PRINCE2 and Agile are unquestionably the most well-known project management methodologies. Each of these approaches has advantages and disadvantages, especially in the context of a given project or business environment. Choosing Agile vs PRINCE2 courses can be difficult, especially if you are new to project management, and you must carefully evaluate a number of factors before making your decision. In fact, both can and are increasingly being utilised on projects, frequently in tandem.
Choosing and implementing the proper approach is critical to project success, and agile working is becoming more popular. In fact, according to PMI's Pulse of the Profession survey, 71% of organisations use agile methodologies “occasionally” or “more frequently than in the past.”
PRINCE2 Agile was launched in 2015 by AXELOS, the PRINCE2 owners. It combines the structure and governance of PRINCE2, as well as the flexibility of agile. But what exactly is agile? What distinguishes it from PRINCE2 methodologies? Here we give you the dirt, explain both methods of working, and look at PRINCE2 Agile, a hybrid approach.
Project management methods have actively impacted project execution and delivery, while also developing a framework and set of best practices for managing all parts of a project. Individuals and businesses can now refer to defined methods and scale up their operations in the pursuit of efficiency and customers happiness. Thanks to the evolution of project management as a profession. PRINCE2 and Agile are now referenced as two of the world's most well-known project management methodologies, used by Fortune 500 companies to ensure project success.
While the two existed separately until recently, the unique partnership of PRINCE2 and Agile PM opens up new avenues for corporate success. It also creates a number of questions for project managers. For example, what is the simplest method to tell the difference between PRINCE2 and PRINCE2 Agile?
PRINCE2 is a project management methodology that is widely utilised across the world by individuals and organisations from a variety of industries and sectors. It is a versatile strategy that walks you through the fundamentals of managing successful projects of any size or scope.
PRINCE2 is a collection of concepts, themes, and methods. It assists key persons who are accountable for project delivery in understanding why the project is being undertaken and whether the benefits outweigh the costs and hazards of implementing the project. It also focuses on how to properly manage a project to guarantee that it stays a profitable investment in a changing business climate.
The phrase “Agile” is an umbrella term for a variety of processes, systems, and techniques. Agile approaches arose in the 1980s from the software industry, mostly to address challenges such as late delivery, budget overruns, and poor quality. Agile techniques are increasingly being adopted in areas other than software.
Agile project management is an iterative method of project management that emphasises continual releases and the incorporation of customer feedback. There are other agile approaches, but the most well-known are Scrum, Kanban, and Lean.
The primary Agile vs PRINCE2 distinction is that they serve different purposes. PRINCE2 is a project management approach, whereas Agile is a method of carrying out project work. Agile is not a technique in and of itself, but rather a way of thinking from which various approaches, including Scrum and Lean, have emerged.
- PRINCE2 manages the project, while Agile manages how the work is completed.
- PRINCE2 is a project management framework that focuses on a set of sequential phases from project inception to project completion.
- Agile does not enforce a project structure; rather, it is a way of thinking about how the project's work should be organised and performed. Iterative and incremental work is used.
- PRINCE2 focuses on corporate objectives, whereas Agile focuses on customer requirements.
- PRINCE2 emphasises that the project must continue to satisfy business objectives and hence be justified. It examines the project from a strategic standpoint, taking into account the business case and risk. It inquires, “What is the project's purpose?” and “Is it worthwhile to pursue?”
- Agile thinks less about broader strategy and more about the product itself, assuming the project is worthwhile if delivered correctly. The goal is for the product to first and foremost suit the needs of the customer (or product owner) and for work to be completed in the most efficient manner feasible. The product is delivered progressively, with features added bit by bit and feedback included until all customer requirements are met.
- PRINCE2 is a plan-based methodology, whereas Agile is a product-based methodology.
- PRINCE2 aims to prepare the project's structure: budget, timetable, work required, resources, and so on. It takes into account everything at all levels of the project, from the short-term, such as what activities teams carry out, to the long-term, across the length of the project.
| PRINCE2® | AgilePM® |
|---|---|
| Controls the management of the project | Controls how the work is carried out by the tream/s |
| Focus: Business goals | Focus: customer requirements |
| Plan-based | Product-based |
| Predicitive | Adaptive |
| 7 Principles | 12 Principles |
| Does not dictate how teams should be organised | Focuses on self-organisation of team |
| Can be resistant to change | Responds rapidly to change |
| Uses work packages | Uses sprints |
In most circumstances, the project manager does not plan how each work will be completed; this is left up to the teams. This means that PRINCE2 may coexist with other working styles, such as Agile, because teams can complete work in whatever way they see fit as long as it is completed.
Everything in Agile revolves on the product. This means that product prototypes are released as soon as feasible in order to get feedback. Communication with stakeholders takes precedence over documentation or adhering to a rigorous structure.
PRINCE2 determines what should occur. It also evaluates what might happen and plans for it by taking into account hazards, how they can be handled, and how they can be avoided. Agile requires less planning because the goal is to be responsive to what happens, whether that is new requirements or obstacles that may prevent the project from being completed on schedule.
Expert Tip
This does not imply that there is no planning at all, because criteria are still established from the start; it is simply that they are not fixed or unchangeable. According to Agile, requirements might change throughout a project because the customer may think of something that was not previously considered, or because new constraints have occurred.
Agile does not plan the full project; instead, it plans work in terms of what the client can reasonably tolerate until the next phase of the product is developed.
While many advocate agile practices as the future of the project industry, just 57 percent adopt the agile project management strategy, implying that 43 percent of projects still use traditional methods. It is actually divided, which is why PRINCE2 Agile training is so popular.
For individuals who are currently using PRINCE2 in their organisations, PRINCE2 agile is an effective method to introduce agile techniques without completely changing the way they work. It is an excellent introduction to agile with minimal disturbance.
Similarly, if you are unfamiliar with both approaches, our PRINCE2 Agile foundation course begins from the bottom up, teaching you the core ideas of each framework before demonstrating how they may coexist.
On the other hand, if you are starting a role that uses the PRINCE2 framework and want to get qualified in PRINCE2 practises, this course may be a good fit for you.
