PRINCE evolved from an earlier project management technique known as PROMPT II (Project Resource Organisation Management Planning Techniques).
In 1989, the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA), a UK government body, adopted a version of PROMPT II as a standard for IT project management.
The difference between PRINCE and PRINCE2
This standard method was initially named 'PRINCE', standing for ‘PROMPT II IN the CCTA Environment’, but was later named as ‘PRojects IN Controlled Environments. PRINCE2 came about in 1996 as a universal project management approach.
Who created PRINCE2?
In 1996, CTTA created PRINCE2 as an enhancement of the original PRINCE method and from then was solely owned by HM Government until 2013.
What is the latest version of PRINCE2?
The latest revision (6th edition) of PRINCE2 came in 2017. The 6th edition provides additional guidance for practitioners, particularly those working in agile environments. It is expected that further revisions of PRINCE2 will be made to reflect modern changes in project management best practices.
What is the PRINCE2 certification awarding body?
The awarding body for PRINCE2 is PeopleCert. PeopleCert owns and manages a portfolio of global best practice methodologies, including PRINCE2, PRINCE2 Agile, ITIL, MSP, MoP, MoR, P3O, Scrum, DevOps, AgileSHIFT, COBIT, and RESILIA.
Until July 2013, PRINCE2 was under UK Crown Copyright, when the HM Cabinet Office, representing the UK Government, transferred ownership to AXELOS Ltd, a joint venture between the Cabinet Office and Capita, holding 49% and 51% stakes respectively.
AXELOS was tasked with managing, developing, and expanding the portfolio of global best practice methodologies in project, programme and portfolio management, and IT and digitally enabled services, including PRINCE2.
In June 2021, AXELOS Limited was acquired by PeopleCert which until then had been the sole PRINCE2 examination institute.