APM PM for PRINCE2®

Introduction

Successful PRINCE2® Practitioner candidates would have acquired the core competencies of project management.  They could even have applied their skills during the delivery of real projects.  Although this is a sound achievement there are further best practice disciplines that can be achieved to equip them better to manage change.  Depending on specific circumstances three further skill sets that should be considered upon completion of PRINCE2 include:

• APMP for PRINCE2® for Practitioners
• MSP® (Managing Successful Programmes)
• M_o_P and Managing Benefits

Additional subject matter covered by APMP

1. Business Case
   In addition to the PRINCE2® content, APMP explains how different types of investment appraisal can be used to analyze, in quantitative terms, the value of the investment to be made in the project. In particular, it explains the use of payback, Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and Net Present Value (NPV) as investment appraisal techniques.
   PRINCE2 identifies Investment Appraisal as one section of the Business Case, lists a range of techniques that are available, but does not explain how to use any of these techniques.
    
2. Organisation
   In addition to the PRINCE2® content, APMP distinguishes between functional, matrix and project organizations and explains the advantages and disadvantages of each.
   It also explains the governance of project management and describes the principles of governance of project management.
    
3. Quality
   In addition to the PRINCE2® content, APMP explains several additional quality techniques and also describes the related topic of requirements management and explains the importance of this topic.
    
4. Plans
   In addition to the PRINCE2® content, APMP provides a how-to approach to each step of the above approach, explains scope management and describes the Product Breakdown Structure (PBS), the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), the Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS), and the Organization Breakdown Structure (OBS), and explains the reasons for using a Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM).
   Explains how a project schedule is created and maintained by using techniques such as precedence diagramming, critical path analysis, Gantt charts, the Program Evaluation Review Technique (PERT) and milestone progress charts. Also explains the advantages and disadvantages of using software tools for scheduling.
   Describes resource management, distinguishing between resource smoothing and resource levelling, and demonstrates the use of different resource management techniques such as resource histograms and cumulative S-curves.|
   APMP explains budgeting and cost management and the benefits of this topic. Describes the practical problems of estimating across the project lifecycle and explains bottom-up, comparative, parametric and three-point estimating.
    
5. Risk
   In addition to the PRINCE2® content, APMP covers tools and techniques for risk identification and the use of a probability and impact grid (matrix) to assess risks.
   Also explains the importance of health, safety and environmental management, as these can be considered as specialist aspects of risk management. This includes topics such as the purpose of regulations, the duty of care for and responsibilities of a Project Manager.
    
6. Change
   APMP does not include anything in addition
    
7. Progress
   In addition to the PRINCE2® content, APMP describes Earned Value Management (EVM) as a means of progress monitoring, explains the advantages and disadvantages of EVM, and explains how to perform earn value calculations and interpret earned value data.
   Also explains information management systems covering the collection, storage, dissemination, archiving, and appropriate destruction of information.

Use of PRINCE2 processes

Whereas PRINCE2 describes the project lifecycle using its process model, the APM Body of Knowledge describes different phases of the project lifecycle. These different approaches are broadly compatible.

PRINCE2 does not address any of the following topics:

Stakeholder Management and Communication
Whilst PRINCE2 mentions the importance of engaging with stakeholders, provides an example of a stakeholder engagement procedure and explains the content of a typical Communication Management Strategy, the APMP also:

• Describes a stakeholder process in • more detail, for example by explaining tools and techniques that can be used in stakeholder analysis
• Explains the importance of effective • communication in project management and explains the typical barriers to communication and how they may be overcome.

Procurement
Whilst PRINCE2 suggests that procurement may be one of the approaches taken by the project, the APMP also:

• Describes procurement, explains the • typical contents of a procurement strategy, explains a supplier selection process, and distinguishes between different methods of supplier reimbursement and different contractual relationships
• Describes a negotiation process • and explains each stage within this process.

People Management
Whilst PRINCE2 identifies the roles and responsibilities of those people involved in the direction, management and delivery of the project, the APMP also:

• Describes typical leadership qualities, explains the principles and importance of motivation, and describes a situational leadership model
• Explains the importance of team development and describes both a team development model, and a social roles model
• Explains sources of conflict in the project lifecycle and explains a conflict resolution model.

What Next?

By now, I hope that any PRINCE2 Practitioners, who do not already have the APMP qualification, will be seriously considering extending their studies.

Health Warning

However, before I describe what that might involve, it's time for the health warning. I did mention earlier that APMP and PRINCE2 are sufficiently compatible to be considered ideal partners. But no partner is ever totally compatible with the other, and this is true of APMP and PRINCE2.

Further detail

A more detail brochure is available (9 page pdf document) from our offices or can be downloaded from our web site.

Summary diagram