What’s Project Management?
It’s the process of planning, organising and managing resources to make a project successful. Simply saying, it’s the art of managing a programme from start to finish in an organised way.
And sometimes managing a programme without a set of rules can be very stressful. This is where PRINCE®2 comes in but why do so many organisations across the UK and Europe place such great value on this?
What’s PRINCE®2 Certification?
It stands for PRojects IN Controlled Environments. It’s a framework used to manage tasks from start to finish in an organised way.
PRINCE®2 was originally created by the UK government. Now, it has become a global standard used in various industries such as, healthcare, IT, banking, constructions and more.
PRINCE®2 is like a book of guidelines to show you how to make the right move by considering all the things that should be considered at a certain stage in a task.
What are the other PRINCE®2 certifications?
Imagine this as a ladder. You don’t jump straight to the top, you climb one step at a time, and each step gives you more skills, knowledge and credibility to your CV
There are 4 main PRINCE®2 certifications.
Let’s walk through each qualification one by one.
PRINCE®2 Foundation- The Starting Point
If you’re someone new to the field, this is where you begin your journey. The foundation level covers all the basics such as,
- ✔ What PRINCE2 is
- ✔ The principles used
- ✔ The entire process of running a project
You don’t need any experience or educational qualifications to take this course.
Best for: Beginners, career changers, anyone wanting to start PRINCE2.
PRINCE®2 Practitioner
This is the next stage once you’ve completed the foundation. This is where you learn how to apply the basics you learnt in the foundation in real life activities.
Requirement: You must have completed the PRINCE2 Foundation to take this course.
PRINCE®2 Agile Foundation
Most organisations these days, don’t need structure, they look for adaptability. In this, you’ll learn how to combine PRINCE2 and adjust it to fit different types of activities you might have to handle in your organisation,
Requirements: You can start this with no prior experience or educational qualifications. You don’t have to do the PRINCE2 Foundation to take this course.
PRINCE®2 Agile Practitioner
This is where you learn the practical applications of the combination of PRINCE2 and Agile(flexibility). This teaches you when and how to focus and lean on speed without losing control of the task in hand.
Why organisations value you with PRINCE®2 certifications?
Because most organisations rely on projects as the main source of income. So, it’s a big deal for organisation. Failing one task can have drastic overall effect like, losing trust and clients.
Most projects fail due to lack of organisation and inefficient planning. These are the pillars on which a good project is built on.
PRINCE2 has all the necessary guidelines to have a structured framework to help project managers to plan and organise each step in a programme properly.
For employers, PRINCE2 isn’t just another certification. It’s the golden formula for success.
These are few reasons why organisations value it
- ✔ Everyone knows what their role is
- ✔ Cuts cost and time by making things organised
- ✔ Risks are minimised and preparation are done before hand
- ✔ The guidelines are the same for all industries.
PRINCE®2 certifications vs Other certifications
You may have heard of other related qualifications such as, PMP,Scrum certs and more. How’s PRINCE2 certifications different in comparison?
- ✔ PMP is very heavy and deep on theory and has little to do with practical applications.
- ✔ Scrum certs have a downside when it comes to maintaining structure
- ✔ PRINCE2 sits in the middle between structure and flexibility.
Employers in UK and Europe pay more attention to PRINCE2.
What can you do with PRINCE®2 certifications? Jobs, responsibilities and salaries.
Junior Project Manager
- ✔ Assist senior project managers
- ✔ Scheduling tasks
- ✔ Keeping track of deadlines
- ✔ Assigning tasks
- ✔ Update report
Average: £30,000 – £45,000
Project Manager
- ✔ Manage your own projects
- ✔ Plan resources, risks and deadlines
- ✔ Keeping track of deadlines
- ✔ Documentation of tasks
- ✔ Managing budget
Average: £55,000 – £70,000
IT Project Manager
Same tasks as a project manager, but mostly associated with IT
Average: £55,000 – £80,000
Project Consultant
Manages multiple projects of under one large project at the same time while coordinating everything.
Average: £60,000 – £90,000
Project Directors
He looks after all the programmes run by the company. They decide on how each project should run, their budget, resources and how everything are used. They also support and guide project managers.
Average: £80,000 – £95,000