This paper was submitted for publication 2/28/06 and is copyright to Colin Bentley© 2006.
Published hereJuly 2006.

Note | Introduction | The Guide, Chapter 1 - Introduction / General Scope of Project Management
Chapter 2 - Project Life Cycle and Organization
Chapter 3 - Overview of Project Management Processes for a Project / The Guide's Individual Processes
Chapter 4 - Project Integration Method | Chapter 5 - Project Scope Management
Chapters 6, 7 and 8 | Chapters 9, 10, 11 and 12

Chapters 6, 7 and 8

Chapter 6 - Project Time Management

This chapter consists of six parts:

  • Activity Definition
  • Activity Sequencing
  • Activity Resource Estimating
  • Activity Duration Estimating
  • Schedule Development
  • Schedule Control.

Those who are familiar with PRINCE2 will immediately recognize that all but the last item are sub-processes of the Planning process. The final part, Schedule Control, is covered in the sub-processes "Assessing Progress" and "Reviewing Stage Progress". The Guide does this at project plan level while PRINCE2 handles this work as part of the Managing Stage Boundaries process.

Chapter 7 - Project Cost Management

This chapter has three parts:

  • Cost Estimating
  • Cost Budgeting
  • Cost Control.

The first two are straightforward and in PRINCE2 are covered by the Planning process and the Plans component. Cost Control covers controlling changes to the project budget. In PRINCE2 this is treated as a project issues and becomes a task for the Executive's Project Assurance role when considering the cost and impact of proposed changes in the CS4 sub-process, "Examining Project Issues"[21]

The Guide suggests that Project Cost Management should consider the effect of project decisions on the cost of using, maintaining and supporting the product.[22] PRINCE2 does not specifically cover this, although much of the actual detail of this Knowledge Area is covered in the PRINCE2 Business Case component.

The Guide gives a description of the Earned Value Analysis technique, whereas PRINCE2 stays away from techniques that are already in the public domain.

Chapter 8 - Project Quality Management

This chapter is very similar to the PRINCE2 component: "Quality in a Project Environment". It includes more on the work of quality assurance (monitoring to ensure that quality processes and procedures are followed), whereas PRINCE2 suggests that this role becomes part of the Project Assurance roles for the Senior User and Senior Supplier. It is better to draw a line to show where responsibilities start and stop between a project and the various organizations involved.

Chapter 5 - Project Scope Management  Chapter 5 - Project Scope Management

21. PRINCE2, p107
22. The Guide, p157
 
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