University ICT Project Management: PRINCE2, PMBOK, PLC Report

This report delves into the realm of ICT project management, exploring the core concepts and methodologies essential for successful project execution. It begins by defining project methodology as a structured approach encompassing planning, launching, management, and project closure. The report then contrasts two prominent methodologies: PRINCE2, a process-based approach, and PMBOK, a knowledge-based framework, highlighting their similarities in project handling, security, cost-effectiveness, and the provision of tools and techniques. It also outlines their differences, particularly in guidelines, project control, and output. Furthermore, the report relates PRINCE2 to the project life cycle (PLC), emphasizing its step-by-step management approach and its role in simplifying complex projects. This analysis provides a comprehensive overview of project management methodologies, offering insights for effective ICT project implementation.

Running head: ICT PROJECT MANAGEMENT
ICT Project Management
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note:

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Table of Contents
1. Definition of Project Methodology........................................................................................2
2. Similarities and Differences between PRINCE2 and PMBOK.............................................3
3. Relating PRINCE2 with PLC.................................................................................................5
References..................................................................................................................................6

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1. Definition of Project Methodology
Project methodology can be defined as the five major processes of management of
project. As per Burke, 2013, the distinct five phases for managing any particular project are
definition, planning, launching, management and shutting down. All of these five phases of
project management usually address all the features for successfully managing the project
from the first phase until the last. Project management is the proper application of several
methodologies or methods, experience, processes, knowledge and even skills to achieve each
and every objective of a project. According to Larson and Gray, 2013 this is the simplified
practice of initiating, planning, completion, management and lastly ending the group work to
attain some of the most important objectives and to meet the success of the project within
provided deadline. A project can be defined as a temporary venture, which is designed for the
production of a specific product or service. Any particular project comprises of a specific
start as well as end points. Moreover, it is always time constrained and should be completed
within time. Kerzner and Kerzner, 2017, state that technical skills and various management
approaches are required for managing these types of projects. This management is called
project management.
As per Schwalbe, 2015, the major purpose of project methodology is the enabling of
the procedure of management in a project by skills of problem solving as well as proper
decision making. Sceptically, a project methodology gives a skeleton to describe each step of
a project, so that the project manager could easily execute the work within provided time and
budget. According to Burke, 2015, the most popular methodologies of project management
include Waterfall, Scrum., Agile, PMBOK and PRINCE2. These methodologies are utilized
by the manager of the project for completing the project successfully. Few problems are
faced while utilizing these methodologies. The vital problem in the project management

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methodologies is that the guidelines should be followed at every step. When these guidelines
are not followed, the methodologies do not work.
There is an important role of project management methodology in the PLC. The
various methodologies help a project manager in executing each and every process in the
project. The significant service that the methodology of project management provides is
Internet Technology (Schwalbe, 2015). Various guidelines and standards are solely provided
by the methodologies of project management. These disciplines are exclusively required for
successfully completing the project.
2. Similarities and Differences between PRINCE2 and PMBOK
PRINCE2 is a particular structured methodology of project management. It is
completely based on processes and is thus utilized for perfect project management (Matos &
Lopes, 2013). PRINCE2 is a standard that is used by the government of UK and is widely
recognized in all over the world.
PMBOK or simply Project Management Body of Knowledge is the set of guidelines
and fundamental resources of project management. This guide helps the project manager to
attain the goals and objectives of a project.
There are few similarities between PRINCE2 and PMBOK. They are given below:
i) Handling of a Project: This is the first and the foremost similarity between
PMBOK and PRINCE2. Both of these methodologies are utilized for handling each and
every project that have the same characteristics simultaneously (Snyder, 2014). Moreover,
any complex project can be easily handled and executed by these two methodologies. Both of
these project methodologies help to accelerate the alterations and also to provide new
deliverables in the projects.

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ii) Privacy and Security: This is the second similarity between PMBOK and
PRINCE2. Both of these methodologies are extremely safe and secured and could be
executed by all project managers (Snyder, 2014). Due to the excess security, these two
methodologies are widely accepted by all project managers and in many organizations.
iii) Cost Effectiveness: This is the third similarity between PRINCE2 and PMBOK
(Kerzner & Kerzner, 2017). These two methodologies are extremely cost effective and could
be easily afforded by all. Furthermore, these two methodologies do not incur huge cost while
applying.
iv) Tools and Techniques: The fourth similarity between PRINCE2 and PMBOK is
that both of these methodologies provide a typical set of tools and techniques for the
management of the project.
The various differences between PMBOK and PRINCE2 are given below:
i) Guidelines: The major difference between PMBOK and PRINCE2 is that PMBOK
has certain guidelines for the project and thus the proper selection of techniques and tools is
done by these guidelines. PRINCE2 methodology does not provide any particular guideline
for its project managers.
ii) Project Control: The second difference between PMBOK and PRINCE2 is that
PMBOK guide do not any control on project and is unable to keep solid track. PRINCE2
methodology, on the other hand, has control over its project and reviews the project step by
step (Matos & Lopes, 2013).
iii) Output: The third difference between PRINCE2 and PMBOK is that PMBOK
cannot provide perfect output for the projects; whereas, PRINCE2 provides outputs to all
projects.

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3. Relating PRINCE2 with PLC
PRINCE2 methodology can be related to PLC (Burke, 2013). The major
characteristics of PRINCE2 methodology can be described by two factors. They are given
below:
i) Managing by Steps: The most important characteristic of PRINCE2 methodology
in PLC is that it is managed by steps. There are various projects that are exclusively bigger in
size and these types of projects could not be managed without following steps (Turley, 2018).
These steps help to divide the entire project into several stages and thus can be easily
handled.
ii) Project Procedures: There are total of seven procedures in PRINCE2 methodology
and only three procedures could be completed out of them simultaneously.
PRINCE2 methodology is always considered as one of the most important
methodologies amongst the rest and the complexities of the entire project life cycle is reduced
with the help of this (Turley, 2018). Moreover, due to the segregation of various steps, it does
not require any other guidelines for understanding it.

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References
Burke, R. (2013). Project management: planning and control techniques. New Jersey, USA.
Kerzner, H., & Kerzner, H. R. (2017). Project management: a systems approach to planning,
scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Larson, E. W., & Gray, C. (2013). Project management: The managerial process with MS
project. McGraw-Hill.
Matos, S., & Lopes, E. (2013). Prince2 or PMBOK–a question of choice. Procedia
Technology, 9, 787-794.
Pinto, J. K. (2015). Project management: achieving competitive advantage. Prentice Hall.
Schwalbe, K. (2015). Information technology project management. Cengage Learning.
Snyder, C. S. (2014). A guide to the project management body of knowledge: PMBOK (®)
guide. Project Management Institute: Newtown Square, PA, USA.
Turley, F. (2018). PRINCE2® Foundation Training Manual. Van Haren.