PRINCE2 Themes – Progress

The purpose of the Progress theme is to establish mechanisms to monitor and compare actual achievements against those planned; provide a forecast for the project objectives and the project’s continued viability; and control any unacceptable deviations.

Two of the principles of PRINCE2 are managing by stages and continued business justification. The Progress theme provides the mechanisms for monitoring and control, enabling the critical assessment of ongoing viability.

Another PRINCE2 principle is that projects are managed by exception, setting tolerances for project objectives to establish limits of delegated authority.

Tolerances define the amount of discretion that each management level can exercise without the need to refer up to the next level for approval.

The Progress theme provides the mechanisms to monitor progress against the allowed tolerances, and the controls to escalate to the next level should any forecast suggest that one or more tolerances will be exceeded.

Control of progress is all about decision making and is central to project management, ensuring that the project remains viable against its approved Business Case.

Setting controls covers:

• Authorisations – The stage breaks for Project Board decisions
• Progress updates – the frequency of highlight, checkpoint and end stage reports.
• Exceptions and changes – tolerances that apply, exception and change report requirements