Manage by stages

An effective way to manage long durations is to break them into shorter, manageable chunks. In PRINCE2, we refer to these chunks as management stages. A PRINCE2 project is planned, monitored, and controlled on a stage-by-stage basis, with each stage separated by decision points (also known as control points) defined by the project board.

Controls

At the end of each stage, the project board assesses the progress of the completed stage, reviews the business case, and evaluates the plan for the next stage. They then decide whether to proceed with the next stage. The project board has more control when the project is divided into many stages, but this also increases their workload. Fewer stages reduce their control but also lessen their responsibility in managing the project.

Advantages

The following happens when using “manage by stages”:

• Dividing the project into manageable parts.
• Maintaining a high-level project plan for the entire project, along with detailed stage plans for each stage.
• Allowing future stages to benefit from the lessons of previous ones. For example, if a team delivers their products faster than expected, this can be factored into planning the next stage.

Minimum number of stages

A PRINCE2 project must have at least two management stages: the initiation stage and one additional management stage. In that case, the closing a project process marks the end of the second stage without needing an additional stage.

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Written by Frank Turley.

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