Prince2 Practitioner: Controlling Progress in Project Management

How Often and in What Format to Provide Highlight Reports

Question

The project is part of a program to increase the number of ABC courses that respond to legislation.

The program manager has instructed the project manager to deliver the 'e-learning course' incrementally.

The project manager has asked the program manager how often the highlight reports are required, and what format the reports should be presented in.

Is this an appropriate approach to controlling progress, and why?

Answers

Explanations

Click on the arrows to vote for the correct answer

A. B. C. D.

D.

The project manager's approach to controlling progress by asking the program manager about the frequency and format of highlight reports is generally an appropriate approach. This is because it aligns with the program's delivery approach, which is to deliver the e-learning course incrementally.

The highlight reports are an important tool for monitoring progress in projects, and they provide a concise summary of the current status of the project. They are typically prepared by the project manager and sent to the project board, which includes the program manager and other stakeholders, on a regular basis.

In this case, the program manager has instructed the project manager to deliver the e-learning course incrementally. This means that the project will be delivered in stages, with each stage building on the previous one. In such an approach, it is important to have regular updates on the project's progress to ensure that the project is on track and that any issues or risks are identified and addressed in a timely manner.

The frequency of the highlight reports will depend on the size and complexity of the project, but it is generally recommended that they are produced at least once a month. This ensures that the project board is kept up-to-date on the project's progress and can make informed decisions based on the latest information.

The format of the highlight reports should be agreed upon by the project board and should be presented in a way that is easy to read and understand. The report should include information on progress against the project plan, any issues or risks that have been identified, and any changes that have been made to the project plan.

Option A is therefore the correct answer as it acknowledges that the approach aligns with the delivery approach selected by the program. Option B is not entirely accurate as it suggests that event-driven controls need to align to program controls, whereas in reality, controls at the project level should be aligned to the program level. Option C is incorrect as peer reviews are not an appropriate method for monitoring progress in a project. Option D is also incorrect as progress controls are not typically documented in the project initiation documentation, but rather in the project management plan.