PRINCE2 Principles · Topic 3 of 3
Tailoring and How the Principles Underpin PRINCE2
PRINCE2 7 tailor to suit the project: what can be tailored, the factors behind it, who decides, and how the principles keep a tailored project PRINCE2.
- 5 min
- The seven principles are universal, self-validating and empowering.
- All seven principles must be applied; none can be tailored away.
- Practices, processes, products, roles and terminology can all be adapted.
What it is
Tailor to suit the project is the seventh principle. PRINCE2 is tailored to suit the project's context, scale, complexity, risk, capability and delivery approach, so that the right amount of control is applied: not too much bureaucracy, not too little control.
This page also covers how the seven principles together underpin the whole method. They are what make tailoring safe: practices and processes can be adapted, but the principles always hold.
How it works
Why the principles are the basis of PRINCE2
The principles are the foundation that the people, practices and processes are built on. PRINCE2 describes them with three qualities.
| Quality | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Universal | They apply to every project, whatever its size, sector or delivery approach |
| Self-validating | They have been proven in practice over many years |
| Empowering | They give the people involved confidence and the ability to shape how the project is managed |
Because the principles are universal, they are the test of whether a tailored project is still a PRINCE2 project. A project that adapts the processes and products but still applies all seven principles is a PRINCE2 project; one that drops a principle is not.
What can be tailored
Every element can be adapted to the project, provided the principles are kept.
| What is tailored | Examples |
|---|---|
| Practices | Applied with more or less formality, but none is left out |
| Processes | Activities combined, simplified or carried out in more detail |
| Management products | Combined, renamed, produced as a slide or dashboard rather than a document |
| Roles | Combined or shared, within the rules (for example, one person cannot be both executive and project manager) |
| Terminology | Changed to match the organization's own standards |
| People aspects | Communication, engagement and leadership styles suited to the culture |
The well known exam example: processes can be simplified or carried out in more detail, and terminology can be changed to suit the organization. Leaving a practice out, or letting one person hold any combination of roles, is not acceptable tailoring.
Factors that influence tailoring
Tailoring is driven by the project context and by factors about the project itself. You do not need a fixed list, but recognise the kinds of factor below.
| Environment factors | Project factors |
|---|---|
| Organizational standards, policies and culture | Scale and complexity |
| Commercial relationships with suppliers | Level of risk and uncertainty |
| Sector and regulation | Delivery approach (linear-sequential, iterative-incremental, hybrid) |
| Whether the project is part of a programme | Capability and experience of the team |
Who is responsible and how it is documented
The project manager is normally responsible for working out and documenting how the method will be tailored, often using the organization's own standards as a starting point, and seeks input from project assurance. The project board approves the tailoring as part of approving the PID, and the business layer may set rules about what can and cannot be tailored.
Tailoring decisions are documented in the PID, so everyone knows how the project will be run. If tailoring changes later, for example at a stage boundary, the PID is updated.
A worked example
A small marketing agency uses PRINCE2 for a three month website project with an in-house team. The project manager proposes combining the project brief and PID into one short document, holding highlight reports as a weekly dashboard, and having the managing director act as executive and senior user.
All seven practices are still applied, though lightly; for example, risks are tracked on a short list within the project log. The project board approves the tailoring when it approves the PID. Because business justification, stages, tolerances, products, roles and lessons are all still present, this is still a PRINCE2 project.
How the exam asks about this
- "Which two statements about tailoring are correct?" Processes can be simplified or done in more detail; terminology can be changed to suit organizational standards.
- "Where are tailoring decisions documented?" In the PID.
- "Which is NOT acceptable when tailoring PRINCE2?" Omitting one of the principles (or leaving a practice out entirely).
What to remember for the exam
- The seven principles are universal, self-validating and empowering.
- All seven principles must be applied; none can be tailored away.
- Practices, processes, products, roles and terminology can all be adapted.
- The project manager proposes tailoring; the project board approves it through the PID.
- Tailoring is driven by the project context and project factors such as scale, risk and delivery approach.
Tailoring is not the same as removing. A practice can be applied with very little formality, but it cannot be dropped.
Common mistakes
Assuming any role combination is fine. Some roles must stay separate, such as executive and project manager, and project assurance must be independent of the project manager.
Thinking tailoring is decided once. Tailoring is reviewed and the PID updated as the project and its context change.
Treating tailoring as only for small projects. Large and complex projects are tailored too, often by adding formality.
Check yourself
What does it mean that the principles are universal?
They apply to every project, regardless of size, type, sector or delivery approach.
Who approves how PRINCE2 is tailored for a project?
The project board, when it approves the PID containing the tailoring decisions.
Can a practice be omitted when tailoring?
No. All practices are applied, but each can be applied with more or less formality to suit the project.
Topic 3 of 3 in PRINCE2 Principles
Test yourself on PRINCE2 Principles
The full PeopleCert PRINCE2 7 Foundation question bank has 564 questions, with timed practice exams and an explanation for every answer.
This study guide is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by PeopleCert. Vendor names, certification names and exam codes are trademarks of their respective owners and are used for identification only.