelines and time frames

Project management with PRINCE2 training makes the monitoring of team progress easier than ever. When overseeing a project, you want to be able to correct any problems and review the overall success of the team, while remaining flexible enough to deal with changing client demands. 

Client requests can throw a spanner into the works of any well-managed team – keeping on top of these and weaving them into the establish project timeline will reduce the risk of running over time or budget. 

PRINCE2 can ensure that managing a project is more detailed and inclusive than ever. As mentioned above, effective training can allow project managers to have total control of and oversee many different areas of a team. 

The unavoidable value of training

Whether it's ensuring the communication between team members, integration of new staff into the project or simply avoiding being blindsided by a tricky client request, PRINCE2 training is greatly beneficial. 

If you would like to find out more about how PRINCE2 training courses can benefit your organisation, reach out to an ALC Training representative today.

7 Essential Strategies to Create Quality Projects Under Tight Deadlines

Successful project management require you to manage numerous moving parts. Add to the mix strict deadlines and you’ll have little room to make mistakes. With a detailed project plan and smart project management tools however, you can achieve your project goals and fulfil the required quality standards.

1. Communicate goals and individual responsibilities

When working to urgent deadlines, ensure quality by making sure everyone in the team understands their responsibility as well as the overarching goal. Communication is crucial because it helps you coordinate and steer your team towards defined goals.

Using feedback loops is an essential element of effective team communication. With feedback, you can check that team members understand what they’re doing and what’s expected of them. Encourage team members to ask questions and let them know any question, no matter how obvious the answer might be, is a welcome question.

2. Manage risk

Proactively manage risk by identifying potential risks, determine probability, and determine possible impact. Use a risk register to log and track risks, and identify possible countermeasures so you can act quickly and mobilise your team in a new direction if required.

A proactive risk management strategy allows you to minimise potential problems that can interrupt your ability to deliver the project on time. It could even help you avert disaster and non-delivery. Sources of risk include any events that affect your resources, team and individuals, processes, and technology.

3. Learn how to prioritise tasks

Shifting and competing priorities come with any project. Without effective prioritisation, you can end up falling behind, failing to achieve targets within budget, and creating a defeatist team morale.

One easy way to prioritise team tasks is to display a detailed project schedule, whether on a physical board or a virtual one (or both). When changes to task assignments are updated, communicate it to team members. Use a workflow management or project management tool to manage multiple tasks and project elements.

Distinguish between urgent and important tasks. Track project backlogs with your workflow management tool so you can assign them to individual team members in order of priority. Always include a completion date for every task.

4. Stick to your detailed project plan

Work to your detailed project plan so you fulfil all necessary project management elements. Your project plan should have specific details relating to identifying and meeting with appropriate stakeholders. For example, you’ll need to meet with project sponsors and major stakeholders to define things like budget, timeline, and scope.

Your project plan should outline the goals of your project, list goals in order of priority, and define the deliverables you need to have at completion. The plan should reflect your business case and quality requirements. Milestones and deadlines need to be clearly stated. Finally, your project should outline risks and your risk management plan.

5. Document all details of the project

Track multiple moving parts by accurately documenting all project details, so you can check up on things or refer back to your stated goals quickly. You can use your project management software to do this, or you can create your own templates and documents to record what’s happening.

Vital elements you’ll want to track include the business case of your project, a statement of work, the project charter, and your project management plan. Other elements include an action log, a risk register, status reports, and budget. Essentially these are  control mechanisms that let every project manager needs to monitor and correct the project as it moves along.

6. Learn to work to your team’s skillset

Take stock of your team’s individual and collective skillsets and design your project to reflect these strengths. For example, you should set roles and assign tasks to leverage their skill set and maximise project outcomes. Working to your team’s skill set lets you guide your team so they make the most of their skills. It can drive a more successful project outcome and ensure you hit the quality targets you’re looking for.

7. Plan productive project update meetings with your team

The dreaded weekly team meetings don’t have to be time-wasters if planned right. You have three core objectives with any project update meeting: make sure team members are in sync with each other, ensure the project is on track, and check milestones are being met.

Use an agenda to structure your meetings, and send out the agenda the day before so everyone knows what’s happening in the meeting. Invite team members to add to the agenda. Include time for individual updates so people are held accountable for their goals. Ensure there’s a meeting administrator who keeps things moving so the agenda items are covered. End with action steps that need to be taken to keep the project on track.

Effective project management requires you, the project leader, to take charge by assigning individual responsibilities and manage potential risks. Working to a detailed project plan and prioritising tasks is also vital, along with tracking progress, conducting productive meetings, and leveraging your team’s skillset.

ALC Training is an accredited provider of  PRINCE2 training courses. Whether you’re an experienced project manager or starting out in the field, our courses can help you direct successful, complex projects. Contact us today for a discussion about our PRINCE2 courses.

Establishing a common project management language with PRINCE2

 

Managing projects successfully while incorporating client feedback can be a daunting task, one that PRINCE2 methodology aims to address and mitigate.

For IT professionals who have spent many years researching and studying the best and most up-to-date framework or methodology for managing projects, PRINCE and the more flexible PRINCE2 will already be familiar terms.

We at ALC training offer a number of higher-level IT project management training to assist with the choosing and implementation of PRINCE2, alongside a range of in-depth courses from foundation to expert level.

Over 85 per cent of those holding PRINCE2 certification feel that it has been valuable to their career.

Why PRINCE2 holds the management crown

Chances are, even if you aren’t using PRINCE2 currently, there’s a possibility that you’re managing your projects with something similar. This is because PRINCE2 is a method that doesn’t redesign the process involved, but merely refines it.

By bringing together commonalities such as names and descriptions within a structure that anyone trained in PRINCE2 can understand, your IT teams can experience a much higher flexibility of communication.

The other shining benefit of the methodology is that, in contrast to the first version of PRINCE – designed primarily for the management of IT projects – PRINCE2 can be applied to any project, no matter the nature or size.

Agile consumed the world over

Although your IT team may be perfectly capable of communicating the importance or benefits of this technology to leaders within your business, understanding PRINCE2 at many different levels can be difficult.

According to a report published by AXELOS, employers are potentially missing out on the benefits of incorporating PRINCE2 methodology into their business practices, despite an overwhelming amount of employees seeing the value it can offer.

More than 80 per cent of those surveyed – across a range of industry sectors and positions – feel using agile methods towards project management can benefit a company. More encouraging, 88 per cent of those holding PRINCE2 certification responded that it has been valuable in their career.

PRINCE2 can benefit any number of projects. PRINCE2 can benefit any number of projects.

Relevant information and timely training

Nikos Paxos, head of programme and project management for AXELOS, spoke about the value of PRINCE2 at every level of an organisation.

“It is encouraging to hear that so many people are gaining value by achieving their PRINCE2 certification. It was interesting to learn that senior management, operations and other functions from across the organisation find PRINCE2 valuable, not only to their role, but to their career,” said

We at ALC Training offer a suite of IT project management training courses, COBIT 5 and ITIL training – with learning options available at any level of management, from IT professional to business leader.

For more information, reach out to ALC Training today.

Promoting better project management with Agile

 

Remaining adaptable in the modern business world is crucial to incorporating new processes and ideas while allowing former methods to evolve within the company.

For IT professionals looking at improving their project management efficiency, making the choice between PRINCE2 certification and Agile can be a tough decision. As with any qualification course or study, it’s important to know what will best benefit you and your skill set before making a commitment.

If you want to know if Agile is the key to building better business teams and delivering on time and within budget, take a look at some of our frequently asked questions below.

Firstly, what is Agile?

Agile courses are a unique type of IT project management training. Unlike others – that cover a fixed framework or methodology – Agile is considered more of an all-encompassing, umbrella term, consisting of many different management approaches.

Including DSDM Atern and Scrum, this family of development characteristics makes up the Agile Manifesto – the overarching shared values of Agile Project Management.

Want to become qualified in the world’s leading framework and certification for Agile Project Management? Sign up to our AgilePM® Foundation / Practitioner Combined course

Agile is being used successfully across a range of industries.Agile is being used successfully across a range of industries.

What’s the benefit of Agile?

The nature of business is competitive, leaving those who wish to select While many project management approaches are inherently competitive, Agile aims to be complementary to these. An expert in Agile will have excellent focus in assessing a project through the development lifecycle.

Agile can help deliver improved and enhanced communications to your team, enabling the efficient planning and management of your projects.

This isn’t the only benefit of understanding Agile, however, as the more structured approach to projects will assist you in:

Effective training will always remain the key to understanding a methodology or framework.

But what if I’ve already studied PRINCE2?

We at ALC Training offer a number of IT project management training courses. If you’ve read the above information about Agile and feel it may be right for you, then take a more extensive look at our Foundation and Practitioner certificate course.

For those who have already achieved PRINCE2 Practitioner status, the combined PRINCE2 Agile framework course offers the flexibility of both approaches.

Covering a number of areas including the integration of Agile approaches into PRINCE2 project structure, our professionally led training course will assist you in understanding the basic concepts of Agile right up to preparation for the combined Practitioner exam.

Is Agile effective?

In a study conducted by Software Advice, the most common Agile feature used by those surveyed was workflow tracking, with some 95 per cent noting this. Further to this figure, 90 per cent of respondents claimed workflow tracking was the feature to most increase the efficiency of a project.

And the top projects managed by Agile? While 52 per cent of users find their projects to be focussed on software and IT, Agile still finds an exceptional range of use in marketing (11 per cent), architecture (5 per cent), and finance (4 per cent).

Agile remains an effective solution for those in software development, as having a clear and understood scope of project timelines will ensure delivery success.

Conquering challenges with ALC Training

While Agile project management software can clearly benefit many at the planning, management and delivery stages, effective training will always remain the key to understanding a methodology or framework.

ALC has an extensive history with a proven track record – we’ve helped over 30,000 enhance their career options and reliably pass their exams with our courses.

If you want to find out more about PRINCE2, Agile or our combined project management course, get in touch with ALC Training today.

Is PRINCE2 IT project management the training course for you?

 

While the benefits of implementing a universal framework will allow a common language to be spoken by everyone in your IT department, it’s crucial that you take the time to consider which architecture framework and methodology will fit into your company dynamic.

That’s why ALC offers a diverse range of options for those wishing to enhance their IT career with PRINCE2 training courses.

The first steps with PRINCE2

The PRINCE2 foundation and practitioner certificate is a five-day course designed to comprehensively cover every aspect of the methodology involved in project management.

Designed for aspiring or current project managers, this program is ideal for individuals who wish to gain a career as a PRINCE2 trainer or consultant.

By the end of the course, you should be able to understand all aspects of the methodology, learn how to deliver projects on time and within budget, and receive a globally recognised certification.

This could then be followed by the “Directing a Project with PRINCE2” course – suitably designed for members of the board, project executives and senior users.

The benefits of choosing training with ALC

ALC has a solid background in project management and IT governance training.

When you choose to undertake a certification or foundation roadmap with ALC, you’re not deciding on just another IT project management training course, but selecting a company that provides a number of unique benefits:

The most crucial part of a training course is that it runs when it needs to – all ALC Training courses are guaranteed to run on time, with offices in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.

Consisting of a genuine and dedicated team of staff, we’re always happy to answer any of your questions.

ALC has a solid background in project management and IT governance training. We’ve been training IT professionals in PRINCE2 since 1999, COBIT 5 from 2006, and have a consistent record of personal success assisting thousands of individuals in gaining industry qualifications.

Training can often seem like hard work. ALC is here to help. Training can often seem like hard work. ALC is here to help.

Making the right choice with ALC

If you’re set on PRINCE2 certification, or would like to know more about the process of project management that being effectively trained in this framework can provide, there is no better choice than ALC.

Reach out to us today, and find out how our expert qualification courses can help you distinguish yourself amongst the IT crowd.

The ITIL Expert career pathway

 

Choosing the correct certification in IT can be a challenging task. With a plethora of curriculum and specialisation options – and just as many instructors and consultants – choosing the most beneficial training course with the right provider can prove a great success to your career.

ALC Training has been a market leader in IT project management training since 1994, assisting over 30,000 people in gaining the right certification. One of these is Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) – an IT Service Management framework.

Below, we’ll look at the ITIL course pathway – from foundation to intermediate certificates, through to ITIL Expert qualification.

ALC Training has been a market leader in IT project management training since 1994.

The foundation of knowledge

The first step to achieving an ITIL Expert qualification is to learn the framework and structure of ITIL itself. The 3-day foundation course provides an overview of ITIL and an extensive list of topics; including the service lifecycle structure and strategy, design and service operation.

The course will also prepare you for the Foundation Certificate exam – the first step toward achieving ITIL Expert certification.

Intermediate capabilities

Once you’ve completed the initial course and gained your foundation certificate, you can move on to capability or lifecycle modules. There are five capability certificate courses that cover the core service management aspects of ITIL.

The five-day course encompasses how to maintain control and maximise the quality of an IT service, the prevention of recurring errors and faults, issue reporting, response to customer and market requirements, and future strategic vision.

Gaining ITIL certification can provide great benefits to your IT career.Gaining ITIL certification can provide great benefits to your IT career.

What makes an ITIL Expert?

The concluding and mandatory module of the ITIL Expert qualification is Managing Across the Lifecycle. This final course addresses the identification of management and business problems, risk management and organisational challenges.

Once you’ve finished the training and successfully passed your final exam, you’ll achieve your ITIL Expert qualification – proof of the new skills available to your team and business. With this certification, you can demonstrate a comprehensive approach to service management, and learn a common language to assist the ease of further learning.

Reliable ITIL training with ALC

Choosing the best course to benefit your career can be a tricky decision. ALC is a trusted ITIL certification provider with over 20 years of professional training experience.

Get in touch with ALC Training today, and we can discuss a personalised ITIL Expert course program to help you make a difference in your IT career.

Which training course can you most benefit from?

If you've been to university in the past two decades, you can attest to the number of individuals who find themselves confused or lost by choosing the wrong training course or degree. Despite this, employers and students alike still place great significance on acquiring a qualification to prove their ability. 

There are a range of certification options available in almost any career, but IT training will always benefit individuals with unique and diverse skill sets. Any individual or business that values specificity and competency in their work will know the improvements that well-designed training courses can bring. 

ALC offers a selectively designed program to ensure that all trainees return to their jobs able to make an impressionable and instant difference to their role. So, which training course is right for you? 

Choosing the right IT training course can greatly benefit your career.Choosing the right IT training course can greatly benefit your career.

Below, we'll take a look at the selection of courses provided by ALC Training across three of their five key areas.

ITIL is an essential qualification for those wishing to make a difference in IT service management.

IT Service Management

The Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) is an IT Service Management framework, an essential qualification for those wishing to make a difference in IT service management. The foundation course covers a number of areas to help you learn the fundamental features of ITIL and prepare for the foundation certificate exam.

The 3-day training comprehensively details all foundation subjects – from the history of ITIL itself through to service management, strategy and design and much more. The foundation course finishes with an ITIL certification exam and its relation to other key training areas, including:

Further ITIL training is also offered, with the ITIL Expert qualification awarded to those who successfully complete the range of training modules. 

Project, Programme and Portfolio Management

PRINCE2 training can offer a number of benefits to team project management – whether it's aiding the clear communication between a team, integrating client requests into an existing project or bringing on new staff to a project. 

The 5-day foundation and practitioner course provides effective training for those who wish to grasp the key concepts and frameworks of PRINCE2 while also gaining recognised qualifications. 

The first part of the course covers the seven principles, themes and processes of PRINCE2, with the second half committed to the implementation of PRINCE2 and management of a project – with practitioner certification held at the closing of the course. 

SABSA training provides improved competency in business-driven security strategy and architecture.

Information Security

ALC offers a diverse array of information security training courses, including SABSA, CISSP, CRISC, ISO 27001 and CISM.

Whether you want SABSA training for improved competency in business-driven security strategy and architecture, or ISO 27001 certification gained from practical teaching, ALC Training can provide a structured career path. 

These courses aren't limited to network administrators or engineers, however. The Information Security for Executives presentation uses pertinent scenarios to help those in higher positions better understand the roles and challenges of security professionals. 

For those with a large roster of staff, the Information Security Awareness Program addresses social engineering – the use of humans as manipulatable targets for hackers – and can be incredibly effective in identifying malicious cyber-tactics. 

ALC Training from foundation to expert

ALC is a supplier of expert training and services for businesses and individuals – able to provide and implement effective IT solutions. ALC Training courses are designed to equip professionals with the skills needed to make an immediate difference in their role. 

With classes offered in New Zealand, Australia and areas of Southeast Asia, now is a great time to get in touch with ALC Training and find out how specialised courses can help you take the next step in your IT career.

How can PRINCE2 benefit your digital marketing strategy?

In today's busy global marketplace there are a huge number of international and domestic companies vying for space. For businesses to survive, it is essential to have a point of difference or a unique selling point (USP). For some businesses it could be having highly trained staff, such as individuals with ITIL certification, for others it might be a patented product or service.

PRINCE2 training can help managers deliver digital marketing projects.

However, a company's point of difference is only as good as the marketing strategy it uses to communicate its brand to consumers. So how can PRINCE2 training help individuals implement an effective and successful marketing strategy.

What is digital marketing?

By now most people will have heard of the term digital marketing. But what does it mean? In its simplest form, digital marketing is the communication and promotion of products, brands and people through one or more types of electronic media. 

One of the major distinctions between digital and more traditional forms of marketing is that the former involves the use of techniques and channels that allow businesses to assess the effectiveness of a campaign. Through real-time information, marketers can learn what is and what is not working. From monitoring customer touchpoints to measuring the success of sales conversations, digital marketers have the ability to access up-to-date information from a range of channels, including social media platforms and instant messaging. 

Digital marketing is important for a number of reasons. With consumers having near instant access to information no matter where they are, customers are not only exposed to what a company says about its brand but what other sources say too. As such, it's highly important a business stays in control of its image. 

How could PRINCE2 help digital marketers?How could PRINCE2 training help digital marketers?

So how can PRINCE2 be used in digital marketing?

Like many other industries, digital marketing can be founded on a range of projects – depending on the style and structure of the business. With PRINCE2 being one of the world's leading project management methodologies, it is well positioned to successfully deliver variety of small to medium-sized digital projects. 

PRINCE2 has a number of tools that project managers can use to deliver successful and on-point projects. Management by Exception is an example of a principle that can be of value to digital marketers. 

As today's commercial world is characterised by disruptive forces and quick changes in consumer behaviour, projects need to be delivered on time and to budget. Management by Exception ensures that project managers are not overloading senior leaders with too much detail as the project transitions between stages. This principle ensures projects are delivered according to the outlined timeline and without becoming bureaucratic and static. 

PRINCE2 training courses can ensure senior management is not inundated with information.PRINCE2 training courses can ensure senior management is not inundated with information.

What can make a digital marketing project better?

PRINCE2 training can ensure managers clearly define roles while offering strong, directed guidance, helping them and their teams remove the challenge from executing strategy. With rigorous project control through the method's guidance, a project manager can reduce risk and ensure that they complete the goals they set up.

Digital marketing is characterised by cross-disciplinary approaches, for instance, web designers can find themselves working side by side with copy editors. Teams comprised of people with a range of different skills and experiences can be an obstacle to the clear understanding of their duties. 

One way to boost the effectiveness of PRINCE2 is to have an entire team trained in its method, not just the project manager. By doing this, team members can speak a common project management language and bring a level of clarity to the project. 

If you would like to know how PRINCE2 training courses can benefit your organisation, talk to a representative at ALC Training today. With clear terminology and processes, companies can reduce the tension that comes from misunderstandings and ensure projects are executed effectively.

4 PRINCE2 terms you may not know are agile

 

In the IT world, many agile practitioners believe that PRINCE2 is not flexible enough for the demands of the contemporary workplace. However, for those that have gone through PRINCE2 training, most will be aware how wrong this mentality truly is.

In fact, many terms are inherently agile and can add a level of flexibility to the delivery of any project. To reinforce this claim, here are four terms that are more agile than many believe.

IT project management training starts with PRINCE2 training.

Agile term one – Initiation

When PRINCE2 projects are implemented, they rely on the business case to ensure they are justifiable. There are also the plans that outline what will happen, the budget constraints and the delivery strategies. All of these are identified and decided during the initiation stage.

The business case is the perfect space to articulate an agile perspective and structure the projects requirements and planning to incorporate agile feature sets and product releases. Take for instance the project management and delivery approach, PRINCE2 practitioners can quite easily utilise agile approaches such as Scrum and Kanban.

Additionally, plans could be also be time-boxed rather than flow based, while funding could be based on the releases rather than the traditional technical stages of delivery effort.

By implementing these approaches in the initiation stage, the project can focus on value delivery, decreasing the time-to-market timeframe and allowing end users to utilise valuable components as soon as possible.

Agile term two – Work package

One of the foundational ideas of agile approaches is self-organising teams. For this to be a reality, teams need to be aware of their responsibilities and it must be organised according to understood and communicable boundaries.

PRINCE2’s work package does not preclude these agile fundamentals but can facilitate this form of organisation. For instance, work packages can allow agile practitioners to communicate to stakeholders their roles, responsibilities and authority. This will allow teams to be sure of what they need to do to build and deliver products of value.

How agile is your business?How agile is your business?

Agile term three – Tolerance 

PRINCE2 lumps tolerance control under the Project Manager. Tolerance refers to any variation from the agreed estimates set out by the business case in relation to time, cost, risk, benefit and scope. If these tolerances look like they will be breached, it is the responsibility of the project manager to escalate this to the Project Board to attain formal change control and decision-making ability.

Agile methodologies have the same approaches, although under the guise of prioritisation. For instance, many practitioners will use MoSCoW to re-scope their project if it looks like it is heading off course to ensure the project remains within the set time and budget allocated.

Quality follows a similar vein. Take for example the manufacturing of a car. An agile approach would focus on the minimal viable product – being the engine, chassis and other central concerns, while features such as an air conditioning system and sunroofs included only if time and cost will allow.

PRINCE2 can follow suit. It decided on the tasks required and the budget allocated, which is followed by the scope. This allows projects to be changed on the fly depending on any contingencies in the market or in the scope of the project.

For many, PRINCE2 is still one of the most, if not the most, important project management methodologies available. Attending a PRINCE2 training course is a great way to learn about the inherent agility of this method. It is also a great way to expand your job prospects and enhance your ability to deliver cost-effective and customer-centric projects on time and to a high standard,

If you would like to learn more about PRINCE2 or other project management methods, talk to the experts today – contact ALC Training.

6 reasons to use the PRINCE2 method

There is no disputing the fact the PRINCE2 is one of the world's most powerful project management methodologies. With PRINCE2 training under their belt, people have access to a wide range of employment opportunities all over the globe.

Its power lies in its foundation, which is based on practical and real-life project management experience. With a proven record for success, it is an obvious choice for those looking to expand their reach and make positive employment opportunities accessible.

Training with PRINCE2 is a great way to boost your career options.

To drive home the point, here are six reasons why you should engage with PRINCE2 training courses.

Reason one – Known around the world

PRINCE2 was developed in 1989 by the UK's public sector and since then it has expanded to over 50 different countries around the world. While it is internationally recognised, it is also used both in the private and the public sector.

As PRINCE2 is used throughout the world, and is utilised by organisations of all shapes and sizes, those with training can rest assured they will have plenty of chances to show off their skills. 

Reason two – Fundamental strengths

One of the most important aspects of the PRINCE2 method is that over the years organisations and experienced project management professionals have improved it through insightful input and calculated considerations. As it is used by a number of companies in both the private and public sector, it has been exposed to a range of project types that have aided its development.

Therefore, PRINCE2 incorporates best practices that have been developed and proven based on experiences across hundreds of thousands of projects. 

PRINCE2 has a strong and effective methodological platform.PRINCE2 has a strong and effective methodological platform.

Reason three – Adaptable methodology

Many believe that PRINCE2 is only suited to IT, however this generic project management method is flexible enough that it can be adapted to a number of projects, regardless of size, sector, culture or location. 

Its strengths lie in the fact it separates the specialist duties needed in a project from the management activities PRINCE2 practitioners execute. As each project is unique, being able to apply a generic method can save time and money. 

Reason four – Benefit focused

When a company or organisation implements a project, its sole aim is to find a solution that addresses a customer need. A PRINCE2 Business Case specifically sets out the benefits that a customer requires and practitioners continue to reference it throughout the project's timeline. 

As the criteria for the project is created from the outset, the benefits are set in stone. If the project deviates from the benefits in anyway or they no longer justify the project, it will be terminated to prevent wastage.

With PRINCE2, everyone knows what they are doing.With PRINCE2, everyone knows what they are doing.

Reason five – Stable roles and duties

One of the hardest parts of managing a project is communicating to others their roles and responsibilities. PRINCE2's method can ensure that each role is properly determined and assigned to correct team members.  

Along with each role comes clearly defined obligations and responsibilities. This ensures each member knows what they are required to do, when they need to do it and how they must accomplish it. 

When team members know what they are doing, there is less confusion and the likelihood of errors decreases. It also has the benefit of making each member accountable for their components. 

Reason six – Accredited providers  

Central to effective PRINCE2 implementation is the training an individual receives. Quality PRINCE2 training from an experienced provider can make sure you are correctly trained and understand all the aspects and factors that make it such a powerful method. 

You will need to ensure that you are in contact with an experienced and quality learning provider. Once you are equipped with PRINCE2 training, your next stop will be a new career in project management.