On the PRINCE2 Project Organisation Chart Template

Posted on 7 December, 2007 by duardo
The PRINCE2 Project Organisation Chart isn’t a rigid project bureaucracy as the critics would have you believe. It actually makes a lot of sense and shares many characteristics with the more loosely defined Project Steering Committeebut rather than just have a round table of stakeholders, PRINCE2 has focused the group into a meeting of the three (3) key decision makers:
Tool Downloads
  > Org Chart (MS Visio)
  > Org Chart (MS Word)
  > Org Chart (MS PowerPoint)
  • Project Executive (Project Sponsor / Project Owner)
  • Senior User (Principal beneficiary of the project deliverable)
  • Senior Supplier (Principal implementer of the project deliverable)

PRINCE2 Organisation Chart Template in MS Visio

Figure 1: PRINCE2 Project Organisation Chart Template in MS Visio

Another nifty addition to the PRINCE2 Project Organisation is the documented responsibility for Project Assurance.  All the Project Board members are responsible for the Project Assurance and in larger projects this can be partially or fully delegated to members within the User organisation, Supplier organisation or the business.

Depending on the size of your project, you can merge or expand on the roles as you see fit.  For example in a small IT project, the Project Manager may also be a Team Manager or Team Specialist.   The PRINCE2 structure is a good checklist of project management functions that you need to cover off on in your project organisation.

To help you develop your PRINCE2 Organisation Chart quickly, we’ve cut to the car chase and added some templates (above) to get you started.

Related PRINCE2 Articles & Templates

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On Setting up a Project Board

Posted on 12 June, 2007 by duardo
It’s not uncommon to be in a position where a Project Board has been formed with people who have never served on one before.  PRINCE2 terminology for the Project Executive, Senior Supplier and Senior User may also be confusing.  However, when setting up a Project Board or Steering Committee it is crucial that the members understand what is the purpose and scope of the Board and how it should operate.
Tool Downloads
  > Project Board TOR
  > Senior User TOR
  > Senior Supplier TOR
  > Subject Matter Expert TOR

A Project Board is the key governance body within the project structure and is responsible for making decisions, escalating issues (that exceed the authority of the Board) to corporate/programme management, managing business issues associated with the project that are essential to the ensuring the delivery of the project outputs and the realisation of the project outcomes.

This includes approving the budgetary strategy, defining and realizing benefits, monitoring risks, quality and time-lines, making policy and resourcing decisions, and assessing requests for changes to the scope of the project.

In short – while the project manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of the project, the Project Board is ultimately responsible in the realisation of project outcomes/benefits.

While strictly not required we created some Terms of Reference templates to help educate and communicate the requirements of the roles and of the Project Board / Steering Committee.  We’re adopted a more formal approach however depending on the culture of your organisation you can water-down the formality as required.

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On Appointing a Project Executive

Posted on 1 June, 2007 by duardo
The Project Executive is ultimately responsible and accountable for realizing the benefits of the project to the organisation – in other words he/she owns the business case.
Tool Downloads
> Project Executive TOR

In other methods the Project Executive maybe referred to as the (Steering Committee) Chairperson, Project Owner or Project Sponsor however the roles are required to perform a similar functions – project governance. 

Note: The Project Executive owns & governs the project; the project manager runs the project.  This governance vs. management distinction is not dissimilar to the relationship between the Board of Directors (Chairman) and the CEO of a company.

The Project Executive is probably the single most important role in a project.  In other methodologies the Project Executive can act alone or form a steering committee whose function is not dissimilar to the PRINCE2 Project Board but ultimately he/she must fulfill three key roles:

  • Business Leader
  • Change Agent
  • Decision Maker

The Executive’s role is crucial in determining the overall success of the project. He/she ensures, (a) the business need is being addressed and champions the Project to Corporate/Programme Management; (b) the right Project Board and PM team is appointed; (c) review the project regularly, authorizing expenditure for the next stage or changes to plan; (d) ensures the project remains aligned with the organisation’s strategic plan; and (e) has the authority to resolve project issues that exceed the PM’s delegation.

Without a committed Project Executive your project will be a car crash happening in slow motion.

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