Prince2 Plans are produced during the Planning process at various levels as shown in the graphic below. The basic principle is one of 'rollling wave' planning implemented at the Project, Stage and Team Plan levels, recognising that it is frequently impossible to plan a complex project in detail far into the future.
The concept of stages, which seeks to break the project into smaller chunks, is supported in this approach known as 'two-level' planning. In the initiation stage of the project, a high level project plan is produced to provide the Project Board with a high level view and a means to monitor, together with a detailed plan for only the next stage which the Project Manager will use. More detailed stage plans are then produced at each stage transition, as a product of the Managing Stage Boundaries process. If necessary, Team level plans are created to further elaborate the stage plans at the Team Manager level in Managing Product Delivery.
The Exception Plan is produced as a result of the Project Board's request for one to be created following an exception report by the Project Manager. This plan is effectively a new stage plan for the remainder of the stage which is in exception, and is produced to the same standard. Occasionally, it may be the entire project which is in exception, requiring a Project level exception plan.
See also the Prince2 Technique - Product Based Planning
