P. Aligap asked:




The PRINCE2 Manual has been updated in June 2009. There are no major differences between the 2005 and 2009 versions of PRINCE2 methodology. The PRINCE2 methodology has been refreshed and not re-written.

PRINCE2 keeps its core value of being a universal method that can be applied to any project regardless of type, scale, culture or geography. The improvements are based on user feedback on what was liked/disliked about PRINCE2 and on the different challenges that face today’s projects.

The key improvements to PRINCE2 2009 are:

PRINCE2 is less prescriptive and more flexible PRINCE2 is less theoretical and more practical PRINCE2 now has a set of clearly defined principles. These principles can be used as a check that PRINCE2 is being applied in the spirit in which the method has been designed – not too rigidly nor superficially The need to tailor the method is explicitly stated and guidance on how to tailor is provided The linkage with other standards and bodies of knowledge is clearly shown The importance of the soft aspects of project management are emphasised PRINCE2 is not bureaucratic – the method requires information and decisions, not documents and meetings.

The changes are being referred to as “evolutionary rather than revolutionary” and PRINCE2 will still be recognisably the same as the current version, even though extensive changes have been made throughout to update and rationalise the method.

Some of the most visible changes include:

The addition of 7 guiding Principles that underpin any PRINCE2 project The 8 components have been changed to 7 themes (Change Control and Configuration Management have been merged) The 8 processes have shrunk to 7 (Planning has been merged into the Plans theme) The 3 techniques have been merged into the themes chapters The 36 management products have shrunk to 27 A new section has been added on Tailoring PRINCE2