Prince2 controls are designed to ensure that authority and decision making are vested at the correct level of accountability, and that the project progresses smoothly through its phases of initiation, the various stages of production, and closedown.
Controls can be considered in three groups - those which control the start-up of a project, those which control its progress, and those which deal with closedown.
Startup controls are designed to ensure that the Initiation of a project is correctly authorised by the project board, and that the project is set up and planned effectively. Only the project board can authorise initiation, and will do so only against the properly constituted products of Starting Up a Project. During initiation, the project board will also agree the stages of the project, a key element in effective project control.
Progress controls are designed to ensure that the project remains aligned with the expectation set in the Project Initiation Document and the current stage plan. The major controls between the Project Board and Project Manager during Controlling a Stage will be Highlight Reports and Exception Reports. Amongst other controls, when authorising the first or subsequent (post-initiation) stages of the project, the project board will set tolerances supporting the management by exception principle. During a stage, the project manager's major controls over the work are the Work Package and Checkpoint Reports being exchanged with the Team Managers in Managing Product Delivery.
Closedown controls are deisgned to ensure that the project is closed down properly.
