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PRINCE 2 Project Management Training - Myths & MisconceptionsAs more and more people undertake PRINCE 2 Project Management training so the myths and misconceptions around it seem to grow. This article looks at five aspects of the training to give you the clear, concise information you need if you're considering investing in this valuable training. Myth 1: PRINCE is an acronym for Projects in Non Commercial Environments PRINCE2 began life in the public sector and, as a result, many people perceive it as not being relevant to the private sector; or at best only to organisations providing services. In fact, PRINCE stands for 'Projects In Controlled Environments'. Crucially, its purpose is to provide a structured project management method which can be applied to any project situation. This can then be scaled to suit projects ranging from office relocation to the building of a nuclear power plant. Myth 2: Only project managers looking for a job study PRINCE 2 Project Management training Because an increasing number of job advertisements specify the need for candidates to have successfully completed PRINCE 2 Project Management training, a culture of cynicism has been directed towards the scheme. My own experience is that the primary driver for people to embark on this training is their existing employer. Very often they have concluded that delivery of project benefits is inadequate so training is provided to enable employees to learn a more rigorous, and beneficial, approach to project management. As PRINCE 2 Project Management training is taken up by more organisations, a secondary result is that employers find it more efficient and convenient to recruit managers who are already trained. Myth 3: The training marks you out as a competent project manager * The Foundation qualification marks you out as someone who has invested time in understanding the structure and terminology. * The Practitioner qualification marks you out as someone able to apply the principles to practical real life scenarios. Training for these qualifications alone does not make you a competent project manager. In theory, a student with zero project experience could complete the training. However, it's the combination of theoretical understanding and years of practical experience across a range of projects that truly signifies a competent project manager. The majority of people studying PRINCE2 undergo training in this format but it is not the only way. The Foundation exam is normally taken on the final day of a three day instructor led training course. The Practitioner exam is normally taken after a further two or three days training. In many cases, the training takes place over five consecutive days with the Foundation exam on the Wednesday, and the Practitioner exam on the Friday. A number of accredited training organisations now offer instructor led training in alternative formats to suit differing learning styles and diary commitments. These include: Four plus One * Foundation training for three days * An initial Practitioner training day * Final Practitioner training day and exam held one week later giving time for additional self study Weekend * Foundation training of three days from Friday to Sunday * Practitioner training and exam undertaken over the following weekend (Saturday and Sunday) It is also possible to take the exams at independent examination centres following self study of the manuals, or having studied an accredited distance based learning pack. Myth 5: The new multiple choice exam is dumbing down the value of the training In September 2007, a new format for the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam was introduced to replace the former essay based exam. Although the new exam follows a multiple choice format, it is undeniably thorough in its range of questions. It still lasts three hours, and still tests a student's understanding of how to apply the principles to real life scenarios. However, it is no longer possible to refer to any material other than the PRINCE2 manual during the exam. Steve Twine is founder and Managing Director of Focus on Project Management Focus is a fast growing training organisation that specialises in project management. Focus works in association with most of the leading accredited providers of PRINCE2, APM and PMI training. The Focus website provides you with impartial accreditation advice and access to the widest choice of project management courses in the UK. Steve has led complex and high profile international projects for Ford and other major players within the motor industry. He is also an accomplished trainer. Steve Twine |