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PRINCE2 2009 - Managing a Stage Boundary part 5

Activities

Plan the next stage

The Stage Plan for the next management stage is produced near the end of the current stage.
Closure activities should be planned as part of the Stage Plan for the final stage.

Planning is not an activity undertaken in isolation.

The Project Manager will need to consult with the Project Board, Project Assurance, Team Managers and possibly other stakeholders in order to create a viable plan.
The more people involved in planning, the more robust the plan will be (so long as the right people are involved).
See the section covering ‘Plans’ [see Types of plans] for more details on planning.

Diagram 1 shows the inputs to, and outputs from, this activity.

Managing a Stage Boundary plan the next stage diagram 1 smallManaging a Stage Boundary plan the next stage diagram 1

Diagram 1

PRINCE2® recommends the following actions:

  • Review the components of the Project Initiation Documentation. It may be necessary to consult with the Project Board regarding any required changes. The following should be reviewed and, if necessary, updated:
    • Any change to the customer’s quality expectations, acceptance criteria or project approach
    • The relevance and suitability of the strategies and controls
    • Any change in the project management team or their role descriptions (in particular the situation with regard to external resources or suppliers as these may affect the Stage Plan)
  • Produce the Stage Plan for the next stage:
    • Decide how the plan can best be presented given its audience, and how it will be used
    • Review the Project Plan to understand the products required for the next stage
    • Examine the Quality Management Strategy for the quality standards and procedures required
    • Create (or update) the product breakdown structure, Product Descriptions and product flow diagram for the products to be delivered by the next stage
    • Review the Issue Register as it may contain issues marked for assessment at the stage end or information that affects the next stage
    • Review the Risk Register for any risks that may affect the Stage Plan for the next stage, and check the status of risk responses by consulting with the risk owners
  • Create (or update) Configuration Item Records for products to be produced in the next stage
  • Update the Issue Register and Risk Register if any new issues or risks have been identified (or if existing ones need to be modified)
  • Update the Quality Register for planned quality management activities. This should include target review and approval dates for the products.

Diagram 2 shows the responsibilities for this activity.

Managing a Stage Boundary plan the next stage diagram 2 smallManaging a Stage Boundary plan the next stage diagram 2

Diagram 2

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Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 - 2005 edition
Managing successful Projects with PRINCE2 – 2009 edition
Directing Projects with PRINCE2.
plus:
The Complete Project Management package.

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