Domain 7 of 7 · Chapter 2 of 2

ITIL and PRINCE2

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Included in this chapter:

  • Why ITIL needs project management
  • PRINCE2: a project run in controlled stages
  • How ITIL and PRINCE2 fit together
  • Exam patterns: ITIL and PRINCE2

PRINCE2 and ITIL: complementary across the lifecycle

AspectPRINCE2ITIL
What it isA structured project management method (PRojects IN Controlled Environments)A framework for the ongoing management of products and services
What it governsProjects: temporary, controlled efforts that deliver a defined change or productProducts and services in live, ongoing operation
Time horizonTemporary: a defined start and endContinuous: for as long as the product or service is run
Core disciplineDefined stages, defined roles, continued business justificationValue co-creation, guiding principles, the value system and continual improvement
In the lifecycleDelivers a new or changed service into operationOperates, supports and continually improves the delivered service
RelationshipComplementary: governs the project that delivers changeComplementary: manages the result as an ongoing service

Decision tree

Temporary effort with adefined start and end?Delivers a defined changeor new/changed product?Run, support and improveit over time?YesNo, continuousPRINCE2governs the project(stages, roles, justification)ITILruns the ongoing service(operate, support, improve)YesYesdelivered and live: hand overComplementary: a PRINCE2 project delivers change; ITIL then runs and improves it
Cheat sheet

Cheat sheet

  • Project management is important in ITIL for delivering change
  • A project is a temporary effort with a defined start and end
  • ITIL relies on projects for transformation and significant change
  • PRINCE2 is a structured project management method
  • PRINCE2 manages projects, not ongoing services
  • Continued business justification underpins a PRINCE2 project
  • ITIL and PRINCE2 are complementary, not alternatives
  • PRINCE2 governs projects and changes; ITIL governs ongoing services
  • A completed PRINCE2 project hands its products to ITIL to run and improve
  • Match the framework to the need: project versus ongoing service
  • A new service is delivered by a project and then operated with ITIL
  • ITIL works alongside other frameworks rather than replacing them

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References

  1. https://www.itil.com/Itil-News-and-Announcements/itil-version-5-foundation-whats-new-guide
  2. https://www.peoplecert.org/browse-certifications/it-governance-and-service-management/ITIL-1/itil-5-foundation-version-50-4154
  3. https://www.peoplecert.org/browse-certifications/project-programme-and-portfolio-management/PRINCE2-2/PRINCE2-7-foundation-3579
  4. https://www.peoplecert.org/news-and-announcements/prince2-7-applying-universal-principles-for-companies-of-all-sizes
  5. https://www.itil.com/Itil-News-and-Announcements/itil-product-and-service-lifecycle-model