Prince2 header
products page

PRINCE2 2009 - Starting up a project part 7

Activities

Design and appoint the project management team

The project needs the right people in place, with the authority, responsibility and knowledge to make decisions in a timely manner.
The project management team needs to reflect the interests of all parties who will be involved, including business, user and supplier interests.

It is essential for a well-run project that every individual involved in the management of the project understands and agrees who is accountable to whom for what, who is responsible for what, and what the reporting and communication lines are.

Diagram 1 shows the inputs to, and outputs from, this activity.
For more details on project organization, see the section covering ‘Organization’.

starting up a project management team diagram 1 smallstarting up a project management team diagram 1

Diagram 1

PRINCE2® recommends the following actions:

  • Review the Lessons Log for lessons related to the project management team structure
  • Design the project management team:
    • Prepare the project management team structure
    • Create role descriptions for the remaining Project Board roles based on the role descriptions in Appendix C
    • Assess whether any members of the Project Board are likely to delegate any of their assurance responsibilities, and create the role description(s) for Project Assurance (where appropriate) based on the role description in Appendix C
    • Consider whether separate individuals are likely to be needed as Team Manager(s) or whether the Project Manager will be filling this role. If appropriate, create role descriptions for the Team Manager(s) based on the role description in Appendix C
    • Consider whether the Project Manager will be performing the Project Support role or whether a separate individual(s) will be required. If this role is to be delegated, create the role description for the Project Support role based on the role description in Appendix C
    • Confirm the reporting and communication lines within the role descriptions
  • Appoint the project management team:
    • Estimate the time and effort required by each of the roles identified (this will be refined later)
    • Identify candidates for each of the roles, and propose the most appropriate people for them:
      • It may be appropriate to undertake an analysis of the stakeholders (see section 5.3.5) in order to identify suitable candidates for the roles
      • It is possible that candidates may not be known at this time, in which case they will need to be selected later (see sections 14.4.5 and 17.4.1). This is particularly true if Team Managers are to be sourced from subcontractors
      • Consider whether identified candidates match the competencies required of the role and, if not, whether any training or support (e.g. coaching) is required
    • Confirm the selected people’s availability (if they are known), their understanding and acceptance of the roles, and their commitment to carry them out
    • Assign the selected people to each of the roles identified and confirm the appointment with corporate or programme management
  • If any risks are identified, add them to the Daily Log

Diagram 2 shows the responsibilities for this activity.

starting up a project management team diagram 2 smallstarting up a project management team diagram 2

Diagram 1

Note: The section references refer to those in the PRINCE2 2009 contents list.
These are provided in the document 'contents2009.doc' as part of the product package.

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.