A suggested project management method (PRINCE 2)
Do I need to use a Project Management Methodology
We thought it would be helpful to start with the basics, to help you understand whether or not a project management methodolgy will help you get the most out of any eDemocracy related project.
What is a Project?
eDemocracy projects are those with the agenda of furthering public interaction with democratic processes facilitated through new technologies. A project is a temporary environment that is created to deliver predefined objectives within a specific timescale using predefined resources.
A project may be a one-off occurrence or it may be part of a series of projects, overseen by a programme board.
It has a definite start and end point, with a set amount of resources in an organised structure. The resources may not have worked together in the past so it is useful to have a project management methodology to ensure co-ordination between the resources is well managed
Why Project Management?
Using a project management methodology gives a structured approach to the running of a project which minimizes the risk of failure. A good project management method ensures a consistent and controlled approach through a set of activities to ensure objectives are achieved.
The UK government has adopted a standard in project management called PRINCE2 which is becoming widely used in various organisations across the UK in both the public and private sector.
PRINCE2 Routmap - a good introduction to project management
If you have no experience of PRINCE2 or project management, you might want to try out the PRINCE 2 Routemap, which is a simplified tool based on PRINCE2. Be aware that the tool is for guidance only and is not an official PRINCE2 tool.
* The remainder of this section is based around the principles of the PRINCE2 Route Map for eDemocracy.
Its aim is to give local authority users who have no experience in project management a flavour of the processes involved in managing a successful project in an eDemocracy context. Project documentation templates and useful links will be provided along the journey.
About PRINCE2
PRINCE stands for Projects in Controlled Environments and was developed by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC). It is a method based on best practice experiences and the lessons learnt from a wide range of past projects.
The official PRINCE2 website is a good starting point to understand how this methodology can benefit your team/project. An accreditation programme exists for people working in projects to receive professional PRINCE2 qualifications.
In summary, PRINCE2 allows projects to be controlled through a set of controlled resources and processes. These processes can be deployed in any type of project to produce an organised team that can focus on meeting project deliverables. It also provides a shared language between different organisations so common terms of reference are used and understood.
Useful links
The PRINCE2 website and OGC toolkit
- 1. Do I need to use a Project Management Methodology « You are here
- 2. You have an idea for an eDemocracy project. Now what?
- 3. How to construct your project team
- 4. Define your project objectives
- 5. Do you have a worthwhile and viable project?
- 6. Define your Solution: Ensure your functional specification is in place
- 7. Develop your project plan
- 8. Assess Risk: Identify risks and how they may impact the project
- 9. Project Approval
- 10. Set up Controls
- 11. Work: Manage the various stages of the project
- 12. Review Progress
- 13. Manage problems: Know how to manage project issues.
- 14. Project Approval
- 15. Project closure: How to successfully close a project