Core Principles

Each PRINCE2 project should include the 7 principles, and if even one of these principles is missing from the project, it cannot be considered a PRINCE2 Project.

The core principles can be defined as: a framework of good project practice for those involved in a project.

From a PRINCE2 point of view, a Principle is a core value that must always exist in a PRINCE2 project. To sum it up, think of principles as guides for good practice. There are seven principles below:

• Continued Business Justification
• Defined Roles and Responsibilities
• Focus on Products
• Learn from Experience
• Manage by Exception
• Manage by Stages
• Tailor to Suit the Project Environment

Alternative Principles

An alternative to PRINCE2 principles is NUPP, which is a set of Nearly Universal Principles of Projects. NUPP is an open-source guide, compatible with PRINCE2, as well as P3.express, the PMBOK^® Guide, DSDM^®, XP, and Scrum. The following are the NUPP principles:

• NUP1: prefer results and the truth to affiliations
• NUP2: preserve and optimize energy and resources
• NUP3: always be proactive
• NUP4: remember that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link
• NUP5: don’t do anything without a clear purpose
• NUP6: use repeatable elements