PRINCE2, PMBOK, and ISO

21500:
Global Fluency in Project
Management
Lisa Hodges
Owner and Principal Consultant
Cornerstone Service Management
Axelos, the Axelos logo, the Axelos swirl logo, and PRINCE2 are registered trademarks of Axelos Limited.
PMI and PMBOK are registered trademarks of Project Management Institute, Inc.
ISO is a registered trademark of the International Organization for Standardization.

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Session Objectives
The Project Management Body of Knowledge, the
PRINCE2 Method, and the ISO 21500 standards work
together to create a global passport to project
management fluency.
Today we will discuss:
The unique characteristics of each approach
Strengths of each and how they work together
Why a busy PM should consider using all three
How to achieve maximum benefits of this blended approach

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A Brief Introduction of the

PMBOK Guide
Introduced by PMI Project

Management Institute late 1980s

Current volume is the Fifth Edition
47 processes, inputs, outputs,

tools and techniques

10 knowledge areas
Comprehensive guidance for the

project manager

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A Brief Introduction to PRINCE2

First published in 1990

Initial focus on IT projects; updated and
expanded to be industry agnostic
7 Principles, 7 Themes, 7 Processes
Defined Management Products
Comprehensive guidance for project
team, including the project manager

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A Brief Introduction to ISO 21500

International Institute for Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.

International standard released

in 2012
Joint effort from 30 countries
An informative standard not
yet possible to achieve
certification
10 subject groups, 40 processes
Objective, internationally
validated guidance
Defines standard terminology
accepted and validated
worldwide
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Banish Common Misperceptions

about PRINCE2 and the PMBOK
Guide

Comparing PRINCE2 and the PRINCE2 is not like comparing

apples to apples the two frameworks are not
substitutes; they complement each other!
Therefore, PRINCE2 and PMBOKare comrades, not
competitors
To be truly internationally qualified and effective, a project
manager should have certification in both
PRINCE2 offers the method to apply PRINCE2 knowledge

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PMBOK What a Project Manager

Should Know
PRINCE2 What a Project Manager
Should Do
An encyclopaedia of
information on all
things project
management
The sum of generally
accepted project
management
knowledge and
principles
A common vocabulary
of project management
terms

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A pragmatic approach to
project management
Industry agnostic can be
used for any type of
project
Process-based, productfocused, and business
case-justified
Prescriptive yet flexible
adaptable and should be
tailored
Truly international

PRINCE2 is PMIs Polar Opposite

in One Respect Prerequisites for
Certification
PRINCE2 Foundation
None

PRINCE2 Practitioner
Provide proof of having passed one of the
following:

Pr
ere
qui
sit
es

PRINCE2 Foundation
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Certified Associate in Project Management
(CAPM)
IPMA Level A (Certified Projects Director)
IPMA Level B (Certified Senior Project
Manager)
IPMA Level C (Certified Project Manager)
IPMA Level D (Certified Project Management

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PMP Certification
A secondary degree (high school
diploma, associates degree, or the
global equivalent) with at least five
years of project management
experience, with 7,500 hours leading
and directing projects and 35 hours of
project management education
OR
A four-year degree (bachelors degree
or the global equivalent) and at least
three years of project management
experience, with 4,500 hours leading
and directing projects and 35 hours of
project management education
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How the PMBOK, PRINCE2, and

ISO 21500 Work Better Together

A PRINCE2 project manager needs a body of knowledge to call

upon in order to be competent PMBOK satisfies this need.
The PMBOK Guide requires a method that the whole project
management team can adopt this can be PRINCE2.
ISO 21500 defines what is necessary to create a system capable
of producing a quality result, and is the tie breaker for vocabulary
and tailoring.
Each has a different focus that, in total, provides a cohesive
approach.
PMBOK knowledge with the PRINCE2 method ensures a
practical, actionable, intelligent, and effective approach to
achieving project success, adhering to governance requirements,
and achieving ISO 21500 compliance.

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Completely Complimentary, Filling all

the Gaps
Where one is missing an element, the other approach
provides a solution:
ISO defined inputs and outputs, but no tools and techniques
Business Case and Business Benefits input to PMBOK project;
integrated throughout PRINCE2
Soft skills Leadership, motivation, conflict management implicit
in PRINCE2; explicit in PMBOK
Procurement acquired as necessary in PRINCE2, PMBOK
provides extensive guidance
Quality Management PMBOK explains why, PRINCE2 provides
a roadmap for how, and ISO 21500 describes the overall structure
to support
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Benefits of Using All Three

Approaches
Distill abstract concepts into practical

methods.
Turn knowledge into action.
Acquire proficiency to tailor while
managing risk.
Ensure a consistent approach to
develop project managers from entry
level to senior.
Define clear roles and responsibilities
for the project team.
Create a quality system, governance,
international fluency, and competency.

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11

A Word About Agile

How to properly adopt and integrate agile approaches
while optimizing schedule, scope, cost, and risk is a whole
presentation unto itself, but consider:
Not all projects are good candidates for an agile approach.
Agile and traditional approaches must peacefully co-exist in a

two-speed environment.
PMBOK knowledge helps choose the right approach.
PRINCE2 is the envelope around the agile project and

provides common structure for both speeds.

ISO 21500 defines a quality system regardless of which

approach is chosen.
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Action Plan for Project Management

Fluency
Train all your project managers in the

PRINCE2 method.
Study the PMBOK and use it to acquire

deep knowledge.
Create a cohesive, tailored project

management approach (including twospeed, if necessary) that will properly

align your organization to the ISO
21500 standard.

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PRINCE2, PMBOK, and ISO

21500:
Global Fluency in Project
Management
Continue the conversation with Lisa Hodges
on LinkedIn
Lisa@CornerstoneSM.com
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