Principles
The seven principles of PRINCE2 can never be tailored because they are foundation aspects that must be applied to all types of projects, whether agile or not.
Themes
The seven themes in PRINCE2 can and should be tailored in an agile context. Because agile is focused primarily on product delivery, some of the themes in PRINCE2 Agile are more prominent than others. For example, the plans and progress themes are more prominent whereas the business case and risk themes are less prominent. However, all seven themes must still be used and tailored throughout a project.
Fixing and flexing
One of the key features of PRINCE2 is its definition of 6 performance aspects for time, cost, scope, quality, risk, and benefits. PRINCE2 recommends the setting of tolerances for each of these aspects. PRINCE2 Agile still uses these 6 tolerance areas but cost and time tolerance are always set to zero (i.e. fixed). The other tolerance areas can be flexed (made variable).
This is described in more detail in fixing and flexing in PRINCE2 Agile.
PRINCE2 Agile targets
PRINCE2 Agile also describes 5 targets which are crucial to the success of teams working in an agile project context. The PRINCE2 Agile targets form the rationale for how and why the 6 tolerance areas are ‘fixed and flexing’.
Processes
The seven processes in PRINCE2 must also be used and tailored throughout a project. Some of the processes are often combined in PRINCE2 Agile, for example starting up a project and initiating a project are often combined.
PRINCE2 Agile behaviours
When tailoring the themes and processes, attention should be paid to specific behaviours of the project management team. These behaviours need to function smoothly for the agile to work in the most efficient way. The 5 PRINCE2 Agile behaviours are:
Transparency.
Collaboration.
Rich communication.
Self-organization.
Exploration.
PRINCE2 Agile focus areas
PRINCE2 Agile also gives guidance on specific areas that require prominence due to the nature of agile ways of working. These focus areas also include guidance on specific techniques that can support them. There are five focus areas in PRINCE2 Agile:
The Agilometer.
Requirements.
Rich communication.
Frequent releases.
Creating contracts when using agile.
Management products
The 26 management products which help the project management team plan, manage, and control a project are also utilised in PRINCE2 Agile, but these are also tailored. PRINCE2 describes many ways in which these management products can be represented, for example in the form of information radiators on a whiteboard in a shared working space.
