3 Tailoring
The seventh PRINCE2 principle states that PRINCE2 should be tailored for a project’s particular circumstances. The goal is to apply a level of project management that does not overburden the project management team but provides an appropriate level of governance and control, at an acceptable level of risk.
Key message
Tailoring can be applied to processes, themes, roles, management products and terminology.
If PRINCE2 is not tailored, it is unlikely that the project management effort and approach will be appropriate for the needs of the project. This can lead to ‘mechanistic’ project management at one extreme (a method is followed without question) or ‘heroic’ project management at the other (a method is not followed at all).
Organizations adopt PRINCE2 by tailoring it to their needs, often creating their own PRINCE2-based method and then embedding its use within their working practices.
Definition: Tailoring
Adapting a method or process to suit the situation in which it will be used.
Examples of common situations where PRINCE2 should be tailored are projects:
• that the organization perceives as straightforward and of low risk
• using an agile development approach
• involving a commercial customer and supplier relationship
• involving multiple owning organizations
• within programmes or portfolios.
Definition: Embedding
The act of making something an integral part of a bigger whole. Embedding is what an organization needs to do to adopt PRINCE2 as its corporate project management method and encourage its widespread use.