| Prince2 is a registered trademark of the Office of | | | | Users' not knowing what they want is often a |
| Government Commerce. | | | | problem in groundbreaking projects. People in the |
| Prince2 has many excellent ideas for project | | | | early 1900's knew they wanted to get places faster, |
| management, but I think its approach to quality is at | | | | but their idea on how to achieve this was limited by |
| best weak and at worst entirely inappropriate. My | | | | their own experience. Another example is the project |
| first gripe is that Prince2 redefines what the word | | | | to create the iPhone. Steve Jobs did not consult with |
| quality usually means. My dictionary defines it as a | | | | potential users. Instead he went through many |
| "degree or standard of excellence, especially a high | | | | iterations of building prototypes, playing with them, |
| standard." If I've bought myself a quality car, I've | | | | deciding what worked and what didn't, until he ended |
| probably purchased something like a Mercedes or | | | | up with the final design. |
| Rolls Royce. Prince2's definition is something that is | | | | So this idea in Prince2's Quality Theme, that you can |
| "fit for purpose" of satisfying stated needs. So for | | | | simply ask a group of potential users at the outset, |
| example, according to Prince my Landrover is a | | | | to specify what products they want, doesn't always |
| quality product. It's not luxurious but, as a keen skier, | | | | work. Prince2 defines a project as a piece of work |
| I can use it to haul equipment to the Alps each year. | | | | that is unique. The more unique and groundbreaking it |
| This re-definition of the word quality often confuses | | | | is, the more difficult it becomes to define exactly |
| people, before they even look at the detail. | | | | what is required at the end. Project work is a |
| At the beginning of a Prince2 project you agree with | | | | creative process. Sometimes it takes trial and error |
| the customer a set of measurable attributes about | | | | and a certain amount of vision to create something |
| the products you will build. These are called | | | | the end users will eventually be satisfied with. |
| Acceptance Criteria. Later, when you deliver the | | | | As I said at the outset, Prince2 has many useful |
| products, the client will only sign them off if they | | | | ideas. But the Quality Theme should be used with |
| conform to these criteria. This assumes that the | | | | caution. In groundbreaking projects, they can hinder |
| client knows what they want. They often don't. | | | | the creation of products the client is going to be |
| When Henry Ford was designing the Model T car he | | | | satisfied with. |
| was asked why he didn't consult with potential users. | | | | What do you think - always interested in hearing |
| He replied," If I had asked people what they wanted | | | | comments on constructive criticism of Prince2? |
| they would have said faster horses!" | | | | |