PRINCE2® should not be confused with a Body of Knowledge (BoK):
The comparison between PRINCE2 and a Body of Knowledge (BoK), such as the Association for Project Management’s Body of Knowledge, the Project Management Institute’s PMBoK or the International Project Management Association’s Competency Baselines, can be seen below.
PRINCE2 | Body of Knowledge |
---|---|
A project management method | A broad collection of ‘good practices’ for project management |
Prescriptive | Non-prescriptive |
An integrated set of processes and themes (they are not isolated silos that can be selectively applied) | Each topic area can be referred to in isolation from others |
Covers all project management roles | Targeted at Project Managers |
Does not cover interpersonal skills | Covers interpersonal skills |
References techniques | Describes techniques |
The differences between PRINCE2 (a method) and a BoK make them highly complementary.
PRINCE2 provides a framework of what needs to be done, by whom and by when.
The BoK provides a range of techniques of how those things can be done.
For example, in PRINCE2 a critical step in creating a plan is estimating.
PRINCE2 does not say how estimating should be done as there are a number of techniques that can be applied depending on the project context, whereas a BoK provides an explanation and analysis of the range of estimating techniques available so that the planner can judge which one is most suitable to use.
Tailoring PRINCE2 if the organization is aligned to any particular BoK should include: