Author: Dorothy Tudor
Date: 2006-09-22

PRINCE2® and DSDM Atern

Why should I use both?

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Introduction

In the product development process, results are rarely predictable. Business change projects are not the performance of a routine set of tasks with a pre-determined outcome; they are empirical rather than defined. These projects often need to be highly innovative, making them more akin to the research-and-development process than the manufacturing process. Jim Highsmith, a respected Agile thought leader, observed that the failure to differentiate between highly uncertain (innovative) and highly certain (defined) project environments can cause confusion when measuring project performance. He suggested that this confusion stems from two sources: the definition of scope and the difference between estimates and constraints.

Empirical projects will inevitably be difficult to define accurately at the outset and will be subject to considerable change throughout their duration. In spite of this, budget holders need to be able to control timescale, cost and return on investment and need a framework for project management which will enable them to achieve this.

Project approaches which embrace change and uncertainty are grouped under the term "Agile" and of these, DSDM is the most widely known and used in the UK and Europe. The most widely known and used traditional project management approach in these territories is PRINCE2. The premise of this paper is that PRINCE2 and DSDM can not only be used effectively together to gain the benefits of both, but that their combination produces a result where the whole is greater than the sum of the constituent parts.

The main features of PRINCE2 and DSDM

What are PRINCE2 and DSDM?

PRINCE2 is:

A de facto standard for project management, owned by the Office of Government Commerce, and is free to use;
A non-technical method, independent of the type of project;
An approach using eight major components, three techniques and a process model.

DSDM is:

A de facto standard for user-centred business development owned and developed by the DSDM Consortium membership. Prior to 2006, it was "members only" use, but is now free to use;
An Agile project framework, with guidance, to achieve on-time and on-budget delivery of a product to satisfy a business objective;
An approach focusing on user involvement, prioritisation, prototyping, timeboxing, facilitated workshops, modelling and iterative, incremental development.

Both approaches have accreditation and examination processes. Both have accredited training organisations that can prepare delegates for these qualifications.