PRINCE2 is the most well-known approach to project management in the world. PRINCE2 certification is almost always required in job descriptions for project managers. In order to align any role within an organization, it is essential to get training in it. However, many managers are able to change their strategies on the go. They see the success of agile practices elsewhere and want to bring them to their own workplace, which drives them to SCRUM. Therefore, it’s important that project managers are proficient in both approaches. This is essential for finishing the project and keeping a steady job.
PRINCE2 and Scrum: Key Differences
Essentially, PRINCE2 is a project management approach. The agile methodology the teams employ is known as Scrum. Scrum makes it possible for teams to collaborate with their clients. This is accomplished through identifying and prioritizing the requirements, testing, developing, offering constant feedback, and repeating cycles of iterations. The team members are guided by Scrum on how to carry this out efficiently. Scrum would essentially assist the team in providing answers to queries like what has to be provided the following week, the effectiveness of the functioning software, etc. Scrum was invented in the software industry, but it is now used across many different sectors.
Now, PRINCE2 is a technique that enables improved project management and control for many businesses. Here, the major stakeholders are given instructions on how to divide projects into manageable sections in order to manage them more successfully. The project’s cost-to-benefit ratio, the project’s goal, and other questions are all answered with the cooperation of the stakeholders.
- The two approaches mainly focus on: The PRINCE2 training is structured on seven guiding principles that govern all of the training’s various methodological components. Project management methodology that specifies the duties of each member of the management team. It also discusses several aspects of project management, such as organizing, planning, managing change, and risks, keeping track of progress, and more. For a PRINCE2 project to be considered successful, it must result in actual benefits for the sponsoring organization. It acknowledges that different people with unique expertise work together on a project to complete it. However, they can’t use this as a manual for how to complete their tasks. Instead, it streamlines the processes of duty, accountability, and effort. Scrum’s primary goal is the efficient and steady delivery of increments of products. The customer is an active participant in the continuous cycle that includes requirement definition and prioritization, testing, development, and feedback. Therefore, there is a higher likelihood that Scrum’s output will satisfy the needs of the intended audience.
- Predictive and adaptive strategies: The main distinction between PRINCE2 certification and all agile methodologies in general, and Scrum in particular, is that one is predictive and the other is adaptable. PRINCE2 is a plan-based methodology that is mostly predictive. Its projects give more attention to the original company objectives. Scrum doesn’t have an overarching plan; instead, it focuses on short-term incremental successes. Scrum is fundamentally adaptable and more responsive to changes in client requirements and the project environment. Scrum, one of the most well-known agile software development frameworks, is based on the idea that development is an unpredictable process.
- Teams’ ability to self-organize: It has already been mentioned, PRINCE2 is not particularly concerned with how teams function or the strategies they use. A project or team manager is needed to schedule, oversee, and distribute activities in plan-oriented techniques like PRINCE2. An individual’s membership in a particular team, rather than their unique skills, determines their assignments in this situation. All of the duties, however, are up for grabs in a project that follows Scrum. On a task board or burn-down chart, a list of the tasks that must be finished during a Sprint (cycle of product development) is shown. Any team member, depending on their abilities or available time, can take on any duty that is accessible.
- Adapting to changes: The Scrum approach holds that client needs will inevitably change as a project progresses. Therefore, developers must work closely with their clients and adopt a flexible and responsive strategy. Unlike PRINCE2, which demands that the features of the finished product remain constant throughout a project. Any suggested modifications to the product must pass through a rigorous vetting process by a change control authority. Here, clients know what to expect, and developers are not dealing with changing customer expectations.
Also Read: Top 10 Reasons to Get a PRINCE2® Certification
Listed below is a table showing how PRINCE2 and SCRUM differ from one other;
| PRINCE 2 | SCRUM | |
| 1. | PRINCE2 is a procedure-based approach to managing projects. | SCRUM is a real-time project management framework that is agile. |
| 2. | PRINCE2 is a more foresightful method of managing project delivery. | SCRUM is a more flexible method of completing projects. |
| 3. | PRINCE2 can be used for projects of any size or scope, in any industry. | The SCRUM framework was developed to make it easier to deliver challenging and cutting-edge projects. |
| 4. | PRINCE2 is a framework for organizing the process of completing a project. | SCRUM is an adaptable method for managing project delivery. |
| 5. | PRINCE2 is a methodology that includes a set of PM principles, a set of procedures, a set of themes, and some customization options. | The three key components of the SCRUM approach are the Product Owner, Team, and Scrum Master. |
| 6. | Since the procedure can be completed from various places, members of a PRINCE2 project team do not need to personally interact. | To guarantee effective project management, members of a SCRUM project team are expected to interact in person each day. |
| 7. | A project’s execution limits the number of changes that can be made. | When a project is being carried out, changes might be made quickly. |
| 8. | Enroll in the Project Management Certification program if you want to become certified in this area. | Enroll in Scrum Master Certification Training if you want to become certified in this area. |
| 9. | In PRINCE2, the project definition is precisely outlined prior to execution. | Due to SCRUM’s flexibility, there is no precise definition of a project. |
PRINCE2 vs. SCRUM: Pros and Cons
| PRINCE 2 | SCRUM | |
| Pros | 1. It has a lot of structure.2. After projects are completed, it helps to deliver high-quality products.3. It can be applied to projects in various GEO-Locations.4. It can be applied to any project; and5. It allows for effective project cost and schedule management. | 1. Its high success rate makes it a prominent project management technique.2. Time and effort must be used efficiently to complete the project.3. To enable effective management, large projects are divided into smaller components.4. User feedback is implemented5. Changes can be made while the project is still ongoing |
| Cons | 1. Making decisions can be an exhausting and drawn-out process.2. The project has a cap on the number of changes that can be made.3. The emphasis is on documentation.4. Only after project completion is the finished software product made public. | 1. There is no clear project definition.2. Face-to-face interactions between everyday team members can use up resources.3. The method of project execution is really intense.4. During the execution of a project, changes happen too frequently. |
Both project management approaches are accepted internationally and in many different countries. Depending on your unique demands, you can determine which of these project management techniques to use. I can guarantee that no matter what you choose to learn or use, it will always be the right choice.
Also Read: Everything You Must Know About PRINCE2 Agile and Its Benefits
Conclusion
However, in general, adaptive and flexible frameworks have been used to define both PRINCE2 and Scrum. Neither of them produces detailed directions to guarantee the project’s success. Scrum gives the team members more freedom, whereas PRINCE2 places more emphasis on the project manager’s responsibility. Both approaches have distinctive features. Having proof of your competence, such as a PRINCE2 foundation certification, can be very helpful in the relevant industry. You can participate in a formal course to receive training in Agile or PRINCE2.