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PRINCE2 2009 - Progress part 14

The PRINCE2® approach

Event-driven and time-driven controls

Baselines for progress control

It is only possible to control at the level of resolution in the plans, i.e. if you want to have Checkpoint Reports weekly, you need to know (in the Stage Plan) what you expect to achieve week by week.

The following management products assist the Project Manager in establishing baselines for progress control:

Project Plan

This will include the project-level performance targets and tolerances.
Any threat to the project-level tolerances needs to be escalated to the Project Board, which will seek advice from corporate or programme management for corrective action.

Stage Plans

These form the basis of the day-to-day control of the stage.
They should contain details of the activities to be conducted during a management stage, their timescales, and the resources needed to carry them out.

Exception Plan

The Project Board may request an Exception Plan after having considered an Exception Report during the process Directing a Project.
The Exception Plan should be produced at the same level as the plan that it replaces.

Work Packages

The Project Manager authorizes a Work Package in order to trigger an individual team member or a Team Manager to undertake a piece of work during a stage.
This means that work cannot be undertaken unless the Project Manager has specifically authorized it.
Details of the work to be completed within what tolerances must be agreed between the Project Manager and Team Manager or team member, and documented in the Work Package.
Work Package authorization is a particularly useful control when dealing with contractors or subcontractors.
The individuals or teams monitor progress against the Work Package and report back to the Project Manager via Checkpoint Reports.
A project may be a mix of internal and external teams.
It may therefore be valid to use a mixture of formal and informal Work Packages of varying sizes, with tight or loose tolerances, depending on the needs of the project.

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.