PRINCE2 Foundation

Lesson 15Controlling a Stage Process

Based on AXELOS PRINCE2 material. Material is reproduced under licence from AXELOS Limited. All rights reserved.
PRINCE2 is a [registered] trade mark of AXELOS Limited, used under permission of AXELOS Limited. All rights reserved.
AXELOS is a [registered] trade mark of AXELOS Limited, used under permission of AXELOS Limited. All rights reserved.
The Swirl logo is a trade mark of AXELOS Limited, used under the permission of AXELOS Limited. All rights reserved. Copyright 2014, Simplilearn, All rights reserved.
1 Copyright 2014, Simplilearn, All rights reserved.
Objectives

After completing State the purpose and objective of Controlling a Stage process
this lesson, you will
List the activities in the Controlling a Stage process
be able to:

2 Copyright 2014, Simplilearn, All rights reserved.

Purpose of Controlling a Stage

The purpose of the Controlling a Stage process is to assign

work to be done, monitor such work, deal with issues,
report progress to the Project Board, and take corrective
actions to ensure that the stage remains within
tolerance.[1]

3 Copyright 2014, Simplilearn, All rights reserved.

Objective of Controlling a Stage

The objective is to ensure that:

the team includes Team Managers, team members and
suppliers;
the Project Manager receives accurate progress
information on a regular basis;
the work allocated to the team is formally agreed upon
and authorised; and
the team is clearly aware of the product, cost, timeline,
effort estimates and tolerances.

4 Copyright 2014, Simplilearn, All rights reserved.

Controlling a StageOverview

This image gives an overview of Controlling a Stage process.

Figure 15.1. Overview of Controlling a Stage. Copyright AXELOS Limited 2013. Material is
reproduced under licence from AXELOS. All rights reserved.
5 Copyright 2014, Simplilearn, All rights reserved.
Controlling a StageActivities

Controlling a Stage activities are Project Manager oriented. The Project Manager may receive multiple
Checkpoint Reports during a stage. The activities for the Project Manager is related to:

Work PackagesAuthorise a Work Package, review

Work Package status through Checkpoint Report, Receive
completed Work Packages.
Monitoring and reportingReview the stage status, report
the progress of the stage to the Project Board by submitting
Highlight Report.
IssuesCapture and examine issues and risks, escalate issues
and risks, take corrective action, enter informal issues into the
daily log.

6 Copyright 2014, Simplilearn, All rights reserved.

Controlling a Stage ProcessExercise

The following questions are designed to test your comprehension of this process. Please solve them
as a group activity.

Q Which role is responsible for each of the activities of the Controlling a Stage process? Write
activities and roles responsible.

Q How are the seven themes applied within the Controlling a Stage process?

Q Which management products are created, developed, used and reviewed in Controlling a
Stage process?

7 Copyright 2014, Simplilearn, All rights reserved.

 Quiz

8 Copyright 2014, Simplilearn, All rights reserved.

 QUIZ
Which among the following is NOT an objective of the Controlling a Stage process?
1

a. Produce the Stage Plan for the next stage

b. Focus attention on delivery of the stage's products
c. Escalate threats to tolerances
d. Keep issues and risks under control

9 Copyright 2014, Simplilearn, All rights reserved.

 QUIZ
Which among the following is NOT an objective of the Controlling a Stage process?
1

a. Produce the Stage Plan for the next stage

b. Focus attention on delivery of the stage's products
c. Escalate threats to tolerances
d. Keep issues and risks under control

Answer: a.
Explanation: Produce the Stage Plan for the next stage is done by the Managing Stage
Boundary process.

10 Copyright 2014, Simplilearn, All rights reserved.

 QUIZ
In which situation might the Controlling a Stage process be used?
2

a. Managing a long initiation stage of a complex project

b. Managing the activities of a complex programme

c. Managing support activities following the handover of the products to

the operational environment
d. Creating an Exception Plan to replace the current Stage Plan

11 Copyright 2014, Simplilearn, All rights reserved.

 QUIZ
In which situation might the Controlling a Stage process be used?
2

a. Managing a long initiation stage of a complex project

b. Managing the activities of a complex programme

c. Managing support activities following the handover of the products to the operational
environment
d. Creating an Exception Plan to replace the current Stage Plan

Answer: a.
Explanation: The Controlling a Stage process can be used to control the activities for
complex projects with a large initiation stage.

12 Copyright 2014, Simplilearn, All rights reserved.

 QUIZ Which of the following does NOT relate to the purpose of the Controlling a Stage
3 process?

a. Take corrective actions to control deviations from the Stage Plan

b. Report progress to the Project Board
c. Assign work to be done
d. Define the time and cost tolerance for the stage

13 Copyright 2014, Simplilearn, All rights reserved.

 QUIZ Which of the following does NOT relate to the purpose of the Controlling a Stage
3 process?

a. Take corrective actions to control deviations from the Stage Plan

b. Report progress to the Project Board
c. Assign work to be done
d. Define the time and cost tolerance for the stage

Answer: d.
Explanation: Defining the time and cost tolerance for the stage is not part of the purpose
for Controlling a Stage process.

14 Copyright 2014, Simplilearn, All rights reserved.

 QUIZ During the Controlling a Stage process, the __________ is checked for any new or
4 revised threats and their possible impact on the Business Case.

a. Benefits Review Plan

b. End Stage Report
c. Risk Register
d. Risk Management Strategy

15 Copyright 2014, Simplilearn, All rights reserved.

 QUIZ During the Controlling a Stage process, the __________ is checked for any new or
4 revised threats and their possible impact on the Business Case.

a. Benefits Review Plan

b. End Stage Report
c. Risk Register
d. Risk Management Strategy

Answer: c.
Explanation: The Risk Register is checked for any new or revised risks and their possible
impact on the Business Case.

16 Copyright 2014, Simplilearn, All rights reserved.

 QUIZ
Which is NOT an objective of the Controlling a Stage process?
5

a. Focus attention on delivery of the stage's products

b. Escalate threats to tolerances
c. Produce the Stage Plan for the next stage
d. Keep issues and risks under control

17 Copyright 2014, Simplilearn, All rights reserved.

 QUIZ
Which is NOT an objective of the Controlling a Stage process?
5

a. Focus attention on delivery of the stage's products

b. Escalate threats to tolerances
c. Produce the Stage Plan for the next stage
d. Keep issues and risks under control

Answer: c.
Explanation: Planning for the next Stage is an objective of Managing Stage Boundary
process. All other options are true for Controlling a Stage process.

18 Copyright 2014, Simplilearn, All rights reserved.

Summary

Here is a quick The purpose of the Controlling a Stage process is to assign work to be done,
recap of what we
monitor work, deal with issues, report progress to the Project Board and
have learnt in this
lesson: take corrective actions to ensure that the stage remains within tolerance
Controlling a Stage activities are Project Manager oriented and are related
to handling Work Packages, monitoring and reporting and managing issues

19 Copyright 2014, Simplilearn, All rights reserved.

 Thank You

Based on AXELOS PRINCE2 material. Material is reproduced under licence from AXELOS Limited. All rights reserved.
PRINCE2 is a [registered] trade mark of AXELOS Limited, used under permission of AXELOS Limited. All rights reserved.
AXELOS is a [registered] trade mark of AXELOS Limited, used under permission of AXELOS Limited. All rights reserved.
The Swirl logo is a trade mark of AXELOS Limited, used under the permission of AXELOS Limited. All rights reserved.
20 Copyright2014,
Copyright 2014, Simplilearn,
Simplilearn, All rights
All rights reserved.
reserved.
Reference

[1] Based on Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2, by AXELOS. Controlling a Stage, Purpose.

21 Copyright 2014, Simplilearn, All rights reserved.