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PRINCE2 2009 - Directing Projects with PRINCE2 part 47

Authorize a Stage or Exception Plan

Assess project viability

The reviews of the End Stage Report (or Exception Report) and the proposed Stage Plan (or Exception Plan) serve to bring Project Board members fully up to date with the detailed status of the project and the plans for the short term.

Now is the time to step back from the detail and consider the wider project viability.

Areas of shared focus
  • How does progress compare with the original Project Plan? Are the costs and timescales still broadly in line?
  • Is there any significant change in the perception of the business risks involved?
  • Are the project benefits still likely to be realized? What are the benefits to date, if any? Are there any additional potential benefits? Does the project’s Benefits Review Plan need to be changed?
The Executive’s focus
  • Is the Business Case still viable? Have the external business/social/legislative/technology environments changed? Have the corporate/programme priorities changed? Do we still want to do this?
  • Is the project organization working well as a team? Should there be changes in the structure or personnel?
  • Are the project controls appropriate? Are they too bureaucratic - slowing us down without adding value? Or too lax - not really providing adequate control?
The Senior User’s focus
  • Will the project still provide the capability we require to deliver the business benefits?
  • Will we be ready to deliver the benefits as planned?
  • Are the plans for user involvement in the project still practicable and realistic?
  • Are the arrangements for providing user assurance still adequate?
  • Will users/customers continue to be able to meet their obligations?
  • Could the project be impacted by market/regulatory/legislative etc. changes or by parallel change initiatives within the parts of the business affected?
  • Is there still a realistic perception of the user-related risks and are they being managed effectively?
The Senior Supplier’s focus
  • Is the project approach still appropriate from the specialist technical viewpoint? Are there viable, practical changes we could make to improve the project performance or results?
  • Will the project be impacted by any changes of corporate/programme strategy, standards, technology advances or parallel change programmes/projects?
  • Is the specialist technical resourcing for the project still going to be available?
  • Are we still sure that we have the right competencies?
  • Are the arrangements for providing specialist technical assurance still adequate?
  • Will contractors/third-party suppliers continue to meet Project Plan dependencies and targets?
  • Is there still a realistic perception of the specialist technical risks, and are they being managed effectively?

All references above are in Directing Successful Projects with PRINCE2® unless stated otherwise.

PRINCE2® is a Registered Trade Mark of the Office of Government Commerce in the United Kingdom and other countries.

This product contains EVERYTHING in the publications:

Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 - 2005 edition
Managing successful Projects with PRINCE2 – 2009 edition
Directing Projects with PRINCE2.
plus:
The Complete Project Management package.

And much more besides - at a fantastic price.